Before a new employee starts, define what they actually need: computer, Microsoft 365 license, mailbox, shared folders, printers, line-of-business applications and any remote access.
What changes as the office grows
Create the user with an individual account, require MFA, apply the appropriate licenses and access groups, configure the workstation, install management and security tools, apply updates and test the user's main applications.
What better management looks like
Document who approved access. This becomes especially important later when the employee changes roles or leaves. Offboarding should be the reverse process: disable access quickly, preserve required data, remove licenses where appropriate and document the change.
What to do next
The value of a checklist is not complexity. It is consistency. Every employee should receive the same minimum security and configuration standard.
