How to Revoke Third-Party SaaS App Permissions in Google Workspace?

Martin Snyder
Jul 10
3 min read

Over time, employees connect a variety of third-party SaaS apps to their Google Workspace accounts—some officially authorized, others not. These integrations often persist even after users leave, posing significant data governance and SaaS security concerns. Worse yet, administrators may not even be aware of every app with access to corporate data.

You can’t reclaim control without visibility. Solutions like Waldo Security help organizations discover and assess third-party app permissions, and then automatically revoke risky or unnecessary access.

Why Lingering OAuth Access Is a Problem

Here’s a familiar scenario: Jane Doe installs a third-party note-taking or AI tool with access to her corporate Google account. When she leaves, the app’s permission sticks around—unless manually revoked. This is possible because:

OAuth tokens remain valid unless explicitly revoked
Google doesn't notify admins when a connected app continues to run
Deleting a user account doesn't automatically remove all their app permissions

As a result, sensitive data remains exposed, sometimes indefinitely.

Built-in Google Workspace Controls

Admins can use Google Workspace to manage third-party app permissions:

1. Review Apps Accessing Data

Navigate to Security → Access and Data Control → API Controls → App Access Control in the Admin Console—this lists approved and blocked apps.Detailed instructions: Manage Third-Party App Access – Google Admin Help.

2. Block or Whitelist Apps

From this dashboard, you can enforce policies by whitelisting trusted apps and blocking unapproved ones.

3. Manually Revoke Access

Using the user’s profile, admins can manually revoke specific OAuth grants—assuming the user still exists.

Limitations of this method:

Manual work and frequent reviews are required
Doesn’t catch apps linked to deactivated or deleted users
Offers no risk scoring or automatic revocation
Doesn't scale easily in organizations with high SaaS adoption

The Challenge of Shadow SaaS

Even current employees can introduce shadow SaaS—apps they install or authorize without IT knowledge. These tools might include:

AI-driven browser extensions
Unsanctioned cloud file storage
Productivity apps using corporate OAuth credentials

Because IT lacks visibility into these so-called SaaS sprawl scenarios, apps with dangerous data access can fly under the radar. Learn more in our post on Top 10 Pitfalls of SaaS Sprawl.

Best Practices for Managing OAuth Permissions

1. Regular Audits

Schedule quarterly reviews using the Admin Console to see which apps are authorized and by whom.

2. Establish Approval Workflows

Implement policies that require employees to request and document any new third-party integrations.

3. Educate Users

Raise awareness that installing an app can expose organizational data—intentionally or otherwise.

4. Monitor OAuth Grant Usage

Track token details, scopes, and usage to understand an app’s access level and risk.

5. Automate Discovery and Revocation

Use a SaaS discovery tool to identify and remove unauthorized or risky connections at scale. See how to reclaim control with our guide on How to Make Sure You Remove All SaaS Access of an Employee.

How Waldo Security Enhances Google Workspace Control

While Google has built-in tools, they lack visibility, risk scoring, and automation. Waldo Security addresses these gaps by:

Automatically discovering third-party SaaS apps connected via OAuth—even from deleted users
Assessing and prioritizing based on risk factors and permissions
Revoking access at scale, including for unmanaged and offboarded accounts
Monitoring ongoing usage and alerting on new or suspicious app authorizations

This approach shifts organizations from reactive cleanups to proactive SaaS governance.

Conclusion: Automate to Secure OAuth Risk

Manual OAuth management in Google Workspace is a patchwork solution: time-consuming, error-prone, and incomplete—especially in the face of shadow SaaS proliferation.

Automated discovery, risk assessment, and revocation provide a reliable way to close the door on unauthorized app access. Waldo Security empowers IT and security teams with this visibility and control, helping ensure that third-party permissions are governed securely and efficiently.

Because when it comes to data protection, what you don’t restore can come back to haunt you.