Symptoms

We are seeing the following error in the Windows Application Event logs on the K2Server: An unexpected failure was encountered when contacting SharePoint to get information from the group provider rProvderNameGoesHere]: K2 Server does not have the necessary permissions on the SharePoint server or cannot authenticate with the server. InnerException: The request failed with HTTP status 401: Unauthorized
 

Diagnoses

This is normally because the K2Service account does not have site collection administration rights on the SharePoint site in question.
 

Resolution

1.) First we need to make sure that the group providers exist in workspace.
- Open workspace and navigate to "Management" andgt "Management Console"
- Expand: "User Managers" andgt "SP" andgt "Group Providers".
- In there you should see the group provider in question.

2.) Next, we need to make sure that it is valid, by navigating to the URL.

3.) And finally, if the group provider is valid, make sure that the K2Service Account has site collection Administrator permissions on the site collection.