What feature should a company use to automate employee access requests to SAML based applications?

The feature that a company should use to automate employee access requests to SAML-based applications is application request and approval. This functionality streamlines the process of granting access to applications by allowing employees to submit access requests, which can then be tracked and managed effectively.

When using SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language), the focus is on providing secure authentication and authorization to applications. Implementing an application request and approval process ensures that requests can be systematically reviewed and approved according to organizational policies. This not only enhances security by ensuring that only authorized individuals gain access to sensitive applications but also improves efficiency by automating what could otherwise be a manual and time-consuming process.

This feature is particularly beneficial in environments where employee roles frequently change, or where there is a high volume of access requests. It provides a clear workflow that includes notifications, escalations, and record-keeping, which are essential for compliance and auditing purposes.

Other features like access control lists and role-based access control are more about managing and defining permissions rather than automating the request process, while single sign-on is focused on user authentication and providing seamless access to multiple applications once authenticated, but does not address the specific need for automating access requests.