Create A Google Workspace Service Account

Creating a Google Workspace service account is a foundational step for enabling automated and secure interactions between applications and Google Workspace services. Service accounts serve as non-human users that authenticate and authorise applications to access Google APIs without requiring end-user intervention. This capability is essential for enterprises seeking to integrate, manage, or migrate data seamlessly within the Google Workspace environment. Setting up a service account involves several critical steps, including project creation in Google Cloud, enabling necessary APIs, and configuring OAuth consent. Additionally, administrators must generate and securely store service account keys to authenticate for API access.

Proper configuration often requires assigning precise roles and permissions to ensure that the service account functions effectively while adhering to security best practices. Moreover, domain-wide delegation can be enabled to grant the service account authority to act on behalf of users, facilitating broad organisational access. This process demands careful balancing between operational needs and security considerations. By understanding the creation and management of Google Workspace service accounts, organisations can harness the full potential of Google Cloud’s capabilities while maintaining control over access and compliance.

This introduction sets the stage to explore the systematic approach and best practices involved in creating a secure and functional service account for Google Workspace. The subsequent sections will detail each step involved in this process, along with recommendations to mitigate security risks and promote efficient administration. Through this understanding, IT professionals can optimise their deployment strategies to support scalable and robust Google Workspace environments. Ultimately, mastering service account creation is pivotal for fostering innovation and operational excellence in cloud-based organisational infrastructures.

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To create a Google Workspace service account, follow these steps:

Create a Project

Go to Google Cloud and sign in as a super administrator
If it’s your first time signing in, agree to the Terms of Service
Click IAM & Admin and then Manage Resources (you might have to click the Menu icon first
Click Create Project at the top and enter a project name
(Optional) To add the project to a folder, click Browse for Location, navigate to the folder, and click Select
Click Create
Assign at least one other person the role of Project Owner to ensure the project can be maintained if the creator leaves the organisation.

Enable APIs for the Service Account

Check the box next to your new project
Click APIs & Services and then Library (you might have to click Menu first)
For each API you require, click the API name and then Enable:

Admin SDK
Google Calendar API
Contacts API
Gmail API
Groups Migration API

Set up the OAuth Consent Screen

Click APIs & Services and then OAuth consent screen (you might have to click Menu first)
For User Type, select Internal.
Click Create.
For App name, add the name of your application.
Select a User support email for users to contact with questions.
For Developer contact information, enter email addresses so Google can contact you about changes to your project.
Click Save and Continue

Create the Service Account

Click APIs & Services and then Credentials (you might have to click Menu first).
Click Create Credentials and then Service account.
For Service account name, enter a name for the service account.
(Optional) For the Service account description, enter a description of the service account.
Click Create and Continue, then Done.
Click Keys, then Add Key, then Create new key.
Make sure the key type is set to JSON and click Create. The service account’s private key JSON file will be downloaded to your computer. Note the file name and where your browser saves it because you’ll need it later.
Click Close

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Best Practices for Managing Google Workspace Service Accounts

To effectively manage Google Workspace service accounts, focus on security, least privilege, and consistent naming practices. Avoid domain-wide delegation where possible and use the Service Account Credentials API for temporary privilege elevation. Regularly identify and disable unused accounts, and manage service account keys securely, including rotating them and using organisation policies to restrict key creation.

Key Best Practices:

Principle of Least Privilege:

Grant service accounts only the necessary permissions for their intended tasks.

Single-Purpose Accounts:

Create service accounts for specific applications or services, not for general use.

Naming Conventions:

Follow a consistent naming convention for service accounts (e.g., svc-app-name).

Disable Unused Accounts:

Regularly disable service accounts that are no longer in use.

Key Management:

Avoid service account keys where possible, and if using them, manage them securely.

Rotate keys regularly.
Use organisation policy constraints to limit key creation and disable leaked keys.
Avoid storing keys in source code repositories or embedding them in binaries.

Alternatives to Keys:

Use the signJwt API for domain-wide delegation instead of relying on keys.

Secure Key Storage:

Store service account keys securely, preferably in a password manager, and restrict access to authorised administrators.

Domain-Wide Delegation:

If using domain-wide delegation, restrict access to the relevant Google Cloud project and minimise the number of users with edit access.

Privilege Elevation:

Use the Service Account Credentials API for temporary privilege elevation instead of granting higher-privileged service accounts.

Monitoring and Auditing:

Use insights and metrics to identify unused service accounts and keys, and use audit logs to track service account activity.

Security Groups:

Use security groups to manage access to sensitive applications and resources.

Limit Access:

Restrict access to service accounts at the Google Cloud project or folder level.

Avoid Sharing:

Avoid sharing service account keys between users or placing them in temporary locations.

Limit Metadata Server Access:

Limit metadata server access to selected users and processes.

Creating a Google Workspace service account involves a detailed, multi-step process that begins with project setup and API enabling, followed by OAuth consent configuration, service account creation, key generation, and domain-wide delegation. Proper configuration and diligent management of service accounts are essential to leverage their power safely while maintaining organisational security and compliance. By adhering to recommended best practices, organizations can optimise their Google Workspace integrations, automate workflows efficiently, and safeguard sensitive resources from misuse or unauthorised access. Click here for more information.

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