What is a SPA?

A knowledge base article about What is a SPA? provided by the UC Berkeley IT Service Hub - Knowledge Portal

A Special Purpose Account (SPA) is a CalNet ID that can be shared by multiple users for collaborative purposes. Essentially, it is a “shared” CalNet ID.

SPAs are often used for departmental email accounts and file shares. Instead of sharing a password, users authenticate with their own personal CalNet ID and passphrase.

Only employees can create a SPA, but any campus employee, student, or affiliate can be added as a Direct Member.

Special Purpose Accounts (SPAs) are intended for collaboration and sharing. SPAs, their contents/data, and the shared email account are owned by the institution and the primary department of the employee who creates the SPA at the time the SPA is created.

Find out more on the CalNet website.