Configure trusted authentication

Learn how to configure trusted authentication.

If your organization has a trusted authentication server, you can use it to authenticate users of the embedded ThoughtSpot application. After authenticating a user, the trusted authenticator server or service obtains an authentication token from ThoughtSpot on that user’s behalf. This ensures that the user authentication persists across all subsequent user sessions.

How to authenticate users

In the following scenario, the trust authenticator forwards requests for ThoughtSpot data from client applications.

authentication

A user already logged into the client application interacts with a ThoughtSpot embed point, which launches the following sequence:

  1. The client-side application requests a user token from the trusted authenticator.

    This trusted authenticator server must already be configured as an authenticated server.

  2. The trusted server authenticates the user, and requests a token from ThoughtSpot on the user’s behalf.

  3. ThoughtSpot verifies the authenticator server’s request and returns a user token.

  4. The authenticator returns the user token to the client, which it uses to complete the user request.

  5. The client forwards the request and the user token to ThoughtSpot.

  6. ThoughtSpot validates the token, and returns the information that the authenticated user requested.

Enable trusted authentication and get a token

Generated tokens do not expire.

  1. Log in to the ThoughtSpot server.

  2. Enable trusted authentication and generate an authenticate token. (service secret)  — used to identify the server to ThoughtSpot.

     [admin@ourthoughtspot ~]$ tscli tokenauthentication enable

 Token generated. Copy the GUID in the box.

 ########################################
 # b0cb26a0-351e-40b4-9e42-00fa2265d50c #
 ########################################

 Override added successfully

    Tokens are like any other password. You should store them securely and protect knowledge of them. Your installation can have only one authentication token at a time. Every time you call to enable overwrite, the existing token and return a new one.

Disable a token

To disable a token and not overwrite it, enter the following command:

tscli tokenauthentication disable

Trusted authentication call

  1. A user in another application or web page requests access to embedded ThoughtSpot.

    This is a REST request for an embedded ThoughtSpot object, page, or entire application. Your trusted authenticator server intercepts the request. Your server application must determine, at minimum:

    • if the requestor is itself authenticated with your server

    • which user (username) is making the request

    • what is being requested: an object, page, or the entire ThoughtSpot application

    It is also important that the username is a match for a username on the ThoughtSpot application.

  2. The trusted web server requests an authentication token on the user’s behalf from ThoughtSpot.

     POST https://<instance>/callosum/v1/session/auth/token

    This post request takes the following parameters:

    secret_key

    A required formData parameter containing a string which is the authentication token provide by the ThoughtSpot server.

    username

    A required formData parameter containing a string which is the user’s username on ThoughtSpot.

    access_level

    A required formData parameter containing one of FULL or REPORT_BOOK_VIEW.

    id

    An optional formData parameter containing a ThoughtSpot object identifier. This is only required if you specified REPORT_BOOK_VIEW for the access_level parameter.

  3. The trusted authenticator server is responsible for managing this token.

    The token can be managed in any way you see fit. Tokens expire in XXX minutes/hours/day.

  4. The trusted authenticator server returns a token to the original requestor.

  5. Client completes the user’s request, providing the token along with the request.

    For example, the customer requests a specific object:

     GET https://<instance>/callosum/v1/session/login/token?username=<user>&auth_token=<token>&redirect_url=<full-encoded-url-with-auth-token>

    If you are using ThoughtSpot embed with objects or pages, you must request re-authenticate requests for each new object.

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