Summary and recommendation
Google Workspace takes a unique position as both a SCIM source and destination, offering full SCIM API support across all plans starting at $7/user/month. Unlike most SaaS applications, Google Workspace can receive provisioning from identity providers like Okta and Entra ID, with complete user and group sync capabilities including password push. However, this flexibility comes with significant administrative overhead: Okta integration requires a super-admin service account, domain verification is mandatory, and the setup process involves complex API configurations that many IT teams struggle with.
The real challenge isn't Google Workspace's SCIM capabilities—it's the operational complexity of managing it as part of a broader identity ecosystem. When Google Workspace serves as your identity source, you need seamless provisioning to dozens of downstream applications. When it's a destination, the super-admin requirements and domain verification processes create security and compliance concerns that many organizations aren't prepared to handle properly.
The strategic alternative
Stitchflow provides SCIM-level provisioning through resilient browser automation for Google Workspace as both source and destination, handling all the complex API configurations and security requirements. Works with any Google Workspace plan and any identity provider. Flat pricing under $5K/year with SOC 2 Type II compliance and 24/7 human-in-the-loop support.
Quick SCIM facts
| SCIM available? | Yes |
| SCIM tier required | Business |
| SSO required first? | Yes |
| SSO available? | Yes |
| SSO protocol | SAML 2.0 |
| Documentation | Official docs |
Supported identity providers
| IdP | SSO | SCIM | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okta | ✓ | ✓ | OIN app with full provisioning |
| Microsoft Entra ID | ✓ | ✓ | Gallery app with SCIM |
| Google Workspace | ✓ | JIT only | SAML SSO with just-in-time provisioning |
| OneLogin | ✓ | ✓ | Supported |
The cost of not automating
Without SCIM (or an alternative like Stitchflow), your IT team manages Google Workspace accounts manually. Here's what that costs:
The Google Workspace pricing problem
Google Workspace gates SCIM provisioning behind premium plans, forcing significant cost increases for basic user management.
Tier comparison
| Plan | Price | SSO | SCIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $7/user/mo (annual) | ||
| Standard | $14/user/mo (annual) | ||
| Plus | $22/user/mo (annual) | ||
| Enterprise | Custom pricing |
Pricing structure
| Plan | Price | SCIM Provisioning |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $7/user/mo (annual) | ✓ Can receive SCIM |
| Standard | $14/user/mo (annual) | ✓ Can receive SCIM |
| Plus | $22/user/mo (annual) | ✓ Can receive SCIM |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | ✓ Can receive SCIM |
Note: Google Workspace can act as both SCIM source and destination, with full API support available across all pricing tiers.
What this means in practice
Unlike typical SaaS applications, Google Workspace creates bidirectional identity management scenarios:
As a SCIM destination
As an identity source
Additional constraints
Summary of challenges
- Google Workspace supports SCIM but only at Business tier (Custom pricing)
- Google Workspace users get JIT provisioning only, not full SCIM
- Our research shows teams manually provisioning this app spend significant hidden costs annually
What Google Workspace actually offers for identity
SCIM Provisioning (All plans)
Google Workspace can receive SCIM provisioning from identity providers like Okta and Entra ID:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Protocol | SCIM 2.0 API |
| Supported IdPs | Okta, Entra ID, OneLogin, JumpCloud |
| User operations | Create, update, deactivate users |
| Group provisioning | ✓ Yes |
| Password push | ✓ Yes |
| Required plan | All plans (starting at $7/user/month) |
Key setup requirements:
SAML SSO (All plans)
| Setting | Details |
|---|---|
| Protocol | SAML 2.0 |
| Supported IdPs | Any SAML-compliant provider |
| JIT provisioning | ✓ Yes |
| SP-initiated | ✓ Yes |
| IdP-initiated | ✓ Yes |
The catch: Google Workspace is primarily a productivity suite that receives identity data, not a SaaS app that needs to be provisioned to. Most organizations use it as their source of identity data, pushing users to other applications.
If you're looking to provision users into Google Workspace from another system, the native SCIM works well. But for most identity management scenarios, you'll be provisioning from Google Workspace to your other SaaS applications—where those apps' individual SCIM limitations become the bottleneck.
What IT admins are saying
Google Workspace's SCIM provisioning setup creates unnecessary complexity for IT teams managing identity integration:
- Domain verification requirements add extra setup steps before SCIM can function
- Service accounts need super-admin permissions, creating security concerns for some organizations
- Azure AD sync intervals of 40 minutes can delay critical user provisioning updates
- Managing Google Workspace as both an identity source and destination creates architectural confusion
The Okta provisioning user needs super-admin role
Domain verification required
Azure sync every 40 minutes
The recurring theme
While Google Workspace technically supports SCIM from major identity providers, the setup requirements and permission models add operational overhead that many IT teams would prefer to avoid managing directly.
The decision
| Your Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Small team (<25 users) with minimal turnover | Manual management is acceptable for Google Workspace |
| Medium organization (25-100 users) with regular changes | Use Stitchflow: IdP-driven automation eliminates manual overhead |
| Enterprise with strict security/compliance requirements | Use Stitchflow: automated deprovisioning and audit trails essential |
| Multi-domain Google Workspace deployments | Use Stitchflow: complex domain verification handled automatically |
| Organizations using Google as identity source | Use Stitchflow: reverse provisioning to downstream apps simplified |
The bottom line
Google Workspace offers solid SCIM support, but setup complexity around domain verification, service account permissions, and sync intervals creates operational friction. For organizations that want reliable, hands-off provisioning without the technical overhead, Stitchflow delivers the automation at a fraction of the administrative cost.
Automate Google Workspace without the tier upgrade
Stitchflow delivers SCIM-level provisioning through resilient browser automation, backed by 24/7 human in the loop for Google Workspace at <$5K/year, flat, regardless of team size.
Technical specifications
SCIM Version
2.0
Supported Operations
Create, Update, Deactivate, Groups
Supported Attributes
Not specifiedPlan requirement
Business
Prerequisites
SSO must be configured first
Key limitations
- Okta provisioning user needs super-admin role
- Domain verification required
- Can be source or destination for SCIM
Configuration for Okta
Integration type
Okta Integration Network (OIN) app with SCIM provisioning
Prerequisite
SSO must be configured before enabling SCIM.
Where to enable
Required credentials
SCIM endpoint URL and bearer token (generated in app admin console).
Configuration steps
Enable Create Users, Update User Attributes, and Deactivate Users.
Provisioning trigger
Okta provisions based on app assignments (users or groups).
Full SCIM provisioning with user and group sync. Requires super-admin service account. Supports password push.
Native SCIM is available on Business. Use Stitchflow if you need provisioning without the tier upgrade.
Configuration for Entra ID
Integration type
Microsoft Entra Gallery app with SCIM provisioning
Prerequisite
SSO must be configured before enabling SCIM.
Where to enable
Required credentials
Tenant URL (SCIM endpoint) and Secret token (bearer token from app admin console).
Configuration steps
Set Provisioning Mode = Automatic, configure SCIM connection.
Provisioning trigger
Entra provisions based on user/group assignments to the enterprise app.
Sync behavior
Entra provisioning runs on a scheduled cycle (typically every 40 minutes).
Full SCIM provisioning. Domain verification required. Entra ID user needs super-admin role. 40-minute sync interval.
Native SCIM is available on Business. Use Stitchflow if you need provisioning without the tier upgrade.
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Google Workspace
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