End‑User Initiated Approval for Just‑in‑Time Privileged Access Management with Zscaler PRA

1. The Clock is Ticking; Access with Precision

A system outage. Operations halted. Customers waiting. The contractor who can fix everything is ready to act but the system is locked down, and no one is available to approve access. Each passing second magnifies the risk: reputational damage, lost revenue, and the potential for security vulnerabilities to grow unchecked. Timing isn’t just critical here—it’s everything.

When privileged access becomes a bottleneck, delays aren’t just inconvenient they’re costly. How do you deliver the right access, to the right people, at the right time, without exposing your enterprise to unnecessary risk?

This is where Zscaler’s End-User Initiated Approval changes the game. It empowers users with secure, precise, and time-bound access, just-in-time, tightly scoped, and seamlessly aligned with Zero Trust principles. No bottlenecks, no residual risks, just streamlined workflows that deliver agility without compromises.

Now imagine this: What could your business achieve if every access process just worked without compromising the security? Critical systems would stay operational, teams would remain productive, and security would never have to play second fiddle to speed. With Zscaler PRA, this isn’t a future goal rather it’s today’s reality.

2. What is End User Initiated Approval? Why Does It Matter?

For many organizations, privileged access workflows haven’t evolved at the speed of modern business. Traditional systems rely on manual approvals, out-of-band communications, and outdated processes—often requiring expensive integrations with tools like ITSM or ServiceNow. In fast-moving scenarios such as operational maintenance, urgent troubleshooting, or system audits; every minute lost waiting for approvals is a minute too long.

These inefficiencies don’t just slow operations; they create ripple effects:

• Delayed tasks that disrupt business continuity.
• Higher operational risks when over-permissioned users have prolonged access to systems.
• Frustrated teams who can’t work quickly because of unnecessary bottlenecks.

But Zscaler’s End-User Initiated Approval rewrites this narrative. Acting as a flexible, secure “temporary badge,” it enables users to request access directly through the PRA portal. No costly ITSM integrations. No reliance on time-consuming admin approvals or outdated workflows. Just instant, precise access to the resources users need with permissions automatically expiring the moment they’re no longer required.

This level of agility it’s what separates slow, risk-prone enterprises from ones that are secure, productive, and prepared for the modern age.

3. How End User Initiated Approval Works in Zscaler PRA

Zscaler’s End-User Initiated Approval simplifies everything about privileged access. Here’s how it works:

• End-User Request: Users log into the PRA Portal, access the "My Approvals" tab, and submit a request by selecting the specific console or resource they need, defining a time window, and providing a justification for the task.

  

• Admin Review and Adjustment: Admins receive the request in the PRA dashboard, where they have the flexibility to review, modify, and approve or reject the request directly.

  

• Granular, Time-Bound Access: Approved users receive scoped access to a specific system for the precise time window. Once the session expires, Zscaler automatically revokes access without any manual effort from administrators.

  

This streamlined, self-service workflow gives admins control while enabling immediate action from users. Coupled with Zscaler’s Zero Trust Architecture, the solution ensures that access is limited, secure, and auditable, keeping your sensitive systems safe while boosting operational efficiency.

4. Benefits for Modern Enterprises

Zscaler’s End-User Initiated Approval isn’t just a feature but a rethinking of how privileged access fits into today’s fast-paced business ecosystem. By empowering teams with precise, on-demand access, Zscaler empowers organizations to move faster, stay secure, and eliminate inefficiencies.

• Boost Uptime and Lower Risk: Critical tasks like maintenance or troubleshooting can’t wait. Zscaler enables secure, just-in-time access for contractors, employees, and vendors, removing the delays that cause operational downtime. Once tasks are complete, access is automatically revoked, ensuring no security gaps are left behind and enabling businesses to minimize risks while keeping everything swiftly in motion.
• Enhance Safety and Security: Standing privileges are a thing of the past. With End-User Initiated Approval, access is granted on a temporary, task-specific basis, making sensitive systems and privileged consoles invisible to bad actors. This drastically reduces the attack surface, ensuring access is always on your terms; never the attackers’.
• Enables Just-in-Time Access for End-Users: No more waiting on email chains or admin responses. Users can log into the PRA Portal, request access, and with pre-defined permissions and time limits in place to get the approvals they need without delays. This just-in-time access ensures users stay productive while retaining control over who accesses critical systems. It’s seamless, fast, and leaves nothing to chance.
• Streamlined Approvals—No ITSM Required: Say goodbye to expensive, complex ITSM integrations. Zscaler’s PRA Portal operates natively, allowing requests, modifications, and approvals to be managed in one place. Both users and admins benefit from simplified workflows, real-time access, and transparent visibility without relying on tools like ServiceNow. The result? Faster operations with reduced costs and no friction.
• With Zscaler PRA, everyone benefits:
  • End Users: A simple, intuitive process for requesting and receiving access. Users can focus on the task at hand, confident that permissions are temporary, secure, and scoped to their needs.
  • Admins: A centralized dashboard keeps them in control, with full visibility into upcoming, active, and expired sessions. Features like "Purge Expired Approvals" ensure that every access grant is as clean as it is secure.

Zscaler’s End-User Initiated Approval ensures that access isn’t just granted it’s earned, managed, and revoked with precision. This isn’t just about securing systems; it’s about redefining workflows, empowering teams, and building a security posture that adapts to the pace of modern business.

5. Take the Next Step Toward Smarter Privileged Access

Your business moves fast, and your access solutions should keep up. Zscaler PRA with End-User Initiated Approval eliminates inefficiencies, controls risks, and delivers smarter, faster workflows for modern enterprises. Here’s how you can experience the future of privileged access:

• Explore Zscaler’s Interactive Product Tours: Learn more about Zscaler’s  End-user initial approval capabilities that make Zscaler a leader in secure privilege access.
• Request a Demo: See how Zscaler’s End-User Initiated Approval can help you transform operations with intelligent agility and control.
• Consult Documentation: Take the first step toward mastering end-user-driven privileged access for your organization.

Timing and control define the future of access management. With Zscaler, you don’t just secure sensitive systems—you transform your enterprise with precision, speed, and simplicity.