Create Google Workspace Service Account

Create Google Workspace Service Account

Create Google Workspace Service Account: A Step-by-Step Guide;

Businesses looking to automate tasks, integrate Google Workspace with other apps, or manage their organization’s Google services programmatically? A Google Workspace service account is the key to unlocking these possibilities. This guide walk will take you through the process of creating a service account, explaining the benefits and use cases along the way.

A service account is a special type of account that allows applications to interact with Google Workspace APIs, enabling automation, integration, and management of Google services. With a service account, you can perform tasks such as creating and managing users, configuring security settings, and automating workflows. Whether you are a developer, administrator, or IT professional, a service account can help you streamline processes and improve efficiency.

Creating a service account is a straightforward process that requires a Google Workspace account and a Google Cloud Platform project. This guide will cover the necessary steps, from enabling the Google Cloud Platform to creating credentials for your service account. By the end of this article, you will have a fully functional service account, ready to unlock the power of automation and integration in your Google Workspace environment.

It takes you through the process of setting up a Google Cloud Platform project, enabling the Google Workspace API, and creating credentials for your service account. You will learn how to manage your service account effectively and understand the best practices for keeping your service account secure. By following this guide, you will be able to harness the power of service accounts to automate tasks, integrate Google Workspace with other apps, and take your productivity to the next level.

What Is a Google Workspace Service Account?

• A Service Account is a special type of Google account used by applications, not users.
• It provides secure, programmatic access to Google Workspace services like Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and Admin SDK.

Requirements to Create A Google Workspace Service Account

Before you begin, ensure the following:

• Google Workspace Admin Access: You must have super admin privileges in your domain.
• Google Cloud Project: You need to create or use an existing project in the Google Cloud Console.
• APIs Enabled: Enable the appropriate Workspace APIs in your cloud project.
• Billing Account (if applicable): While many services are free within limits, some API usage may incur charges.

Steps To Create A Google Workspace Service Account

Follow the guide below to create a workspace service account:

Open Google Cloud Console:

• Go to: https://console.cloud.google.com/
• Log in with your Google account.

Create a New Project:

• Click the project dropdown at the top.
• Select “New Project.”
• Enter a project name and select a billing account (if required).
• Click “Create.”

Enable APIs:

• In your project dashboard, go to “APIs & Services > Library.”

Search for and enable relevant APIs, such as:

• Admin SDK
• Gmail API
• Google Drive API
• Calendar API
• Click “Enable” for each API you need.

Create a Service Account:

• Go to “IAM & Admin > Service Accounts.”
• Click “+ Create Service Account.”
• Add a name and ID for the service account.
• Click “Create and Continue.”

(Optional) Assign roles like:

• Project > Viewer
• Or any other role depending on your needs.
• Click “Done.”

Generate and Download a Key:

• Click the service account you just created.
• Go to the “Keys” tab.
• Click “Add Key > Create New Key.”
• Choose JSON and click “Create.”

A .json private key file will be downloaded—keep this secure!

Enable Domain-Wide Delegation (Optional for Admin-Level Access):

• In the service account settings, check “Enable G Suite Domain-wide Delegation.”
• Save the unique Client ID shown under “Domain-wide Delegation.”

Grant Access in Google Admin Console:

• Go to: https://admin.google.com/
• Navigate to: Security > API Controls > Domain-wide Delegation
• Click “Add New.”

Enter:

• Client ID (from Step 6)
• OAuth scopes for the APIs (https://www.googleapis.com/auth/admin.directory.user.readonly)
• Click “Authorize.”

Cost of Google Workspace Service Account

Creating and using a service account itself is free, but:

You need an active Google Workspace plan:

• Business Starter: $6/user/month
• Business Standard: $12/user/month
• Business Plus: $18/user/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Costs:

• APIs like Gmail and Admin SDK are mostly free within generous usage limits.
• BigQuery, Cloud Functions, or extra storage might incur charges if used in the project.

To avoid unexpected charges, you can set budget alerts in GCP.

Common Use Cases for Google Workspace Service Accounts

• Automating user management with the Admin SDK
• Accessing Drive files across the organization
• Sending or managing Gmail messages programmatically
• Managing calendar events for multiple users

Creating a Google Workspace service account is a powerful way to automate tasks, integrate with other apps, and manage your organization’s Google services programmatically. By following these steps, you’ll have a fully functional service account, ready to unlock the power of automation and integration in your Google Workspace environment. Go To Google Workspace for More