diff --git a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/accesscontrol.go b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/accesscontrol.go
index 16ca6324ee0..41de06d0ac8 100644
--- a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/accesscontrol.go
+++ b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/accesscontrol.go
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ type Service interface {
 	// DeclareFixedRoles allows the caller to declare, to the service, fixed roles and their
 	// assignments to organization roles ("Viewer", "Editor", "Admin") or "Grafana Admin"
 	DeclareFixedRoles(registrations ...RoleRegistration) error
+	// SaveExternalServiceRole creates or updates an external service's role and assigns it to a given service account id.
+	SaveExternalServiceRole(ctx context.Context, cmd SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand) error
 	//IsDisabled returns if access control is enabled or not
 	IsDisabled() bool
 }
diff --git a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/acimpl/service.go b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/acimpl/service.go
index 9c64d8a9257..e2bcfd3fc94 100644
--- a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/acimpl/service.go
+++ b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/acimpl/service.go
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ type store interface {
 	SearchUsersPermissions(ctx context.Context, orgID int64, options accesscontrol.SearchOptions) (map[int64][]accesscontrol.Permission, error)
 	GetUsersBasicRoles(ctx context.Context, userFilter []int64, orgID int64) (map[int64][]string, error)
 	DeleteUserPermissions(ctx context.Context, orgID, userID int64) error
+	SaveExternalServiceRole(ctx context.Context, cmd accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand) error
 }
 
 // Service is the service implementing role based access control.
@@ -107,11 +108,11 @@ func (s *Service) getUserPermissions(ctx context.Context, user *user.SignedInUse
 	}
 
 	dbPermissions, err := s.store.GetUserPermissions(ctx, accesscontrol.GetUserPermissionsQuery{
-		OrgID:      user.OrgID,
-		UserID:     user.UserID,
-		Roles:      accesscontrol.GetOrgRoles(user),
-		TeamIDs:    user.Teams,
-		RolePrefix: accesscontrol.ManagedRolePrefix,
+		OrgID:        user.OrgID,
+		UserID:       user.UserID,
+		Roles:        accesscontrol.GetOrgRoles(user),
+		TeamIDs:      user.Teams,
+		RolePrefixes: []string{accesscontrol.ManagedRolePrefix, accesscontrol.ExternalServiceRolePrefix},
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -414,3 +415,21 @@ func PermissionMatchesSearchOptions(permission accesscontrol.Permission, searchO
 	}
 	return strings.HasPrefix(permission.Action, searchOptions.ActionPrefix)
 }
+
+func (s *Service) SaveExternalServiceRole(ctx context.Context, cmd accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand) error {
+	// If accesscontrol is disabled no need to save the external service role
+	if accesscontrol.IsDisabled(s.cfg) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if !s.features.IsEnabled(featuremgmt.FlagExternalServiceAuth) {
+		s.log.Debug("registering external service role is behind a feature flag, enable it to use this feature.")
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if err := cmd.Validate(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return s.store.SaveExternalServiceRole(ctx, cmd)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/acimpl/service_test.go b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/acimpl/service_test.go
index 06ab9b18d3d..f4fce35c319 100644
--- a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/acimpl/service_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/acimpl/service_test.go
@@ -740,3 +740,88 @@ func TestPermissionCacheKey(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestService_SaveExternalServiceRole(t *testing.T) {
+	type run struct {
+		cmd     accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand
+		wantErr bool
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		runs []run
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "can create a role",
+			runs: []run{
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						OrgID:             2,
+						ServiceAccountID:  2,
+						ExternalServiceID: "App 1",
+						Permissions:       []accesscontrol.Permission{{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"}},
+					},
+					wantErr: false,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "can update a role",
+			runs: []run{
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						Global:            true,
+						ServiceAccountID:  2,
+						ExternalServiceID: "App 1",
+						Permissions:       []accesscontrol.Permission{{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"}},
+					},
+					wantErr: false,
+				},
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						Global:            true,
+						ServiceAccountID:  2,
+						ExternalServiceID: "App 1",
+						Permissions: []accesscontrol.Permission{
+							{Action: "users:write", Scope: "users:id:1"},
+							{Action: "users:write", Scope: "users:id:2"},
+						},
+					},
+					wantErr: false,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "test command validity - no service account ID",
+			runs: []run{
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						OrgID:             2,
+						ExternalServiceID: "App 1",
+						Permissions:       []accesscontrol.Permission{{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"}},
+					},
+					wantErr: true,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ctx := context.Background()
+			ac := setupTestEnv(t)
+			ac.features = featuremgmt.WithFeatures(featuremgmt.FlagExternalServiceAuth)
+			for _, r := range tt.runs {
+				err := ac.SaveExternalServiceRole(ctx, r.cmd)
+				if r.wantErr {
+					require.Error(t, err)
+					continue
+				}
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+
+				// Check that the permissions and assignment are stored correctly
+				perms, errGetPerms := ac.getUserPermissions(ctx, &user.SignedInUser{OrgID: r.cmd.OrgID, UserID: 2}, accesscontrol.Options{})
+				require.NoError(t, errGetPerms)
+				assert.ElementsMatch(t, r.cmd.Permissions, perms)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/actest/fake.go b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/actest/fake.go
index c394907ff07..f25f001a398 100644
--- a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/actest/fake.go
+++ b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/actest/fake.go
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ func (f FakeService) IsDisabled() bool {
 	return f.ExpectedDisabled
 }
 
+func (f FakeService) SaveExternalServiceRole(ctx context.Context, cmd accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand) error {
+	return f.ExpectedErr
+}
+
 var _ accesscontrol.AccessControl = new(FakeAccessControl)
 
 type FakeAccessControl struct {
@@ -95,6 +99,10 @@ func (f FakeStore) DeleteUserPermissions(ctx context.Context, orgID, userID int6
 	return f.ExpectedErr
 }
 
+func (f FakeStore) SaveExternalServiceRole(ctx context.Context, cmd accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand) error {
+	return f.ExpectedErr
+}
+
 var _ accesscontrol.PermissionsService = new(FakePermissionsService)
 
 type FakePermissionsService struct {
diff --git a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/database/database.go b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/database/database.go
index 2ecdecff5c9..612fa2651c6 100644
--- a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/database/database.go
+++ b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/database/database.go
@@ -35,9 +35,12 @@ func (s *AccessControlStore) GetUserPermissions(ctx context.Context, query acces
 			INNER JOIN role ON role.id = permission.role_id
 		` + filter
 
-		if query.RolePrefix != "" {
-			q += " WHERE role.name LIKE ?"
-			params = append(params, query.RolePrefix+"%")
+		if len(query.RolePrefixes) > 0 {
+			q += " WHERE ( " + strings.Repeat("role.name LIKE ? OR ", len(query.RolePrefixes))
+			q = q[:len(q)-4] + " )" // remove last " OR "
+			for i := range query.RolePrefixes {
+				params = append(params, query.RolePrefixes[i]+"%")
+			}
 		}
 
 		if err := sess.SQL(q, params...).Find(&result); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/database/externalservices.go b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/database/externalservices.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bf724cd1572
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/database/externalservices.go
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+package database
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/infra/db"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/accesscontrol"
+)
+
+func (s *AccessControlStore) SaveExternalServiceRole(ctx context.Context, cmd accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand) error {
+	role := genExternalServiceRole(cmd)
+	assignment := genExternalServiceAssignment(cmd)
+
+	return s.sql.WithDbSession(ctx, func(sess *db.Session) error {
+		// Create or update the role
+		existingRole, errSaveRole := s.saveRole(ctx, sess, &role)
+		if errSaveRole != nil {
+			return errSaveRole
+		}
+		// Assign role to service account
+		// We update the assignment before the permissions to avoid an edge case.
+		// If the role is assigned to another service account (which can only happen if the services have the same ID)
+		// and permissions are updated before the assignment, this would result in the other service account acquiring
+		// a different set of permissions.
+		assignment.RoleID = existingRole.ID
+		errSaveAssign := s.saveUserAssignment(ctx, sess, assignment)
+		if errSaveAssign != nil {
+			return errSaveAssign
+		}
+		// Update permissions
+		return s.savePermissions(ctx, sess, existingRole.ID, cmd.Permissions)
+	})
+}
+
+func genExternalServiceRole(cmd accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand) accesscontrol.Role {
+	role := accesscontrol.Role{
+		OrgID:       cmd.OrgID,
+		Version:     1,
+		Name:        fmt.Sprintf("%s%s:permissions", accesscontrol.ExternalServiceRolePrefix, cmd.ExternalServiceID),
+		UID:         fmt.Sprintf("%s%s_permissions", accesscontrol.ExternalServiceRoleUIDPrefix, cmd.ExternalServiceID),
+		DisplayName: fmt.Sprintf("External Service %s Permissions", cmd.ExternalServiceID),
+		Description: fmt.Sprintf("External Service %s permissions", cmd.ExternalServiceID),
+		Group:       "External Service",
+		Hidden:      true,
+		Created:     time.Now(),
+		Updated:     time.Now(),
+	}
+	if cmd.Global {
+		role.OrgID = accesscontrol.GlobalOrgID
+	}
+	return role
+}
+
+func genExternalServiceAssignment(cmd accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand) accesscontrol.UserRole {
+	assignment := accesscontrol.UserRole{
+		OrgID:   cmd.OrgID,
+		UserID:  cmd.ServiceAccountID,
+		Created: time.Now(),
+	}
+	if cmd.Global {
+		assignment.OrgID = accesscontrol.GlobalOrgID
+	}
+	return assignment
+}
+
+func getRoleByUID(ctx context.Context, sess *db.Session, uid string) (*accesscontrol.Role, error) {
+	var role accesscontrol.Role
+	has, err := sess.Where("uid = ?", uid).Get(&role)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if !has {
+		return nil, accesscontrol.ErrRoleNotFound
+	}
+	return &role, nil
+}
+
+func getRoleAssignments(ctx context.Context, sess *db.Session, roleID int64) ([]accesscontrol.UserRole, error) {
+	var assignements []accesscontrol.UserRole
+	if err := sess.Where("role_id = ?", roleID).Find(&assignements); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return assignements, nil
+}
+
+func getRolePermissions(ctx context.Context, sess *db.Session, id int64) ([]accesscontrol.Permission, error) {
+	var permissions []accesscontrol.Permission
+	if err := sess.Where("role_id = ?", id).Find(&permissions); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return permissions, nil
+}
+
+func permissionDiff(previous, new []accesscontrol.Permission) (added, removed []accesscontrol.Permission) {
+	type key struct{ Action, Scope string }
+	prevMap := map[key]int64{}
+	for i := range previous {
+		prevMap[key{previous[i].Action, previous[i].Scope}] = previous[i].ID
+	}
+	newMap := map[key]int64{}
+	for i := range new {
+		newMap[key{new[i].Action, new[i].Scope}] = 0
+	}
+	for i := range new {
+		key := key{new[i].Action, new[i].Scope}
+		if _, already := prevMap[key]; !already {
+			added = append(added, new[i])
+		} else {
+			delete(prevMap, key)
+		}
+	}
+
+	for p, id := range prevMap {
+		removed = append(removed, accesscontrol.Permission{ID: id, Action: p.Action, Scope: p.Scope})
+	}
+
+	return added, removed
+}
+
+func (*AccessControlStore) saveRole(ctx context.Context, sess *db.Session, role *accesscontrol.Role) (*accesscontrol.Role, error) {
+	existingRole, err := getRoleByUID(ctx, sess, role.UID)
+	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, accesscontrol.ErrRoleNotFound) {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if existingRole == nil {
+		if _, err := sess.Insert(role); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	} else {
+		role.ID = existingRole.ID
+		role.Created = existingRole.Created
+		if _, err := sess.Where("id = ?", existingRole.ID).MustCols("org_id").Update(role); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+	return getRoleByUID(ctx, sess, role.UID)
+}
+
+func (*AccessControlStore) savePermissions(ctx context.Context, sess *db.Session, roleID int64, permissions []accesscontrol.Permission) error {
+	now := time.Now()
+	storedPermissions, err := getRolePermissions(ctx, sess, roleID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	added, removed := permissionDiff(storedPermissions, permissions)
+	if len(added) > 0 {
+		for i := range added {
+			added[i].RoleID = roleID
+			added[i].Created = now
+			added[i].Updated = now
+		}
+		if _, err := sess.Insert(&added); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if len(removed) > 0 {
+		ids := make([]int64, len(removed))
+		for i := range removed {
+			ids[i] = removed[i].ID
+		}
+		count, err := sess.In("id", ids).Delete(&accesscontrol.Permission{})
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if count != int64(len(removed)) {
+			return errors.New("failed to delete permissions that have been removed from role")
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (*AccessControlStore) saveUserAssignment(ctx context.Context, sess *db.Session, assignment accesscontrol.UserRole) error {
+	// alreadyAssigned checks if the assignment already exists without accounting for the organization
+	assignments, errGetAssigns := getRoleAssignments(ctx, sess, assignment.RoleID)
+	if errGetAssigns != nil {
+		return errGetAssigns
+	}
+
+	if len(assignments) == 0 {
+		if _, errInsert := sess.Insert(&assignment); errInsert != nil {
+			return errInsert
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Ensure the role was assigned only to this service account
+	if len(assignments) > 1 || assignments[0].UserID != assignment.UserID {
+		return errors.New("external service role assigned to another user or service account")
+	}
+
+	// Ensure the assignment is in the correct organization
+	_, errUpdate := sess.Where("role_id = ? AND user_id = ?", assignment.RoleID, assignment.UserID).MustCols("org_id").Update(&assignment)
+	return errUpdate
+}
diff --git a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/database/externalservices_test.go b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/database/externalservices_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fbf926ea784
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/database/externalservices_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+package database
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/infra/db"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/accesscontrol"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestAccessControlStore_SaveExternalServiceRole(t *testing.T) {
+	type run struct {
+		cmd     accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand
+		wantErr bool
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		runs []run
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "create app role",
+			runs: []run{
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						ExternalServiceID: "app1",
+						Global:            true,
+						ServiceAccountID:  1,
+						Permissions: []accesscontrol.Permission{
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"},
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:2"},
+						},
+					},
+					wantErr: false,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "update app role",
+			runs: []run{
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						ExternalServiceID: "app1",
+						Global:            true,
+						ServiceAccountID:  1,
+						Permissions: []accesscontrol.Permission{
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"},
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:2"},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						ExternalServiceID: "app1",
+						Global:            true,
+						ServiceAccountID:  1,
+						Permissions: []accesscontrol.Permission{
+							{Action: "users:write", Scope: "users:id:1"},
+							{Action: "users:write", Scope: "users:id:2"},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "allow switching role from local to global and back",
+			runs: []run{
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						ExternalServiceID: "app1",
+						OrgID:             1,
+						ServiceAccountID:  1,
+						Permissions: []accesscontrol.Permission{
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"},
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:2"},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						ExternalServiceID: "app1",
+						Global:            true,
+						ServiceAccountID:  1,
+						Permissions: []accesscontrol.Permission{
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"},
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:2"},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						ExternalServiceID: "app1",
+						OrgID:             1,
+						ServiceAccountID:  1,
+						Permissions: []accesscontrol.Permission{
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"},
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:2"},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "edge case - remove all permissions",
+			runs: []run{
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						ExternalServiceID: "app1",
+						Global:            true,
+						ServiceAccountID:  1,
+						Permissions: []accesscontrol.Permission{
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"},
+							{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:2"},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						ExternalServiceID: "app1",
+						Global:            true,
+						ServiceAccountID:  1,
+						Permissions:       []accesscontrol.Permission{},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "edge case - reassign to another service account",
+			runs: []run{
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						ExternalServiceID: "app1",
+						Global:            true,
+						ServiceAccountID:  1,
+					},
+				},
+				{
+					cmd: accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+						ExternalServiceID: "app1",
+						Global:            true,
+						ServiceAccountID:  2,
+					},
+					wantErr: true,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ctx := context.Background()
+			s := &AccessControlStore{
+				sql: db.InitTestDB(t),
+			}
+
+			for i := range tt.runs {
+				err := s.SaveExternalServiceRole(ctx, tt.runs[i].cmd)
+				if tt.runs[i].wantErr {
+					require.Error(t, err)
+					continue
+				}
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+
+				errDBSession := s.sql.WithDbSession(ctx, func(sess *db.Session) error {
+					storedRole, err := getRoleByUID(ctx, sess, fmt.Sprintf("externalservice_%s_permissions", tt.runs[i].cmd.ExternalServiceID))
+					require.NoError(t, err)
+					require.NotNil(t, storedRole)
+					require.Equal(t, tt.runs[i].cmd.Global, storedRole.Global(), "Incorrect global state of the role")
+					require.Equal(t, tt.runs[i].cmd.OrgID, storedRole.OrgID, "Incorrect OrgID of the role")
+
+					storedPerm, err := getRolePermissions(ctx, sess, storedRole.ID)
+					require.NoError(t, err)
+					for i := range storedPerm {
+						storedPerm[i] = accesscontrol.Permission{Action: storedPerm[i].Action, Scope: storedPerm[i].Scope}
+					}
+					require.ElementsMatch(t, tt.runs[i].cmd.Permissions, storedPerm)
+
+					var assignment accesscontrol.UserRole
+					has, err := sess.Where("role_id = ? AND user_id = ?", storedRole.ID, tt.runs[i].cmd.ServiceAccountID).Get(&assignment)
+					require.NoError(t, err)
+					require.True(t, has)
+					require.Equal(t, tt.runs[i].cmd.Global, assignment.OrgID == accesscontrol.GlobalOrgID, "Incorrect global state of the assignment")
+					require.Equal(t, tt.runs[i].cmd.OrgID, assignment.OrgID, "Incorrect OrgID for the role assignment")
+
+					return nil
+				})
+				require.NoError(t, errDBSession)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/errors.go b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/errors.go
index 27047abb596..5616b8583ab 100644
--- a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/errors.go
+++ b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/errors.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ var (
 	ErrInvalidScope           = errors.New("invalid scope")
 	ErrResolverNotFound       = errors.New("no resolver found")
 	ErrPluginIDRequired       = errors.New("plugin ID is required")
+	ErrRoleNotFound           = errors.New("role not found")
 )
 
 type ErrorInvalidRole struct{}
diff --git a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/mock/mock.go b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/mock/mock.go
index 1ae451c0069..4b7bf250ccb 100644
--- a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/mock/mock.go
+++ b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/mock/mock.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ type Calls struct {
 	DeleteUserPermissions          []interface{}
 	SearchUsersPermissions         []interface{}
 	SearchUserPermissions          []interface{}
+	SaveExternalServiceRole        []interface{}
 }
 
 type Mock struct {
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ type Mock struct {
 	DeleteUserPermissionsFunc          func(context.Context, int64) error
 	SearchUsersPermissionsFunc         func(context.Context, *user.SignedInUser, int64, accesscontrol.SearchOptions) (map[int64][]accesscontrol.Permission, error)
 	SearchUserPermissionsFunc          func(ctx context.Context, orgID int64, searchOptions accesscontrol.SearchOptions) ([]accesscontrol.Permission, error)
+	SaveExternalServiceRoleFunc        func(ctx context.Context, cmd accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand) error
 
 	scopeResolvers accesscontrol.Resolvers
 }
@@ -235,3 +237,12 @@ func (m *Mock) SearchUserPermissions(ctx context.Context, orgID int64, searchOpt
 	}
 	return nil, nil
 }
+
+func (m *Mock) SaveExternalServiceRole(ctx context.Context, cmd accesscontrol.SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand) error {
+	m.Calls.SaveExternalServiceRole = append(m.Calls.SaveExternalServiceRole, []interface{}{ctx, cmd})
+	// Use override if provided
+	if m.SaveExternalServiceRoleFunc != nil {
+		return m.SaveExternalServiceRoleFunc(ctx, cmd)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/models.go b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/models.go
index ea688c67635..aadd63aea7f 100644
--- a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/models.go
+++ b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/models.go
@@ -2,10 +2,12 @@ package accesscontrol
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/infra/slugify"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/annotations"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/org"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util/errutil"
@@ -129,6 +131,10 @@ func (r *RoleDTO) IsBasic() bool {
 	return strings.HasPrefix(r.Name, BasicRolePrefix) || strings.HasPrefix(r.UID, BasicRoleUIDPrefix)
 }
 
+func (r *RoleDTO) IsExternalService() bool {
+	return strings.HasPrefix(r.Name, ExternalServiceRolePrefix) || strings.HasPrefix(r.UID, ExternalServiceRoleUIDPrefix)
+}
+
 func (r RoleDTO) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	type Alias RoleDTO
 
@@ -188,11 +194,11 @@ func (p Permission) OSSPermission() Permission {
 }
 
 type GetUserPermissionsQuery struct {
-	OrgID      int64
-	UserID     int64
-	Roles      []string
-	TeamIDs    []int64
-	RolePrefix string
+	OrgID        int64
+	UserID       int64
+	Roles        []string
+	TeamIDs      []int64
+	RolePrefixes []string
 }
 
 // ResourcePermission is structure that holds all actions that either a team / user / builtin-role
@@ -245,14 +251,47 @@ type SetResourcePermissionCommand struct {
 	Permission  string `json:"permission"`
 }
 
+type SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand struct {
+	OrgID             int64
+	Global            bool
+	ExternalServiceID string
+	ServiceAccountID  int64
+	Permissions       []Permission
+}
+
+func (cmd *SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand) Validate() error {
+	if cmd.ExternalServiceID == "" {
+		return errors.New("external service id not specified")
+	}
+
+	// slugify the external service id ID for the role to have correct name and uid
+	cmd.ExternalServiceID = slugify.Slugify(cmd.ExternalServiceID)
+
+	if (cmd.OrgID == GlobalOrgID) != cmd.Global {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid org id %d for global role %t", cmd.OrgID, cmd.Global)
+	}
+
+	if cmd.Permissions == nil || len(cmd.Permissions) == 0 {
+		return errors.New("no permissions provided")
+	}
+
+	if cmd.ServiceAccountID <= 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid service account id %d", cmd.ServiceAccountID)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 const (
-	GlobalOrgID        = 0
-	FixedRolePrefix    = "fixed:"
-	ManagedRolePrefix  = "managed:"
-	BasicRolePrefix    = "basic:"
-	PluginRolePrefix   = "plugins:"
-	BasicRoleUIDPrefix = "basic_"
-	RoleGrafanaAdmin   = "Grafana Admin"
+	GlobalOrgID                  = 0
+	FixedRolePrefix              = "fixed:"
+	ManagedRolePrefix            = "managed:"
+	BasicRolePrefix              = "basic:"
+	PluginRolePrefix             = "plugins:"
+	ExternalServiceRolePrefix    = "externalservice:"
+	BasicRoleUIDPrefix           = "basic_"
+	ExternalServiceRoleUIDPrefix = "externalservice_"
+	RoleGrafanaAdmin             = "Grafana Admin"
 
 	GeneralFolderUID = "general"
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/accesscontrol/models_test.go b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/models_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a8503442f38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/services/accesscontrol/models_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+package accesscontrol
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestSaveExternalServiceRoleCommand_Validate(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		cmd     SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand
+		wantID  string
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "invalid global statement",
+			cmd: SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+				OrgID:             1,
+				Global:            true,
+				ExternalServiceID: "app 1",
+				ServiceAccountID:  2,
+				Permissions:       []Permission{{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"}},
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid no permissions",
+			cmd: SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+				OrgID:             1,
+				ExternalServiceID: "app 1",
+				ServiceAccountID:  2,
+				Permissions:       []Permission{},
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid service account id",
+			cmd: SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+				OrgID:             1,
+				ExternalServiceID: "app 1",
+				ServiceAccountID:  -1,
+				Permissions:       []Permission{{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"}},
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid no Ext Service ID",
+			cmd: SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+				OrgID:            1,
+				ServiceAccountID: 2,
+				Permissions:      []Permission{{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"}},
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "slugify the external service ID correctly",
+			cmd: SaveExternalServiceRoleCommand{
+				ExternalServiceID: "ThisIs a Very Strange ___ App Name?",
+				Global:            true,
+				ServiceAccountID:  2,
+				Permissions:       []Permission{{Action: "users:read", Scope: "users:id:1"}},
+			},
+			wantErr: false,
+			wantID:  "thisis-a-very-strange-app-name",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := tt.cmd.Validate()
+			if tt.wantErr {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				return
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			require.Equal(t, tt.wantID, tt.cmd.ExternalServiceID)
+		})
+	}
+}