Dear friends,
Platform Overview
Primary Use
Virtual servers (Droplets), Kubernetes, databases, storage (Spaces), networking, managed services
Account Types
Individual, Team (with role-based access control)
Data Types
Droplets, Kubernetes clusters, managed databases, Spaces object storage, snapshots, volumes
Access Challenges
- Account access requires email, password, and 2FA authentication
- API tokens cannot be recovered or viewed after creation
- SSH keys are tied to account and cannot be transferred
- Team accounts require owner role for full administrative access
- Database credentials cannot be exported or migrated easily
- Spaces access keys cannot be recovered without account access
- Firewall and networking configurations tied to account ownership
- Running droplets continue incurring costs without management
- Billing details and payment methods require account access to modify
Inheritance Guidance
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Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my team access Digital Ocean resources after I die?
Resource access requires account credentials. Without login access, all infrastructure becomes inaccessible. Upgrade to Team plans with multiple owners for critical infrastructure. Add trusted team members with appropriate roles (Admin, Billing, Developer). Document all resources, credentials, and access procedures.
What happens to running droplets and managed services?
Running droplets and managed services continue operating and generating charges indefinitely. Bills accumulate until payment fails, then Digital Ocean suspends services and may delete data. Document monthly costs, running resources, and shutdown procedures. Provide billing access to prevent service disruption.
How do I transfer Digital Ocean team ownership?
Team ownership requires Owner role access. Add multiple Owners to prevent single points of failure. Document team structure, project organization, billing details, and resource tagging. Without succession planning, teams become inaccessible and infrastructure may be orphaned or deleted.
What happens to SSH keys, API tokens, and database credentials?
SSH keys, API tokens, and database passwords cannot be recovered without account access. Applications depending on these credentials will fail. Document all credentials separately in secure estate planning documents. Rotate credentials to shared team-managed secrets for critical infrastructure.