Guest and vendor network access lifecycle automation
Build a Guest/Vendor Access Lifecycle Manager with an interactive interface that allows employees to request time-boxed network access for guests and vendors, automatically provisions that access, and revokes it on expiration. ## Interface Requirements Create an interactive form/chat interface (accessible via a Tines Page or chat-style input) where an employee (the "sponsor") can submit a request containing: - Guest/vendor full name and company - Sponsor's name and email (auto-populated from logged-in user if possible) - Reason for access / business justification - Requested network scope (e.g., "Guest Wi-Fi", "Vendor VLAN - Building 2", "Isolated Segment - Contractor Access") - Requested start date/time - Requested duration (e.g., 4 hours, 1 day, 1 week, up to a 30-day max) - Device details if known (MAC address, device type) ## Core Workflow Logic 1. **Intake & Validation** - Validate the sponsor is an active employee (check against Okta/Entra ID) - Validate requested duration does not exceed policy max (default: 30 days) — if it does, flag for escalated approval - Validate requested network scope exists in [NAC platform - e.g., Cisco ISE, Aruba ClearPass, Forescout, or Infoblox for IP/subnet assignment] 2. **Risk-Based Routing** - If requested scope is low-risk (e.g., standard Guest Wi-Fi, isolated from internal resources): auto-approve - If requested scope touches internal segments, sensitive VLANs, or exceeds standard duration: route to a human approver (sponsor's manager or network security team) via Slack or email with an approve/deny action, presenting all request context and a summary risk assessment - Support a "pause and review" step before provisioning any medium/high-risk access — do not auto-provision without explicit approval for these cases 3. **Provisioning** - On approval, call the NAC platform API (or Infoblox IPAM API) to: - Create/assign the guest or vendor account to the appropriate network segment/VLAN - Generate credentials or a registration code if the platform requires it (e.g., Aruba ClearPass guest portal) - Tag the record with sponsor, expiration timestamp, and business justification - Log the provisioning action with a full audit trail: who requested, who approved, what was granted, and when 4. **Notification** - Notify the sponsor and guest/vendor (if email available) with: - Confirmation of granted access - Access details (network name, connection instructions if applicable) - Exact expiration date/time - Send a reminder notification to the sponsor 24 hours before expiration, asking if they want to renew (up to a max renewal count of 2, then require a fresh request) 5. **Automatic Revocation** - On a scheduled basis (e.g., every 15 minutes or hourly), check for any active guest/vendor access records that have passed their expiration timestamp - For each expired record: - Call the NAC platform API to revoke/deprovision the access - Update the audit record status to "Expired - Revoked" - Notify the sponsor that access has been automatically revoked 6. **Exception Handling** - If a revocation API call fails, retry up to 3 times, then escalate to the network security team via Slack/email with the failure details and record ID - If a sponsor leaves the company (check against HRIS/Okta deprovisioning events) before their sponsored guest/vendor access expires, immediately flag and revoke all associated guest/vendor access ## Data & Audit Requirements - Maintain a running, queryable record (e.g., in a Tines Record or connected database) of every guest/vendor access request including: requester, guest/ vendor identity, scope granted, approval chain, provisioning timestamp, expiration timestamp, renewal history, and revocation timestamp - This log must be exportable/reportable for compliance and security audits ## Integrations Needed (adjust based on actual stack) - Identity: Okta or Entra ID (sponsor validation, employee lifecycle events) - NAC/Network: Cisco ISE, Aruba ClearPass, Forescout, or Infoblox IPAM - Notification: Slack and/or email - Approval routing: Slack interactive message or Tines Page approval form ## Success Criteria - No guest/vendor access persists past its approved expiration without explicit renewal - Every grant has a clear audit trail with sponsor accountability - Medium/high-risk requests always have a human-in-the-loop checkpoint before provisioning - Sponsors and network security teams receive timely, clear notifications at every lifecycle stage Tools used: Okta or Entra ID, NAC platform (Cisco ISE, Aruba ClearPass, Forescout, or Infoblox IPAM), Slack, email, Tines Record/database for the audit log
What this prompt builds
This workflow automates the lifecycle of temporary network access for guests and vendors, from request through provisioning to automatic expiration. IT and security teams submit time-boxed access requests through an interactive form, which validates the sponsor, routes high-risk requests for approval, provisions access through NAC platforms, and automatically revokes credentials when they expire. It replaces manual, audit-fragile processes with a self-enforcing system that maintains full accountability and compliance visibility.
The problem
Organizations granting temporary network access to guests and vendors face a fragmented, manual process that creates security exposure from lingering credentials and drains IT resources with repetitive provisioning tasks. Access requests are handled through email chains or spreadsheets, approvals are inconsistent, and expired access often persists for weeks or months because no one remembers to revoke it — creating compliance gaps and expanding the attack surface. This workflow replaces that trust-based, reactive approach with an automated, policy-enforced lifecycle that captures every request through a structured form, routes high-risk access for approval, provisions credentials through NAC platforms, and automatically revokes access the moment it expires. IT and security teams gain full audit trails with sponsor accountability at every stage, while legitimate business access moves faster without manual bottlenecks.
Solution and impact
Organizations move from reactive, manual guest access management to a proactive, self-enforcing system that scales securely without adding headcount. Security exposure from orphaned credentials is eliminated through automatic expiration and revocation, while IT teams reclaim hours previously spent on provisioning and cleanup. Every access grant is tied to a sponsor, logged with full justification, and auditable for compliance — transforming a fragmented, high-risk process into a controlled, repeatable capability that supports business velocity without compromising security posture.