Why doesn't site admin get access to all products by default?

[Jim Stewart]

I can understand that in JIra you want to assign products to people very granularly so as to limit access. But I am puzzled as to how one can be made a site admin and still have to be added to products. To me it's like saying, "Here is this god-like power. But not really." Is this primarily for licensing reasons? Otherwise, I can't think of one good reason why a site admin should not get full access everywhere (although I assume, less than org admin.) 

[John Funk · Accepted solution]

Hi Jim,

In our case, our Identity and Access Management (IAM) people grant access and provision users. They are not necessarily using all of the products. In fact, they are not. So it is just a way to provide separation of functions. Nor do I think it is intended to be a "god-like power". 

[Jim Stewart]

Ok. So not a license thing. Admin does have that god-like aura in many apps. But thanks.