Net Tech Term: provisioning

[Keefe]

(n.) (1) The process of providing users with access to data and technology resources. The term typically is used in reference to enterprise-level resource management. Provisioning can be thought of as a combination of the duties of the human resources and IT departments in an enterprise, where (1) users are given access to data repositories or granted authorization to systems, applications and databases based on a unique user identity, and (2) users are appropriated hardware resources, such as computers, mobile phones and pagers. The process implies that the access rights and privileges are monitored and tracked to ensure the security of an enterprise's resources.

(2) The process of providing customers or clients with accounts, the appropriate access to those accounts, all the rights associated with those accounts, and all of the resources necessary to manage the accounts. When used in reference to a client, provisioning can be thought of as a form of customer service.