METHOD, SYSTEM AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR VERIFYING ACCESS TO A DATA OBJECT

1 . A computer-implemented method of verifying access to a data object, the method comprising:

automatically determining whether access to the data object requires verification;

obtaining an owner for the data object;

obtaining a set of current users having access to the data object;

providing the set of current users to the owner; and

receiving a set of verified users.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining step includes:

obtaining a frequency period for verifying access to the data object;

obtaining a previous time that access was verified for the data object; and

determining whether the frequency period has passed since the previous time.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising updating the previous time after receiving the set of verified users.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the set of current users based on the set of verified users.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising preventing access to the data object until the set of current users has been updated.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining a set of current users step comprises:

determining a set of current user groups that have access to the data object;

determining a set of additional users; and

generating the set of current users by selecting from the set of current user groups and the set of additional users.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, for each user in the set of current users:

determining if the user is a current employee; and

indicating whether the user comprises a current employee.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step comprises:

generating an electronic message that comprises a description of the data object and the set of current users; and

sending the electronic message to the owner.

9 . A computer-implemented method of requesting verification of access to a data object, the method comprising:

obtaining a frequency period for verifying access to the data object;

obtaining a previous time that the access was verified for the data object;

determining that the frequency period has passed since the previous time;

obtaining an owner for the data object; and

sending a request to the owner to verify access to the data object.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

obtaining a set of current users having access to the data object; and

providing the set of current users to the owner.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the obtaining a set of current users step comprises:

determining a set of current user groups that have access to the data object;

determining a set of additional users; and

generating the set of current users by selecting from the set of current user groups and the set of additional users.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, for each user in the set of current users:

obtaining at least one attribute for the user; and

indicating the at least one attribute to the owner.

13 . A system for verifying access to a data object, the system comprising:

a monitor system for automatically determining when access to the data object requires verification;

an owner system for obtaining an owner for the data object;

a selection system for obtaining a set of current users having access to the data object; and

a verification system for providing the set of current users to the owner.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the verification system further receives a set of verified users.

15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising an access system for updating the set of current users based on the set of verified users.

16 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising an attribute system for obtaining at least one attribute for each user in the set of current users.

17 . A program product stored on a recordable medium for verifying access to a data object, which when executed comprises:

program code for automatically determining when access to the data object requires verification;

program code for obtaining an owner for the data object;

program code for obtaining a set of current users having access to the data object; and

program code for providing the set of current users to the owner.

18 . The program product of claim 17 , further comprising program code for receiving a set of verified users.

19 . The program product of claim 18 , further comprising program code for updating the set of current users based on the set of verified users.

20 . The program product of claim 17 , further comprising program code for indicating each user in the set of current users that is not a current employee.

21 . A system for deploying an application for requesting verification of access to a data object, the system comprising:

a computer infrastructure being operable to:

automatically determine when access to the data object requires verification;

obtain an owner for the data object;

obtain a set of current users having access to the data object; and

provide the set of current users to the owner.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to indicate at least one attribute for each user in the set of current users.

23 . Computer software embodied in a propagated signal for verifying access to a data object, the computer software comprising instructions to cause a computer system to perform the following functions:

automatically determine when access to the data object requires verification;

obtain an owner for the data object;

obtain a set of current users having access to the data object;

provide the set of current users to the owner;

receive a set of verified users; and

update the set of current users based on the set of verified users.