Restoring deprovisioned users or groups
Active Roles provides the ability to restore deprovisioned objects, such as deprovisioned users or groups. The purpose of this operation, referred to as the Undo Deprovisioning operation, is to roll back the changes that were made to an object by the Deprovision operation. When a deprovisioned object needs to be restored (for example, if a user account has been deprovisioned by mistake), the Undo Deprovisioning operation allows the object to be quickly returned to the state it was in before the changes were made.
The Undo Deprovisioning operation rolls back the changes that were made to the object in accord with the standard Deprovisioning policies. For example, assume a User Account Deprovisioning policy is configured so that a deprovisioned user account:
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Is disabled.
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Is renamed.
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Has the Description changed.
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Has a number of properties cleared out.
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Has the password set to a random value.
In this case, the Undo Deprovisioning operation:
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Enables the user account.
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Sets the Description, Name, and other properties to the original values on the user account.
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Can provide the option to reset the password so as to enable the user to log on.
Similar behavior is in effect for the other policies of the Deprovisioning category:
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If the Deprovision operation revokes user access to resources such as the home folder or Exchange mailbox, then the Undo Deprovisioning operation attempts to restore user access to the resources.
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If the Deprovision operation removes a user account from certain groups, the Undo Deprovisioning operation can add the user account to those groups, restoring the original group memberships of the user account.
To offer another example, suppose the deprovisioning policy is configured so that Deprovision operation on a group:
In this case, the Undo Deprovisioning operation:
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Restores the original membership list of the group, as it was at the time of deprovisioning
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Renames the group, restoring the original name of the group
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Moves the group to the container that held the group at the time of deprovisioning
Similar behavior is in effect for the other group deprovisioning policy options:
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If the Deprovision operation hides the group from the Global Address List (GAL), Undo Deprovisioning restores the visibility of the group in the GAL.
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If the Deprovision operation changes the group type from Security to Distribution, Undo Deprovisioning sets the group type back to Security.
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If the Deprovision operation changes any other properties of the group, Undo Deprovisioning restores the original property values.
Both the Active Roles Console and Web Interface provide the Undo Deprovisioning command on deprovisioned users or groups. When selected on a deprovisioned object, this command originates a request to restore the object. Upon receipt of the request, Active Roles performs all necessary actions to undo the results of deprovisioning on the object, and provides a detailed report of the actions that were taken along with information about success or failure of each action.
Policy options to undo user deprovisioning
The behavior of the Undo Deprovisioning operation is determined by a configurable policy contained in a built-in Policy Object. This is the Policy Object named Built-in Policy - Default Rules to Undo User Deprovisioning and located in the Builtin container under Configuration/Policies/Administration. The Policy Object is applied to the Active Directory folder, thus taking effect in all domains that are registered with Active Roles (managed domains).
The option provided by this policy can be used to prevent restoration of group memberships and resetting of the user password:
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Restore group memberships: When selected, causes the Undo Deprovisioning operation on a deprovisioned user account to add the account to the distribution and security groups from which the account was removed in accord with the Group Membership Removal policy. If you do not want restored accounts to be automatically added to groups, clear this option.
Note that regardless of whether this option is selected, once a deprovisioned user account is restored, Active Roles automatically adds the account to the appropriate Dynamic Groups and Group Families depending on properties of the account.
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Leave password unchanged: Causes the Undo Deprovisioning operation on a deprovisioned user account to prevent resetting of the password for the restored account. Select this option if you want the password to be reset by the HelpDesk or by using a self-service password management solution after the account is restored.
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Prompt to reset password: Causes the Undo Deprovisioning operation on a deprovisioned user account to enable resetting of the password for the restored account. If this option is selected, the Undo Deprovisioning command displays a dialog in which the password can be reset.
To view or modify the policy options
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Open the Active Roles Console.
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In the Console tree, expand Configuration > Policies > Administration, and select Builtin under Administration.
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In the details pane, double-click Built-in Policy - Default Rules to Undo User Deprovisioning.
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On the Policies tab in the Properties dialog, click the policy in the list, and then click View/Edit to access the policy options.
Since the built-in Policy Object is normally applied to the Active Directory node in the Active Roles namespace, the policy options are in effect on any deprovisioned user account. If you need different policy options for different domains or containers, create a copy of the built-in Policy Object, and then configure and apply the copy as appropriate.
The Undo Deprovisioning operation is normally enabled in all domains that are registered with Active Roles. It is possible to prohibit this operation in individual domains or containers, or in all domains, by blocking or disabling the policy that governs the operation. In case of disabling the built-in Policy Object, an enabled copy of that Policy Object can be applied in order to allow the Undo Deprovisioning operation in individual domains or containers.
Delegating the task to undo deprovisioning
Restoring deprovisioned users or groups is, by default, a right of Active Roles Admin, the administrative account specified during Active Roles installation, but this task can be delegated to any group or user. A dedicated Access Template is provided for this purpose so you can delegate the use of the Undo Deprovisioning command without delegating the create or delete operation.
To delegate the task of restoring deprovisioned users or groups held in a certain container, such as an Organizational Unit or a Managed Unit, you should apply the Access Template as follows.
To delegate the Undo Deprovisioning task
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In the Active Roles Console, right-click the container and click Delegate Control to display the Active Roles Security window.
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In the Active Roles Security window, click Add to start the Delegation of Control Wizard. Click Next.
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On the Users or Groups page, click Add, and then select the users or groups to which you want to delegate the task. Click Next.
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On the Access Templates page, expand the Active Directory folder and then do the following:
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To delegate the task of restoring deprovisioned users, select the check box next to Users - Perform Undo Deprovision Tasks.
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To delegate the task of restoring deprovisioned groups, select the check box next to Groups - Perform Undo Deprovision Tasks.
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Click Next and follow the instructions in the wizard, accepting the default settings.
After you complete these steps, the users and groups you selected in Step 3 are authorized to restore deprovisioned users in the container you selected in Step 1, as well as in any sub-container of that container.
Using the Undo Deprovisioning command
The Undo Deprovisioning command is available in both the Active Roles Console and Web Interface to those who are authorized to restore deprovisioned users or groups. By using this command, you start the Undo Deprovisioning operation on the objects you have selected, causing Active Roles to undo the results of deprovisioning on those objects.
To restore a deprovisioned user account
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In the Active Roles Console, right-click the user account, and then click Undo Deprovisioning.
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In the Password Options dialog, choose the options to apply to the password of the restored account, and then click OK.
For information about each option, open the Password Options dialog, and then press F1.
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Wait while Active Roles restores the user account.
To restore a deprovisioned group
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In the Active Roles Console, right-click the group, and then click Undo Deprovisioning.
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Wait while Active Roles restores the group.
The operation progress and results are displayed in the Results of Undo Deprovisioning window, which is similar to the Deprovisioning Results window discussed earlier in this chapter. When the operation is completed, the window displays the operation summary, and allows you to examine operation results in detail.