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Join Cardinal Cloud GitHub

Before You Begin

If you want to join Cardinal Cloud GitHub, it's important to understand the access requirements, security and storage guidelines before you begin.

  • Access Requirement: Users need to authenticate successfully with Stanford credentials. 
  • Risk Classification: Cardinal Cloud GitHub is approved for Moderate Risk data. Review Risk Classification Guide.
  • Storage Guidelines: For optimized performance, GitHub recommends keeping repository sizes under 1 GB and individual file sizes under 100 MB. For storing large files, GitHub provides GitHub Large File Storage (LFS). Review Cardinal Cloud GitHub Storage Guidelines.
  • Stanford Medicine: Affiliates with Stanford Medicine should submit a help ticket to join Cardinal Cloud GitHub.

Cardinal Cloud GitHub Organizations

Cardinal Cloud GitHub is the Stanford-managed offering of GitHub Enterprise. It includes extra features that are compelling to developers while providing extra data security measures to protect Stanford's digital assets. User accounts in GitHub Enterprise are grouped into GitHub organizations, typically schools or large departments, each with its own group of administrators. Within GitHub organizations, users can be further organized into teams that work collaboratively on code repositories. 

There is no charge to use Cardinal Cloud GitHub if you stay within the storage limits. GitHub additional add-ons (Copilot and Codespaces) and additional capacity (such as  GitHub Runner minute and Large File Storage) can be added per request and will be billed through a linked Cardinal Cloud Azure subscription.

Create and Verify Your GitHub Account 

To join a Cardinal Cloud GitHub, you need a GitHub account that includes a functional email address, so you can receive and act on the membership invitation. Usually, the invitations will be sent to a Stanford email address. Unless otherwise specified, accounts will join the Stanford Developers organization, but individuals can join additional organizations under the Cardinal Cloud GitHub enterprise realm as invited members.

Already have a GitHub account?

  1. Log into the github.com site. Go to Settings → Email and add your Stanford email address.
  2. Verify ownership of your Stanford email address first by clicking on the GitHub link sent to your inbox.
  3. You can now join an organization.

Need a GitHub account?

  1. Go to https://github.com/join to create a new account.
  2. Use your Stanford email address to register. 
  3. Verify ownership of your email account by clicking on the GitHub link sent to your inbox.
  4. You can now join an organization.


Join an Organization

Once you have your GitHub account, use your Stanford email address to join a Cardinal Cloud GitHub organization. 

Stanford Developers Organization

Stanford Developers is the default Cardinal Cloud GitHub organization open to anyone who can successfully authenticate using Stanford credentials. Follow the steps below to join. Are you affiliated with Stanford Medicine? See Stanford Medicine Organizations. 

  1. Go to https://github.stanford.edu/.
  2. Select an information release consent duration and click Accept.
  3. You will get an invitation email.  (this email will expire in 7 days).
  4. In the email, click the Join @stanford-developers button.
    Note: If you have not created a GitHub account using your Stanford email address, you will be prompted to do so to complete the invitation process. 

Stanford Medicine Organizations

Affiliates with Stanford Medicine should submit a help ticket to join Cardinal Cloud GitHub.

Additional Organization Options

  • Transfer an Existing Organization: If you already belong to Stanford-related organizations outside of the Stanford enterprise, you should first migrate those organizations into the Stanford enterprise. Submit a request to transfer an existing organization.
  • Create a New Organization: When you need to manage multiple repositories, users, or projects under a distinct group with clear access controls and resources, submit a request to create a new organization. 

Get help

If you are experiencing technical issues with any Cardinal Cloud GitHub organization, submit a Help request.

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