If you're a Google Workspace admin and have implemented Context-Aware Access (CAA) but now find yourself unable to access applications due to misconfigured access policies, this guide will help you reset your CAA configuration and regain access to your Admin Console.
Understanding the Issue
Context-Aware Access is a powerful feature in Google Workspace that allows you to enforce access control policies based on attributes such as user identity, device security status, and network IP address. However, misconfigurations can inadvertently lock you out, especially if your policy restricts access based on your public IP, and that IP configuration causes you to lose access.
Steps to Recover Access
Follow these steps to reset your CAA configuration and recover access to your Google Workspace Admin Console:
Prepare Relevant Credentials: Ensure you have access credentials for a super admin account in your Google Workspace domain.
Access the Account Recovery Tool: Navigate to the Google Admin Recovery Tool. This tool is designed to assist administrators in regaining access to their accounts.
Follow the Instructions:
- Enter your domain to validate ownership. This step is crucial to ensure security.
- You might need to verify your identity through additional security questions or authentication methods.
Reset Your CAA Configuration:
- Once logged in, review your Context-Aware Access settings.
- Modify or disable the restrictive CAA policies to allow admin console access from your current IP address.
Confirm Changes and Test Access:
- After making changes, attempt to access the Admin Console from your original IP to confirm that the restriction has been lifted.
By carefully following these steps, you should be able to regain access to your Google Workspace admin functions and safely reconfigure your Context-Aware Access settings.
Preventive Measures
- Regularly Review CAA Policies: To avoid future lockouts, periodically audit your Context-Aware Access settings, ensuring they align with your current security needs and that you have backup access methodologies.
- Establish Recovery Protocols: Keep a documented recovery protocol accessible to trusted personnel within your organization.
Additional Assistance
- If these methods do not resolve your access issues, consider reaching out to Google Support for professional assistance.
