What is the purpose of the application request and approval feature in Okta?

The application request and approval feature in Okta is fundamentally designed to provide a controlled and streamlined process for access management. Its primary purpose is to enable users to request access to specific applications while allowing administrators to oversee and manage these requests through an approval or denial process.

This feature ensures that access to applications is not granted indiscriminately; instead, it provides a mechanism for maintaining security and compliance. With this process in place, an organization can enforce policies related to who gets access to what based on roles, responsibilities, or specific business needs. It ultimately enhances accountability, ensuring that requests are reviewed and validated by designated personnel before access is granted.

Other features, such as automatically assigning applications to all users, managing user data in application integration, or simplifying password management, do not encapsulate the essential function of the request and approval feature, which is focused on controlled access rather than general management or automation processes.