Why are there so many inactive accounts in my SaaS apps?

There are so many inactive accounts in SaaS apps because identities often outlive their users. Employees leave, roles change, apps are abandoned, and OAuth tokens remain active long after the person stops using the service. Many SaaS platforms don’t automatically remove or deactivate accounts when users are suspended, offboarded, or moved to new teams, which leads to unused accounts accumulating over time.

Identity providers also operate independently from SaaS systems, meaning account removal does not always propagate automatically. Many organizations use platforms like FrontierZero to detect unused accounts, cross-check them against active identities, and surface access that should be removed.

Why Inactive Accounts Build Up Across SaaS Environments

Even mature security organizations deal with “identity residue” — accounts that remain active long after their purpose ends. This creates both operational clutter and a meaningful attack surface.

Here are the main reasons:

1. SaaS accounts don’t auto-expire when a user stops using the tool

Most SaaS applications keep accounts active indefinitely.
If a user doesn’t sign in for months, the account stays open unless:

  • an admin manually removes it
  • the vendor enforces inactivity rules
  • an automated cleanup process exists

Few platforms enforce automatic deactivation.

2. Offboarding processes rarely cover every SaaS application

HR and IT workflows typically remove access from:

  • the identity provider
  • core systems
  • email

But they do not reliably remove:

  • OAuth tokens
  • connected apps
  • third-party SaaS accounts
  • personal or user-created integrations

This leads to “orphaned” accounts — accounts tied to users who no longer work at the company.

Tools like FrontierZero surface orphaned accounts automatically by matching SaaS users against active identity directory accounts.

3. OAuth tokens remain valid long after employees leave

OAuth tokens do not expire when a user:

  • leaves the company
  • is disabled in the directory
  • changes roles
  • stops using the app

Unless revoked, these tokens continue granting access.

This is a major cause of inactive but still technically active accounts.

How to Find and Fix Inactive SaaS Accounts (Step-by-Step)

1. Compare SaaS user lists to the identity provider

Export or review user lists from SaaS apps and cross-check them against:

  • active users
  • suspended users
  • offboarded employees
  • contractors
  • service accounts

FrontierZero automates this comparison and flags accounts that no longer match active identities.

2. Identify accounts with no recent activity

Most SaaS tools expose:

  • last login timestamp
  • activity logs
  • token usage

Look for:

  • users with no activity in 30, 60, or 90 days
  • accounts that accumulate over time but were never used
  • integrations with stale OAuth tokens

FrontierZero highlights inactive accounts across every connected SaaS platform.

3. Remove or revoke stale access

Once you find inactive accounts, take action:

  • disable the account
  • revoke OAuth tokens
  • remove seat licenses
  • review app-level permissions
  • close unused accounts entirely

This reduces your attack surface and saves license cost.

How do inactive accounts become a security risk?

Inactive accounts often have:

  • unchanged access levels
  • older permissions
  • unmonitored OAuth tokens
  • no MFA enforcement
  • no behavioral baselines

Attackers target inactive and forgotten accounts because no one is watching them.

FrontierZero highlights these accounts as high-risk.

How often should I review for inactive SaaS accounts?

Most teams review:

  • monthly (standard hygiene)
  • weekly (fast-growing SaaS environments)
  • after major offboarding periods

FrontierZero monitors inactivity continuously.

Why does offboarding fail to remove SaaS accounts?

Because SaaS apps operate outside the identity provider.
Removing access in Okta or Entra does not guarantee removal inside:

  • project tools
  • AI tools
  • note-taking apps
  • collaboration platforms
  • storage providers

FrontierZero identifies accounts that remain active despite directory offboarding.

FAQ

Do SaaS apps remove inactive users automatically?

Very few do. Most keep accounts active until an admin removes them.

Are inactive accounts the same as orphaned accounts?

No. Inactive = unused. Orphaned = no matching identity. Both are risks.

Can inactive accounts still access corporate data?

Yes. If the account is active or the OAuth token is valid, the app can still access data.