cis-gworkspace-1-1-1

name: cis-gworkspace-1.1.1 description: "Ensure more than one Super Admin account exists" category: cis-gworkspace version: "1.3.0" author: cyberstrike-official tags: [cis, gcp, google-workspace, admin, super-admin, directory, users, sharing] cis_id: "1.1.1" cis_benchmark: "CIS Google Workspace Foundations Benchmark v1.3.0" tech_stack: [gcp, google-workspace] cwe_ids: [] chains_with: [] prerequisites: [] severity_boost: {}

1.1.1 Ensure more than one Super Admin account exists (Manual)

Description

Having more than one Super Admin account is needed primarily so that a single point of failure can be avoided. Also, for larger organizations, having multiple Super Admins can be useful for workload balancing purposes.

Rationale

From a security point of view, having only a single Super Admin Account can be problematic if this user were unavailable for an extended period of time. Also, Super Admin accounts should never be shared amongst multiple users.

Impact

There should be no user impact, but Administrators should have a normal (low privilege) and an Administrative (high privilege) account.

Audit Procedure

To verify this setting via the Google Workspace Admin Console:

1. Log in to https://admin.google.com as an administrator
2. Go to Directory and click on Users, this will show a list of all users
3. Click on + Add a filter, select Admin role, check the Super admin box, and then select Apply
4. The list of Users displayed will only be those with the Super Admin role
5. Make sure more than one (1) user is listed

Expected Result

More than one (1) user should be listed with the Super Admin role.

Remediation

Create at least one additional account with a Super Admin role.

NOTE: A new account should be created vs adding this role to an existing account since Administration tasks should be done through separate Admin accounts.

Default Value

All Google Workspace tenants will have one Super Admin initially.

References

• https://support.google.com/a/answer/33325

CIS Controls

Profile

• Enterprise Level 1