User Lifecycle: Deactivate, Reactivate, Delete
Manage a user through their lifecycle — deactivate (suspend) access, reactivate it, or delete the user. Deletion is a soft delete that preserves historical records.
#Purpose
Control access as people join, pause, or leave.
#When to use this
When suspending access, restoring it, or offboarding someone.
#At a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Required permissions | User management (CEO or admin) |
| Administrator level | CEO / Admin |
| Portal areas used | Users, User lifecycle |
#Workflow
1
Active user
Has access.
2
Deactivate
Access suspended.
3
Reactivate
Access restored.
4
Delete
Soft-deleted; history kept.
#Step by step
1
Open the user
Go to the user in user management.
2
Choose an action
Deactivate to suspend access, reactivate to restore it, or delete to offboard.
3
Confirm
Apply the change; deactivation blocks sign-in, deletion is a soft delete.
4
Reassign their work if leaving
Move their leads, tasks, or tickets to another owner.
#Approval points
No formal approval gate
This administrative action does not require a separate sign-off, but review carefully before applying changes.
#Security notes
Security considerations
- Deactivate immediately when someone should lose access.
- Soft delete preserves history for audit and referential integrity — records they touched are retained.
- Consider forcing sign-out across sessions for a compromised account.
#Best practices
- Deactivate rather than delete if the change may be temporary.
- Reassign work before offboarding.
#Common mistakes
- Deleting a user who still owns active work.
- Forgetting that deactivation blocks sign-in but keeps the record.
#Troubleshooting
| If this happens | Try this |
|---|---|
| Deactivated user still has access | Confirm the change saved; force sign-out of all sessions if needed. |
| I need a deleted user's data | Soft delete preserves historical rows tied to the user. |
#FAQ
Is delete permanent?
Delete is a soft delete — the account is deactivated and marked deleted, but historical records are preserved.
What is the difference between deactivate and delete?
Deactivate suspends access reversibly; delete soft-removes the user while keeping history.
#Keep exploring
#Related admin guides
#Business modules & workflows
Getting Started
Initial setup.
Platform Overview
How the OS fits together.
Knowledge Base
Task-level how-tos.
Business Workflows
End-to-end processes.
Still need help?
Can’t find what you’re looking for? The DevSphere OS team is happy to help.
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