Most organizations still grant access using a static model. When someone joins the company, they get a predefined set of applications based on a single attribute, often their department.
If you join Department A, you receive Applications 1, 2, and 3.
If you join Department B, you receive Applications 1, 3, and 4.
This approach works well for day one. It ensures new hires are productive quickly and have access to the tools they need to get started. But access is not a one-time event. It evolves constantly as people move through different roles, responsibilities, and situations.
This is where static access models start to fall short.
Access changes faster than roles
A person’s access needs rarely stay tied to a single department. Over time, users might rotate on call, join a special project, complete new training, or temporarily take on additional responsibilities. Traditional access models struggle to keep up with these changes, which often leads to over-provisioning.
Access sticks around longer than it should because it is hard to track when it is no longer needed. This creates risk, increases audit scope, and makes least privilege difficult to maintain in practice.
ConductorOne takes a different approach by supporting dynamic, multi-dimensional access controls.
Instead of relying on a single attribute like department, ConductorOne evaluates multiple signals about a user at once. This can include their department, their manager, whether they are currently on call, whether they have completed required training, or whether they are part of a specific project group.
Access is granted based on real context, not just a static role.
For example, a user might receive elevated access only while they are on call. Once that on-call shift ends, access is automatically removed. Similarly, someone joining a special project can be granted temporary access tied to their group membership, with that access revoked as soon as they leave the project.
Least privilege without slowing down
Dynamic access allows organizations to enforce least privilege continuously, not just during onboarding or quarterly reviews. Users have what they need, when they need it, and only for as long as they need it.
This model reduces standing privileges while still supporting fast-moving teams and real-world workflows. Access adapts as a user’s situation changes throughout the day, without relying on manual intervention or ticket queues.
Access should evolve alongside the people using it.
Real example: Zscaler
Zscaler, a global leader in cloud security, faced growing complexity as access needs expanded across hundreds of corporate, engineering, and compliance-driven systems. Manual provisioning, fragmented reviews, and ticket-heavy workflows slowed employees and strained IT and compliance teams.
By implementing ConductorOne’s dynamic, context-aware access model, Zscaler automated access based on role, training completion, and real-time signals like on-call status. Access was granted when needed and revoked automatically when it was no longer required, helping Zscaler enforce least privilege without slowing productivity.
Watch the video to learn more about how they did it:
With ConductorOne’s dynamic access model, organizations can move beyond one-dimensional provisioning and toward access controls that reflect how work actually happens. The result is stronger security, lower risk, and a better experience for both IT teams and end users.
Dynamic access isn’t about adding complexity, it just aligns access with reality.
Want to learn more? Check out our C1 Academy video to see how it works in real time.
