Disney’s recent security breach dramatically highlights the critical importance of professional access management within managed IT services. A former senior menu manager exploited a basic failure in managing the lifecycle of employee permissions, gaining access to the company’s systems and causing significant disruptions.
This incident exposes a common vulnerability in many organizations: while substantial resources are allocated to defend against external cyber threats, internal access management—an essential component of managed IT services—often remains unsecured. At Disney, the employee’s permissions were not revoked after their departure, allowing them to make malicious changes to the company’s digital menu systems.
“This event illustrates how poor access management can lead to significant damages,” explains Eli Cohen, cybersecurity expert and CEO of Y-Tech. “When an organization implements professional managed IT services, access management processes include real-time automation for provisioning, updating, and revoking permissions, fully synchronized with the HR system.”
The damage extended beyond menu disruptions: fonts were altered to gibberish, allergen warnings were removed, and QR codes redirected to political content. It took Disney weeks to rectify the issues, underscoring the high cost of lapses in access management.
Cybersecurity experts recommend several critical steps within the framework of managed IT services:
- Implementation of advanced IAM (Identity and Access Management) systems
- Automation of access management processes
- Regular reviews of existing permissions
- Tight integration between HR and IT systems
- Real-time monitoring of unusual activities
“In the cloud era, where employees connect to organizational systems from anywhere, access management has become increasingly complex,” adds [Israel Israeli], a senior IT consultant. “Professional managed IT services provide the essential layer of control, monitoring, and security that every organization needs.”
Disney’s incident serves as a warning to all organizations: investing in managed IT services, particularly professional access management, is not a luxury—it is a strategic necessity to protect company assets and ensure uninterrupted operations.
