When deploying Asana across a large enterprise, integrations can't be chaotic. You need centralized control (which apps are permitted), least-privilege access (OAuth scopes), service accounts (not personal tokens), and auditing (logs to your SIEM). Asana provides all of this through the Admin Console → Apps and its security features.

Why this matters

Most integration “issues” stem from governance problems: unauthorized OAuth apps, overly broad scopes, and no audit trails. Asana now offers App management to monitor, allow, or block apps and tokens, alongside the Audit Log API and a Splunk app for ongoing monitoring. OAuth permission scopes minimize risk by limiting what each app can do.

What’s new / policy highlights

• App management (Admin Console → Apps): Super admins can approve/deny third-party apps, review usage, and centrally control Personal Access Tokens (PATs) and Service accounts.

• Scoped OAuth (2025): Developers/integrations request only the necessary permissions; users see scope prompts during consent. This is now the default for new apps.

• Granular workspace controls: Asana has refined its blocking capabilities to be workspace-specific, preventing unintentional blocks in other workspaces users belong to.

• Audit & SIEM: Enterprise organizations can export audit events and stream them to Splunk (CIM-compatible) for alerts and investigations.

The enterprise playbook (step-by-step)

1) Establish your integration policy

In Admin Console → Security → App management, specify how apps are sanctioned:

• Allow-list approved apps (e.g., Slack, Google Drive, Zoom); block all others until they are reviewed.

• Decide whether PATs are allowed (recommended: off; opt for service accounts instead). help.asana.com

Tip: Document this policy in your internal runbook and link it from a pinned message in your Asana Announcement project.

2) Utilize service accounts (not user tokens)

Create a Service account for system-to-system integrations and secure credentials in your vault. Advantages include: centralized lifecycle management, often no license fees in enterprise environments, and API access that remains unaffected by staffing changes. Admin Console → Apps → Service accounts → Add. help.asana.com+1

3) Approve and scope integrations

For each app:

• Examine the permissions/scopes requested and the data flow (who can access and modify what).

• Authorize for your production workspace(s) only; use a different sandbox workspace for testing. Asana Docs+1

4) Connect your core tools (with the correct settings)

• Slack + Asana: Permit the app, then enable message-to-task conversion, task previews, and channel notifications. Determine whether task creation is allowed broadly or in specific projects. Train users to convert messages to tasks (with assignee + due date) instead of using @-mentions. help.asana.com+1

• Google Drive / Workspace: Approve Drive and Calendar integrations to attach files as links (compliant with Google permissions) and synchronize calendars. Confirm your Google sharing policy is suitable (e.g., external share blocks). help.asana.com

• Zoom: Enable meeting creation and automatic logging of recordings/transcripts back to Asana to save administrative time and maintain context. help.asana.com

Explore the full catalogue in Asana → Apps to standardize on approved connectors. Asana

5) Monitor with the Audit Log API (and your SIEM)

Stream audit events (logins, app authorizations, token creation, admin changes) to Splunk or similar. Set alerts for risky patterns (e.g., new app authorizations outside standard business hours, sudden surges in token creation). Asana Docs+1

6) Educate and enforce

Direct admins to Asana Academy's “Manage your apps and access” and “Set up apps and AI tools” courses. Implement a quarterly review of app usage and eliminate redundant connections. academy.asana.com+1

Practical examples (ready to replicate)

• IT-approved Slack workflow: Allow Slack company-wide; restrict task creation to approved portfolios; log all app authorizations to Splunk; disable PATs. Result: fewer untracked tasks and a comprehensive audit trail.

• Drive governance: Enable Drive attachments; rely on Google’s native permissions instead of duplicating files. Add a dashboard to alert on tasks linking to externally shared files.

• Service-account integrations: Use a service account token for HRIS → Asana provisioning or backup tools, not a personal token; rotate regularly.

FAQs

What types of apps can I integrate with Asana?
Hundreds, including Slack, Google Drive, and Zoom; check the catalogue in Asana → Apps for approved connectors. Asana

How do I enforce least-privilege?
Require OAuth scopes for new integrations and decline apps that ask for unnecessary permissions. Asana Forum

PATs or service accounts — which should we use?
Favour service accounts for system integrations; they’re centrally managed and don’t rely on a staff member’s account. help.asana.com

Can I limit integrations by workspace?
Yes — Asana has improved controls so blocks/approvals can be workspace-specific, minimizing unintended restrictions across other workspaces a user may access. Asana Forum

How do we monitor changes and incidents?
Utilize the Audit Log API and Asana’s Splunk integration to alert on sensitive events (e.g., new OAuth app, token creation). Asana Docs+1