After a team member leaves, should account authorization and workspace permissions be checked?

Yes, you should immediately review account authorization, Meta access, and any internal access a former team member may have used to protect your business's security. Failing to properly offboard a team member from your digital accounts is one of the most common security risks for creators and businesses. It’s not about a lack of trust; it’s about maintaining a secure and controlled environment for your brand, audience data, and marketing tools. The unique challenge is remembering every single platform where they had access. A systematic checklist ensures no account is forgotten.

Your Offboarding Security Checklist

When a team member departs, their access should be removed promptly and thoroughly. A disorganized approach can leave sensitive data and account controls exposed. Follow these steps to secure your accounts.

1. Change All Shared Passwords: The first and most immediate step is to change any passwords that were shared or that the former team member may have known. This includes passwords for social media accounts, email providers, or any other shared tool.

2. Revoke Direct Platform Access: Go directly into the native platforms. For Instagram and Facebook, this means removing them as an admin, editor, or other role from your Meta Business Suite. This revokes their core permission to manage your page or profile.

3. Audit Third-Party Tool Access: Many businesses forget that third-party tools connected to social media may still be accessible through shared credentials, browser sessions, or internal team processes. Review who can access your connected tools, update shared access where needed, and make sure only current team members can manage conversations or automations.

4. Review Email and File Sharing Access: Remove their user account from your company email (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft 365) and any file-sharing services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Notion. This protects internal documents and communications.

Why a Clean Offboarding Process Matters

Properly revoking access prevents potential data breaches, unauthorized posts, or accidental changes to your marketing campaigns. It protects sensitive customer information exchanged in DMs and ensures that only current, authorized team members have control over your brand’s presence. By making this checklist a standard part of your offboarding procedure, you ensure that your social media channels, Meta permissions, and connected tools remain secure and fully under your control.