What is the difference between a Role and a Lifecycle State?

The distinction between a Role and a Lifecycle State in SailPoint Identity Now is fundamental to understanding how access and identity management are structured within the platform. A Role represents a collection of permissions and entitlements granted to users based on their job functions, responsibilities, or particular projects. It serves as a means to grant function access, allowing users to perform specific tasks aligned with their roles in the organization.

On the other hand, a Lifecycle State pertains to the various stages of a user's identity within the organization, from onboarding to termination. It signifies the context of a user's current status and incorporates the idea of birthright access, which are permissions automatically assigned to users based on their employment or membership status within the organization. This can include access rights that individuals are entitled to simply by virtue of their role in the organization.

The interplay between these concepts highlights that Roles are designed to facilitate specific functional access required to perform job performances, while Lifecycle States are focused on defining the broader access context associated with an employee's journey within the organization. This differentiation is crucial for organizations to manage access effectively and ensure compliance with security protocols.