1. Planning.

• Assessment
  Begin by identifying the resources and scope of access your team members require and why. Document existing access permissions to see whether they can be minimized or removed. You might use an authorization analysis tool for better visibility.
• Policy creation
  Formulate clear rules for granting and rescinding access. Provide direction on who can seek access, in what circumstances, and for how long. This is especially helpful for privileged accounts, where time-bound restrictions can be applied.
• Source of truth
  Synchronize your JIT access mechanism with an Identity Provider. Examples include Okta, Google Workspace, Azure AD, and OneLogin. This will function as the core location for identities. Individual identity de/escalation over shared accounts will provide better control over permissions and audit accuracy.

2. Execution.

• Self-serve access requests
  Make things easier by letting users request access through the system instead of manually asking personnel. Increase adoption rates by integrating with IM platforms like Slack or MS Teams. Any request should detail who's making the request, the resource/service/role necessary, duration, and the reason.

• Approval process
  JIT access permits businesses to delegate approvals to personnel with substantial business-context knowledge. Direct resource owners or unit managers are usually better placed for this than IT support teams. Use messaging platforms to speed up responses and provide approvers with necessary data for making informed decisions.

• Conditional approval wo‍rkflows
  Implement predefined rules in workflows that regulate access permissions. These built-in rules should define who can access what and under which conditions. For instance, set conditional actions: IF group “X” requests access to “Y”, then seek approval from “Z” with “M” getting notified.

• Integrations
  Merge JIT Access with other IT and security systems for more flexibility. Link it with IT ticketing systems for automatic permissions based on ticket status. Align with data categorization tools to tailor rules in line with data sensitivity. Collaborate with on-call schedule systems for automated approvals in emergencies. Train team members to grant access after training finalization.
• Automated provisioning and depovisioning
  Understand GitLab thoroughly to successfully deploy and rescind access on a granular level automatically within the service. This is crucial for JIT access, reducing the need to wait for team members. It enables automated access depovisioning, underpinning JIT and the least privilege access principle. Ideally, manage permissions collectively without the need to construct or manage an environment for every app.
• Access methods
  For GitLab JIT Access, APIs are handy due to their flexibility and live capabilities. However, it may require a mixture that could include SAML for identity confirmation, SCIM for user provisioning, and APIs for exact access control decisions.

3. Maintenance.

• Regular audits
  Periodically examine access records to verify that JIT access operates optimally. Watch out for unusual patterns or behaviors or feed logs into your SIEM. This can fast-track the user access review process.
• User training
  Instruct team members, particularly those with privileged access, on the significance of least privilege, JIT Access, and their operation. Make sure they understand how to request access when required.
• Feedback loop
  Constantly review your JIT access processes. Understand user and IT staff feedback to spot areas for enhancement.

By adopting this methodical plan, you can effectively enforce a robust JIT Access system for GitLab.