So you're taking the leap and deploying Google Apps across your enterprise. Rather than add users one by one, Google is giving IT admins a new way to create user accounts: the Apache 2.0 licensed Open Source Google Apps Provisioning Toolkit.The toolkit was made available yesterday through the Official Google Enterprise Blog. While there are other options out there for IT admins to take advantage of, those who are fans of Apache or open source tools can use this method instead.

According to Google's Scott McMullen, this toolkit was created for enterprises looking to install hundreds or thousand of users, and specifically targets two scenarios:

1. bulk provisioning from user information stored in an existing LDAP, SQL database, or CSV file 2. self-registration, where users input their own info and provision their own account using a Web form

He notes that the Toolkit should run on and Apache, PHP, or Python systems.

After you download the Toolkit and get it configured to your liking, there are a couple of different ways to get users signed up. You can use a Web page that makes it easy for an admin to provision, update, and delete large numbers of user accounts very efficiently. Or, you can set up an authenticated Web page that allows users to self-register. Note that while it can be used to create, update, and delete accounts, it's not designed for unattended sync of user information.

Now there's one less excuse to prevent your business from adopting Google Apps.

The kit can be downloaded here.