Should service accounts have administrative roles?

Service accounts should not have administrative roles because granting full administrative access can create significant security risks. Service accounts are often used for automated processes and background tasks, which means they can be exploited if not properly secured. By restricting these accounts to the minimum necessary privileges, you adhere to the principle of least privilege, which helps protect sensitive systems and data from potential misuse or unauthorized access.

While there may be some situations in which specific service accounts might need higher permissions, generally, it's crucial to evaluate each service account's purpose and only provide the access necessary for its function. This creates a more secure environment and reduces the attack surface. The focus on careful role assignment ensures that only trusted, audited, and necessary actions are performed by service accounts.