What happens when the person who knows the passwords leaves?
Key-person dependencies are one of the most common and least-addressed risks in small organizations. When one person holds all the access, knowledge, or vendor relationships, their departure — planned or not — creates real problems.
Fixing the problem — and what allowed it
When a failure surfaces, the instinct is to fix it and move on. But the transition period — before the immediate problem is resolved — is often the best opportunity to identify the dependencies that allowed it to happen. Web Relevant looks for those before closing out the repair, not after. Addressing the underlying condition while the situation is already open is almost always easier than returning to it later.
Account ownership and access audit
The first step is understanding what exists. Web Relevant conducts a systematic review of the accounts, platforms, and services a business depends on — identifying who owns each one, who has access, and where the gaps are. Most organizations are surprised by what they find.
Eliminating single-person dependencies
A single-person dependency exists wherever one individual is the sole owner, sole contact, or sole person with knowledge of a critical system. Web Relevant maps these explicitly, then works to establish shared or recoverable access, organizational contact information, and clear ownership — so the organization is not one departure away from a problem.
Documentation and cross-training
Institutional knowledge that lives only in someone's head is a liability. Web Relevant works with organizations to document the systems, accounts, vendors, and procedures that keep the business running — and where appropriate, helps cross-train the people who need to know.
Transition planning for employee or officer changes
Whether a departure is planned or unexpected, the transition period is when access gaps and undocumented dependencies cause the most damage. Web Relevant helps organizations prepare — identifying what needs to be handed off, to whom, and in what order — before the transition happens.
Vendor and service continuity
Vendor relationships, service contracts, and auto-renewing subscriptions are often tied to individual email addresses or personal accounts. Web Relevant reviews active vendor relationships and ensures that the organization — not any one person — is the accountable party for the services it depends on.
This is practical, approachable work — not a formal audit, compliance review, or cybersecurity assessment. The goal is clarity and resilience. Not every failure can be prevented, but most organizations can be made significantly less vulnerable.
CONTACT
Is your organization prepared for a transition?
Most aren't — and that's not unusual. Get in touch and we'll start with an honest look at where things stand.
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