Identity review is the process of checking whether accounts, credentials, and permissions still match a legitimate business need. It is a core part of identity and access management because access tends to accumulate over time: employees change roles, contractors leave, service accounts are forgotten, and old privileges remain in place. A review helps find stale accounts, shared credentials, and users who have more access than they should.
In cyber security, identity review matters because attackers often exploit the easiest identity path rather than breaking encryption or malware defenses. Compromised passwords, inactive accounts, and excessive admin rights can let an intruder move through a network or reach sensitive data. Defenders use scheduled access reviews, approval workflows, and removal of unused accounts to reduce that risk. Good identity review makes it harder for attackers to abuse trust and easier for organizations to prove that access is least privilege, current, and justified.