Migrating to GCP: Integrating Active Directory or LDAP for User Management

Integrating Active Directory or LDAP for User Management

Question

While migrating your organization's infrastructure to GCP, a large number of users will need to access GCP Console.

The Identity Management team already has a well-established way to manage your users and want to keep using your existing Active Directory or LDAP server along with the existing SSO password.

What should you do?

Answers

Explanations

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A. B. C. D.

B.

https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/identity-security/using-your-existing-identity-management-system-with-google-cloud-platform

Sure, I'd be happy to provide you with a detailed explanation of each of the options provided in the question and help you understand the best solution for the scenario.

Option A: Manually synchronize the data in Google domain with your existing Active Directory or LDAP server. This option involves manually syncing the data between your existing Active Directory or LDAP server and the Google domain. This can be a time-consuming and error-prone process, as it would require regular updates to ensure that any changes made in one system are reflected in the other. Additionally, this option does not provide any automated way of managing user access to GCP Console, which could create security risks and increase administrative overhead.

Option B: Use Google Cloud Directory Sync to synchronize the data in Google domain with your existing Active Directory or LDAP server. This option involves using a tool provided by Google, called Google Cloud Directory Sync, to automate the synchronization of data between your existing Active Directory or LDAP server and the Google domain. This tool can be configured to run on a schedule and can handle large volumes of data. Using this option, you can maintain a centralized identity management system for your organization while still allowing users to access GCP Console using their existing credentials. Additionally, this option allows for granular control over user access to GCP Console, as you can specify which users or groups have access.

Option C: Users sign in directly to the GCP Console using the credentials from your on-premises Kerberos compliant identity provider. This option involves using an on-premises Kerberos compliant identity provider to authenticate users directly to the GCP Console. While this may seem like a simple solution, it can be challenging to set up and maintain. Additionally, this option does not allow for centralized management of user access to GCP Console and may require additional infrastructure to support.

Option D: Users sign in using OpenID (OIDC) compatible IdP, receive an authentication token, then use that token to log in to the GCP Console. This option involves using an OpenID (OIDC) compatible Identity Provider (IdP) to authenticate users and provide them with an authentication token. Users can then use this token to log in to the GCP Console. This option allows for centralized management of user access to GCP Console, as you can control user access through the IdP. Additionally, this option provides a secure way to authenticate users and can be easily integrated with your existing identity management system.

Based on the scenario described, the best option is likely option B, using Google Cloud Directory Sync to synchronize the data in the Google domain with the existing Active Directory or LDAP server. This option allows for centralized management of user access to GCP Console and can be easily automated, reducing administrative overhead and minimizing the risk of errors. However, the final choice will ultimately depend on your organization's specific requirements and resources.