How do I detect orphaned accounts in Google Workspace and SaaS apps?

You can detect orphaned accounts in Google Workspace and SaaS apps by comparing SaaS user lists against active directory users, reviewing OAuth tokens tied to suspended or deleted accounts, and identifying accounts that continue to access data without a corresponding identity in Google Workspace. Orphaned accounts often survive offboarding because SaaS platforms don't automatically remove users when the identity provider updates.

Many organizations use platforms like FrontierZero to automate this correlation, surface orphaned accounts across all SaaS tools, and flag accounts that still hold data access or OAuth tokens despite no longer belonging to an active employee.

Why Orphaned Accounts Exist (and Why They Are Dangerous)

Orphaned accounts are identity records that continue to exist in SaaS apps even though the underlying user has been offboarded, disabled, or removed from the identity provider. They are one of the most common and most overlooked sources of SaaS exposure.

1. Google Workspace does not synchronize user deletions across SaaS apps

When you suspend or delete a user in Google Workspace, the SaaS app typically does nothing. The account remains active unless removed manually.

This applies to:

  • project tools
  • AI tools
  • collaboration platforms
  • file-sharing apps
  • marketing and CRM tools

Orphaned accounts accumulate over time.

2. OAuth tokens survive account removal

Even if the user is disabled or deleted, their OAuth tokens may still allow:

  • Gmail access
  • Drive access
  • Calendar access
  • file-system access
  • read/write operations

Tokens persist until explicitly revoked.

FrontierZero maps tokens tied to suspended or deleted users.

3. SaaS apps maintain independent identity stores

Google Workspace is not the authority inside each SaaS app.
SaaS platforms maintain their own:

  • user tables
  • tokens
  • roles
  • privileges
  • app-specific identities

So when a user leaves the company, SaaS accounts often remain untouched.

4. Contractors, interns, and vendors are the worst offenders

Non-employees often:

  • join without proper onboarding
  • get invited directly into SaaS apps
  • aren't tracked in HR systems
  • never get removed
  • leave behind accounts with broad access

This creates long-term exposure that’s difficult to catch manually.

How to Detect Orphaned Accounts in Google Workspace & SaaS (Step-by-Step)

1. Compare SaaS user lists against active Google Workspace users

Export or review:

  • SaaS users
  • active Google Workspace users
  • suspended users
  • deleted users

Look for:

  • users in SaaS that no longer exist in Workspace
  • mismatched email domains
  • accounts belonging to contractors or former employees
  • duplicated identities

FrontierZero automates this cross-check across every SaaS app.

2. Identify accounts with no recent activity

Most SaaS tools expose:

  • last login
  • last activity
  • token usage

Flag accounts with:

  • 30, 60, or 90 days of inactivity
  • zero activity since creation
  • no recorded sign-ins but active permissions

Inactive + identity mismatch = orphaned account.

3. Review OAuth apps and tokens tied to deleted or suspended users

In Google Workspace:

  • Go to Security → API Controls → App Access
  • Review OAuth tokens tied to removed or suspended users

Look for tokens that:

  • still allow email/file access
  • have offline access
  • refresh automatically
  • belong to deleted Workspace users

FrontierZero highlights orphaned tokens automatically.

4. Check external or personal accounts impersonating employees

Some orphaned accounts are created when:

  • a user signs in with a personal Gmail
  • a contractor uses their own Microsoft account
  • an external identity matches the employee’s name or email structure

SaaS platforms treat these as persistent identities even when the person leaves.

How do orphaned accounts turn into security risks?

Because they may hold:

  • file-sharing rights
  • OAuth tokens
  • admin roles
  • edit permissions
  • access to sensitive docs or systems

And no one is monitoring them.

FrontierZero prioritizes orphaned accounts with high-impact access.

Why aren’t orphaned accounts removed automatically?

Because SaaS apps maintain their own identity stores. Identity providers (like Google Workspace) do not enforce hard removal across tools.

Which SaaS tools are most likely to contain orphaned accounts?

Common examples:

  • Slack
  • Notion
  • Dropbox
  • Miro
  • Figma
  • Jira/Confluence
  • Asana
  • GitHub
  • AI tools

These apps rely heavily on user-created accounts.

FAQ

Are orphaned accounts the same as inactive accounts?

No. Inactive = unused. Orphaned = identity no longer exists in the provider.

Does suspending a user remove their SaaS accounts?

No. Suspending or deleting a user in Workspace does not clean up SaaS accounts.

Can OAuth tokens from orphaned accounts still access data?

Yes—until revoked.