Tableau cloud app

Using the SAML 2.0 standard, you can configure single sign-on (SSO) for a number of cloud apps. After you set up SSO, your users can use their Google Workspace credentials to sign in to an app using SSO.

Use SAML to set up SSO for Tableau

You must be signed in as a super administrator for this task.

Step 1: Set up Google as a SAML identity provider

  1. In the Google Admin console, go to Menu and then Appsand thenWeb and mobile apps.

    You must be signed in as a super administrator for this task.

  2. Click Add appand thenSearch for apps.
  3. For Enter app name, enter Tableau.
  4. In the search results, point to Tableau and click Select.
  5. In the Google Identity Provider details window, download the identity provider metadata.
  6. Leave the Admin console open. You'll continue with the configuration in the Admin console after the setup steps in the app.

Step 2: Set up Tableau as a SAML 2.0 service provider

  1. Open an Incognito browser window, go to the Tableau sign-in page, and sign in with your Tableau administrator account.
  2. Go to Settings and then Authentication.
  3. Check the Single sign-on with SAML box.
  4. In Export metadata file from Tableau Online, copy the Entity ID and ACS URL.
    You need these details to complete the setup in the Admin console in Step 3.
  5. In Import metadata file into Tableau Online, click Browse and select the identity provider metadata file that you downloaded in Step 1.
  6. Click Apply.
  7. For Match assertions, for the email, FirstName, and LastName attributes, add the assertion's email, first name, and last name.
  8. Click Apply.
  9. For Default authentication type for embedded views, select Allow users to choose their authentication type.
  10. On the Users tab, point to Overflow and select Authentication and then Single sign on.

Step 3: Finish SSO configuration in Admin console

  1. Return to the Admin console browser tab.
  2. On the Google Identity Provider details page, click Continue.
  3. On the Service provider details page:
    1. For ACS URL, paste the ACS URL that you copied in Step 2.
    2. For Entity ID, replace {your-alias-id} with the entity ID that you copied in Step 2.
  4. Click Continue.
  5. In the Attribute Mapping window, click Select field and map the following Google directory attributes to their corresponding Tableau attributes. The email attribute is required:
    Google directory attribute Tableau attribute
    Basic Information > Primary Email email
    Basic Information > First Name FirstName
    Basic Information > Last Name LastName
  6. (Optional) To add additional mappings, click Add Mapping and select the fields that you need to map.
  7. (Optional) To enter group names that are relevant for this app:
    1. For Group membership (optional), click Search for a group, enter one or more letters of the group name, and select the group name.
    2. Add additional groups as needed (maximum of 75 groups).
    3. For App attribute, enter the corresponding groups attribute name of the service provider.

    Regardless of how many group names you enter, the SAML response includes only groups that a user is a member of (directly or indirectly). For more information, go to About group membership mapping.

  8. Click Finish.

Step 4: Turn on app for users

Before you begin: To turn a service on or off for certain users, put their accounts in an organizational unit (to control access by department) or add them to an access group (to allow access for users across or within departments).

  1. In the Google Admin console, go to Menu and then Appsand thenWeb and mobile apps.

    You must be signed in as a super administrator for this task.

  2. Click Tableau.
  3. Click User access.

  4. To turn a service on or off for everyone in your organization, click On for everyone or Off for everyone, and then click Save.

  5. (Optional) To turn a service on or off for an organizational unit:
    1. At the left, select the organizational unit.
    2. To change the Service status, select On or Off.
    3. Choose one:
      • If the Service status is set to Inherited and you want to keep the updated setting, even if the parent setting changes, click Override.
      • If the Service status is set to Overridden, either click Inherit to revert to the same setting as its parent, or click Save to keep the new setting, even if the parent setting changes.
        Learn more about organizational structure.
  6. (Optional) To turn on a service for a set of users across or within organizational units, select an access group. For details, go to Customize service access using access groups.
  7. Ensure that your Tableau user account email domains match the primary domain of your organization's managed Google Account.

Step 5: Verify SSO is working

Tableau supports both identity provider-initiated and service provider-initiated SSO.

Verify identity provider-initiated SSO

  1. In the Google Admin console, go to Menu and then Appsand thenWeb and mobile apps.

    You must be signed in as a super administrator for this task.

  2. Click Tableau.
  3. In the Tableau section, click Test SAML Login.

    The app should open in a separate tab. If it doesn't, troubleshoot the error message and try again. For details on troubleshooting, go to SAML app error messages.

Verify service provider-initiated SSO

  1. Close all browser windows.
  2. Go to the Tableau sign-in page and sign in with your Tableau administrator account.
    You should be redirected to the Google sign-in page.
  3. Select your account and enter your password.

After your credentials are authenticated, the app should open.


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