What happens when a database account used for data migration is retained post-migration?

Retaining a database account that was used during data migration can indeed pose a security risk. When such accounts are kept active, they might retain permissions and access rights that are no longer necessary or relevant after the migration is complete. This can create vulnerabilities, as an attacker could exploit these accounts to gain unauthorized access to the database or sensitive data.

Furthermore, if the credentials for these accounts are shared, compromised, or not properly managed, it could lead to data breaches or other security incidents. For organizations, minimizing the number of active accounts and ensuring that only necessary accounts remain helps to reduce the potential attack surface.

While it might be tempting to keep accounts for future use or convenience, proper security practices typically advocate for deactivating or deleting accounts that are no longer needed, particularly those involved in critical processes like data migration.