What are the best practices for creating a provisioning validation report?

1 Define the scope and criteria

Before you start creating a provisioning validation report, you need to define the scope and criteria of the validation. The scope refers to the system or application that you are validating, the users and groups that are involved, and the time period that you are covering. The criteria refers to the standards and rules that you are using to measure the quality and compliance of the provisioning process, such as policies, regulations, or best practices. You can use a template or a checklist to help you define the scope and criteria of your validation report.

2 Collect and analyze the data

Next, you need to collect and analyze the data that relates to the provisioning process. The data can include user account information, role assignments, permission settings, resource allocations, audit logs, and feedback from users or stakeholders. You can use various tools and methods to collect and analyze the data, such as scripts, queries, reports, surveys, or interviews. You should aim to collect and analyze the data in a systematic, consistent, and objective way.

3 Identify and document the findings

After you have collected and analyzed the data, you need to identify and document the findings of your validation. The findings are the results or outcomes of your data analysis, such as errors, gaps, discrepancies, or deviations from the criteria. You should document the findings in a clear, concise, and structured way, using tables, charts, graphs, or screenshots to illustrate your points. You should also provide evidence and references to support your findings.

4 Evaluate and prioritize the risks

Next, you need to evaluate and prioritize the risks that are associated with your findings. The risks are the potential impacts or consequences of your findings, such as security breaches, data loss, performance issues, or compliance violations. You should evaluate the risks based on their likelihood and severity, using a risk matrix or a scoring system to rank them. You should also consider the root causes and dependencies of the risks, and how they affect the system or application as a whole.

5 Recommend and implement the actions

Finally, you need to recommend and implement the actions that are needed to address the risks and improve the provisioning process. The actions are the steps or measures that you propose or take to fix the errors, fill the gaps, resolve the discrepancies, or comply with the criteria. You should recommend and implement the actions based on their feasibility, effectiveness, and urgency, using a action plan or a workflow to guide you. You should also monitor and track the progress and results of your actions.