SharePoint Access Requests: Who Approves Them & How to Secure Permissions

Introduction: Why Access Requests Matter in SharePoint

As organizations across India, the United States, and global delivery teams increasingly rely on SharePoint for collaboration, document management, and compliance-driven workflows, controlling who can access what has become a critical governance requirement.

Whether you are a mid-sized enterprise, a regulated organization, or an MSP managing Microsoft 365 environments for multiple clients, poorly managed SharePoint access can lead to:

• Accidental data exposure
• Compliance violations (ISO, SOC, HIPAA, etc.)
• Excessive IT support tickets
• User frustration and shadow IT

One of the most common governance questions is: Who can approve access requests in SharePoint, and how should this be managed securely at scale?

This guide explains SharePoint access request approval, permission levels, admin roles, configuration steps, and best practices—helping organizations implement secure, scalable SharePoint permissions management across Microsoft 365.

What Are Access Requests in SharePoint?

Access requests in SharePoint allow users to formally request permission when they attempt to open a SharePoint site, document library, folder, or file they do not currently have access to.

Instead of emailing IT or site owners, users can submit a built-in request directly from SharePoint. The request is then routed to an approver who can grant or deny access.

Why Access Requests Are Important

• Reduces dependency on IT teams
• Improves turnaround time for users
• Maintains an audit trail of access changes
• Supports distributed ownership models

For organizations undergoing SharePoint migration from file servers or legacy systems, access requests play a key role in replacing ad-hoc folder permissions with structured governance.

Who Can Approve Access Requests in SharePoint?

The ability to approve SharePoint site access depends on the permission model and how access request settings are configured.

·         Site Owners (Most Common Approvers)

By default, site owners are the primary approvers for SharePoint access requests. Users with Full Control permission can approve or reject requests.

Site owners are best positioned to approve access because they:

• Understand the site’s business purpose
• Know which data is confidential or restricted
• Can respond quickly without involving IT

This makes site owner permissions in SharePoint a foundational element of good governance—especially for departmental and project sites.

·         SharePoint Administrators (Tenant-Level Governance)

A Microsoft 365 SharePoint admin has control over all SharePoint sites in the tenant. While they typically don’t approve daily access requests, they are responsible for:

• Configuring access request settings
• Assigning or removing site owners
• Enforcing SharePoint security settings
• Supporting audits and compliance reviews

In managed environments, SharePoint admins often support organizations through SharePoint managed services, ensuring permissions stay aligned with governance policies.

·         Microsoft 365 Global Administrators

Global admins have the highest level of control across Microsoft 365, including SharePoint. However, best practice is to avoid using global admins for routine access approvals.

Their role should be limited to:

• Security incidents
• Tenant-wide policy enforcement
• Emergency access scenarios

Overusing global admin privileges increases risk and weakens governance controls.

·         Centralized Approval Mailbox or Group

Some organizations route access requests to a shared mailbox or Microsoft 365 group rather than an individual. This is common when:

• Multiple stakeholders manage a site
• MSPs provide centralized SharePoint support
• Ownership rotates frequently

This model works well when combined with documented approval SLAs as part of SharePoint support services.

Permission Levels Required to Approve Requests

To manage SharePoint access requests, a user must have:

• Full Control permission on the site, or
• Owner role for Microsoft 365 Group–connected sites

Users with Read, Contribute, or Edit permissions cannot approve access requests.

This distinction becomes especially important during SharePoint setup or restructuring projects, where incorrect permission assignment can either block productivity or expose sensitive data.

How to Configure Access Request Settings in SharePoint

Access request behavior is configurable at the site level.

High-Level Configuration Steps:

1. Go to Site Settings
2. Select Site Permissions
3. Open Access Request Settings
4. Configure:
• Whether access requests are allowed
• Who receives approval emails
• Whether requests are disabled entirely

For HR, Finance, Legal, or regulated workloads, many organizations disable access requests and enforce controlled access via IT or governance workflows.

Understanding these SharePoint security settings is essential during SharePoint customization projects, where permission inheritance and metadata-based security may be applied.

Best Practices for Approving Access Requests

1. Apply Least Privilege Access

Always grant the minimum permission level required. Avoid defaulting to Edit or Full Control.

2. Assign Multiple Site Owners

Never rely on a single owner. At least two trained owners reduce delays and business risk.

3. Use Groups, Not Individuals

Grant access through SharePoint or Microsoft 365 groups to simplify long-term permissions management.

4. Review Access Regularly

Quarterly or biannual access reviews are essential—especially after employee exits or role changes.

5. Document Approval Decisions

For compliance-driven organizations, documenting who approved access and why is critical for audits.

These practices are commonly implemented as part of SharePoint managed services engagements to ensure ongoing governance.

When to Escalate to IT or Admin Teams

Not all access requests should be approved at the site level. Escalate to IT or SharePoint admins when:

• External users request access
• The site contains confidential or regulated data
• Permission inheritance must be broken
• Requests conflict with security or compliance policies
• Ownership or data classification is unclear

Clear escalation rules reduce risk and improve consistency—especially in MSP-managed or multi-tenant environments.

Conclusion:

Keep SharePoint Secure, Scalable, and User-Friendly – SharePoint access request approval is not just about permissions—it’s about governance, accountability, and user trust.

By clearly defining:

• Who can approve access requests in SharePoint
• Which permission levels apply
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