Upon termination, what is the most critical action an organization must take?

Disabling the employee's logical access is the most critical action upon termination because it immediately mitigates the risk of unauthorized access to the organization’s information systems and sensitive data. When an employee is terminated, they may still retain access credentials that could potentially be exploited to retrieve or manipulate confidential information or disrupt operations. By promptly disabling access, the organization can prevent any unauthorized actions by the former employee, ensuring that data integrity and security are maintained.

Maintaining security protocols during employee transitions is essential to safeguard the organization's assets. This step is often prioritized because it directly impacts the security posture of the entire organization, preventing any potential data breaches that could arise from a disgruntled or opportunistic former employee.

Other actions, such as notifying employees or completing a backup of the terminated employee's work, while important for operational continuity, do not address the immediate security risks and are often secondary to ensuring that access controls are updated promptly to protect the organization from potential threats. The transfer of files, while necessary for continuity of work, also does not secure the environment against the risks posed by the access held by the terminated employee.