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Has somebody within your organization recently left? Are you concerned about their access to your Slack Workspace? Managing user access on Slack can be complex, especially when it involves ensuring security and compliance.
In this blog post, we give you step-by-step instructions on how to remove a user from Slack to keep your workspace tidy and accessible to the right people.
Before we proceed, let’s discuss scenarios when it’s appropriate to delete users from your Slack workspace.
When is it appropriate to remove a Slack user from your workspace?
There are many different scenarios when it makes sense to delete a Slack user. Here’s a list of the most common ones:
Employee termination
When an employee leaves the company, either through resignation or termination, you should delete their Slack account to protect sensitive company information and ensure that only current employees have access to internal communications.
Contract completion
Similarly, if a contractor or freelancer has completed their project or their contract period has ended, their Slack user should also be removed to maintain security and privacy, especially if they won’t be engaged in future projects immediately.
Role change
In cases where an employee's role changes significantly and no longer requires access to certain Slack channels or information, their access should be adjusted or removed, particularly if they move to a position with less data sensitivity.
Customer relationship termination
If you're using Slack Connect channels for B2B customer support and the business relationship with a particular customer ends, it would be appropriate to delete their Slack access. This action is crucial to protect sensitive information and maintain a clear boundary between current and past business relationships.
5 steps for removing a user on Slack
Removing a Slack account is a straightforward process. Follow these simple instructions:
Step 1: Open Slack and sign in
Start by opening Slack and signing in to your account. Make sure you have administrative or relevant permissions to manage users.
Step 2: Access the workspace directory
Click on the workspace name at the top left corner of your Slack window. From the dropdown menu, select 'Tools & settings'. Then, choose 'Manage members' or a similar option depending on your Slack version.
Step 3: Locate the user
In the 'Manage members' section, you'll see a list of all the users in your workspace. Browse through the list or use the search bar to find the specific user you want to remove.
Step 4: Remove the user
Once you've found the user, click on their name to open their profile. Look for a 'Remove' or 'Deactivate' button.
Step 5: Confirm the removal
Slack will usually ask for confirmation before removing a user. This step is important because removing a user may impact their access to messages and files in the workspace. Confirm the removal to complete the process.
Note: When a Slack account is deactivated, the individual will lose access and won't be able to log into the workspace anymore. However, the messages and files that the member shared will remain available on Slack.
Top Reasons to Remove a User from Slack in a B2B SaaS Business
Reason | Description | Impact on business | Action to consider |
|---|---|---|---|
Employee termination | An employee’s departure from the company. | Data security risk and potential exposure of sensitive information. | Deactivate account immediately and ensure knowledge transfer before deactivation. |
End of contract | A client or partner contract coming to an end. | Continued access may lead to security breaches or stakeholder confusion. | Revoke guest access upon contract expiration; consider limited, time-boxed data export access. |
Suspicious activity | Unusual login attempts or signs of a potential breach. | High risk of data compromise and misuse of company resources. | Suspend the account immediately and launch a security investigation; strengthen protocols. |
Policy violations | Repeated breaches of Slack usage policy (e.g., harassment). | Negative impact on culture and possible legal exposure. | Issue formal warnings, then remove the user and escalate disciplinary measures if needed. |
Inactive accounts | Users who haven’t logged in for an extended period. | Wasted license costs and added security vulnerabilities. | Define and communicate an inactivity policy; remove dormant accounts after notification. |
Mergers & acquisitions | Integration with another company’s Slack workspace. | Potential data security concerns and complex access management. | Develop a migration plan; deactivate or merge accounts according to agreed integration steps. |
Conclusion
To wrap things up, removing someone from your Slack workspace is pretty simple and something you might need to do now and then. Stick to the steps we’ve mentioned to keep your Slack space organized and secure.
Also, don’t forget to regularly check and update your Slack user list. This helps to ensure that everyone who's there is supposed to be there.
Now, to further enhance your Slack workspace, why not check out Thena? Thena is a Slack-based B2B customer management tool designed for ticketing and workflow automation.
Thena uses AI to quickly identify and address customer issues in Slack, creating support tickets automatically. This means less manual effort and faster responses to your customers. It organizes tickets efficiently, integrates with your existing business tools for quicker problem resolution, and prioritizes urgent matters. Thena is an ideal choice for businesses looking to streamline customer support and improve response times.
Ready to see the difference it can make? Book a free demo to discover Thena’s capabilities and wide use cases for forward-thinking organizations.
