unprovisioned

Unprovisioned is an IT term used to describe resources that have not yet been provisioned for use. Provisioning is the process of configuring IT resources to meet a defined requirement, including creating accounts, deploying software, assigning access controls, and allocating compute, storage, or network capacity. An unprovisioned resource is typically in a standby or pending state—created or reserved but not activated or accessible to users.

Common contexts for unprovisioned resources include cloud environments, where a virtual machine, storage volume, or network service may exist in an unprovisioned state until an automated or manual provisioning step is completed. In identity and access management, a new user account may be created but not yet assigned roles or permissions, remaining unprovisioned until onboarding is finished. In device management, a new device might be enrolled but not provisioned with security policies or access credentials. In telecommunications, an unprovisioned subscriber line or SIM is not yet activated for service.

Lifecycle and governance around unprovisioned resources emphasize timely provisioning and deprovisioning. Automated workflows and infrastructure as code are commonly used to move resources from unprovisioned to provisioned status, while deprovisioning removes access and resources when they are no longer needed. Managing unprovisioned items helps reduce security risks, control costs, and improve service delivery by ensuring resources are activated only when appropriate.