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KB0020760 - Latest Version - Copy Permalink
3.0 - Updated on 06-10-2025 by Gretchen Kuwahara (gzk2)
2.0 - Updated on 03-07-2025 by Gretchen Kuwahara (gzk2)
1.0 - Authored on 10-02-2024 by Gretchen Kuwahara (gzk2)

Penn State GitHub - Using service accounts

Revised by Gretchen Kuwahara (gzk2)
• about a month agoabout a month ago • 79 Views • ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 5

Article Intended For

Penn State faculty and staff using the Penn State GitHub Service and is interested in using a service account in the Penn State GitHub Service.

Introduction

Service accounts in GitHub are essential for automating tasks like CI/CD pipelines and integrations while ensuring security and compliance. Unlike personal accounts, they provide clear audit trails and reduce risks tied to individual access.

This article outlines the step-by-step process for creating and configuring a service account in Penn State’s GitHub organization. Only an Organization Owner and Penn State's GitHub Service Administrator can complete these steps.

How to add a service account to Penn State GitHub

Step 1: Organization Owner – Create the Service Account in IIQ

  1. Follow KB0016055 to create a new service account in IIQ.
  2. Service Account Name Prefix: Use "GitHub" as the prefix.
  3. Record the following details:
    • UserID
    • Display Name
  4.  Send the UserID and Display Name to the Penn State's GitHub Service Administrator at github-support@psu.edu

Step 2: GitHub Service Administrator – Add the Service Account to the GitHub Users UMG

  1. Penn State's GitHub Support will add the service account to the appropriate group.
  2. Wait approximately 30 minutes for the account to propagate into Microsoft Entra ID.
  3. They will notify the organization owner when then can proceed to Step 3

Step 3: Organization Owner – Create a GitHub Account for the Service Account

  1. Open a private browser window and go to GitHub Sign Up.
  2. Register a new account with an email address that is not already associated with GitHub.
    • ⚠️ Do not use the service account’s email address, as it does not have email access.
    • Tip: Use plus addressing to create a unique email alias (e.g., zxy23+service@psu.edu).
  3. Choose a username that is easy to remember and search for.
  4. Complete any verification puzzles.
  5. Enter the confirmation code sent to the provided email address to verify the account (It might be in your junk folder).

Step 4: Organization Owner – Invite the GitHub Account to the Organization

  1. In a new browser window, log into GitHub with an organization owner account.
  2. Navigate to the organization settings and invite the newly created GitHub service account using its GitHub username.

Step 5: Newly Created GitHub Account – Accept the Invitation

  1. Make sure you are on the VPN for this section.
  2. Open a private browser window and log in to the newly created GitHub service account.
  3. Click on your profile picture in the upper-right corner and select "Your Organizations".
  4. Accept the invitation to join the organization.
  5. Click on the “Authenticate to join” button
  6. Authenticate with your service account
    • Username: <UserID>@psu.edu
    • Password: <service account password>

Once the invitation is accepted, the service account is now a member of the Penn State GitHub organization.

How to add a service account to a repository

Follow this KB article on how to add the service account:

  • Penn State GitHub - Access Management for Internal and External Collaborators

Additional Links

  • Signing up for Penn State's GitHub Service
  • Penn State GitHub Frequently Asked Questions
  • Penn State Github - Creating and managing teams in GitHub
  • Alternate User IDs

 


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