An access review is a process of reviewing the access rights and permissions of a user or group of users to ensure that they have the appropriate level of access to systems, resources, and data. This typically involves reviewing the user’s access rights and privileges, and verifying that they are in line with the user’s job responsibilities and the overall security and compliance policies of the organization. Access reviews can be conducted manually or with the help of automated tools, and are typically performed on a regular basis to ensure that access rights remain appropriate over time.
On the other hand, an access certification is a process of formally reviewing and approving the access rights of users to ensure that they are in compliance with an organization’s security and compliance policies. Access certification typically involves a more thorough review of a user’s access rights, including a review of their job responsibilities, the systems and resources they have access to, and the data they are able to access. Access certification is typically performed by a designated group of individuals within an organization, such as a security team or an audit team, and may involve additional steps such as training or testing to ensure that users have the necessary knowledge and skills to properly handle their access privileges.