Who is accountable for authorizing application access in a cloud Software as a Service (SaaS) solution?

The cloud service provider manages the underlying infrastructure and software for SaaS but typically does not control or authorize *who* within the customer organization gets access to the application's data or features.

The IT department is responsible for *implementing* and *managing* access controls (e.g., configuring permissions), but they typically do not *authorize* the business need for access; that decision rests with the data/application owner.

Senior management sets strategic directives and overall security policies, but they typically delegate the granular authorization of application access to the specific business unit owners who understand the operational needs.

The business unit owner is responsible for the operations and objectives of their specific business area and possesses the necessary understanding of roles, responsibilities, and business justifications for access. Therefore, they are best positioned to determine who requires access to specific applications and data within their domain, making them accountable for access authorization decisions.