Desk cloud application

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Using Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), your users can use their Google Cloud credentials to sign in to enterprise-cloud applications.

Set up SSO via SAML for Desk

Here's how to set up single sign-on (SSO) via SAML for the Desk® application.

Step 1: Set up Google as a SAML identity provider (IdP)
  1. Sign in to your Google Admin console.

    Sign in using your administrator account (does not end in @gmail.com).

  2. From the Admin console Home page, go to Apps and then SAML apps.

    To see Apps on the Home page, you might have to click More controls at the bottom. 

  3. Click the plus (+) icon at bottom right.
  4. Locate and click Desk in the application list.
  5. On the Google IDP Information page:
    • Copy and save the SSO URL.
    • Download the Certificate.
  6. Click Next.

    The Basic information window shows the Application name and Description seen by users.

  7. Click Next.
  8. On the Service Provider Details page, edit the ACS URL and Entity ID,  replacing {your-site} with your company ID or domain name (for example, the yourdomain part of yourdomain.com).
  9. Click Finish.
Step 2: Set up Desk as a SAML 2.0 service provider (SP)

Note: Desk requires an X.509 certificate fingerprint, rather than an X.509 certificate. Before proceeding with the configuration steps below, use a conversion utility to convert the X.509 certificate generated in Step 1 into an X.509 certificate fingerprint.

  1. Open a new incognito browser window.
  2. Sign in to Desk.com with your organization's Desk administrator account.
  3. Click the Settings icon at top right, then click Single Sign-on in the left menu.
  4. In the Apps list at left, click Single Sign-On.
  5. On the Single Sign-On page, select SAML SSO.
  6. For Authentication Service Name, enter 'Google'.
  7. In the Remote login URL field, enter the SSO URL you copied in Step 1.
  8. In the Certificate fingerprint field, paste the converted X.509 certificate (see Note above).
  9. Check Also allow Desk Authentication.
  10. Click Save.
Step 3: Enable the Desk app
  1. Sign in to your Google Admin console.

    Sign in using your administrator account (does not end in @gmail.com).

  2. From the Admin console Home page, go to Apps and then SAML apps.

    To see Apps on the Home page, you might have to click More controls at the bottom. 

  3. Select Desk.

  4. At the top right of the gray box, click Edit Service Compose.

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

  6. To turn on or off a service only for users in an organizational unit:

    1. At the left, select the organizational unit.
    2. Select On or Off.
    3. To keep the service turned on or off even when the service is turned on or off for the parent organizational unit, click Override.
    4. If the organization's status is already Overridden, choose an option:
      • Inherit—Reverts to the same setting as its parent.
      • Save—Saves your new setting (even if the parent setting changes).

    Learn more about organizational structure.

  7. Ensure that your Desk user account email IDs match those in your Google domain.
Step 4: Verify that the SSO is working
  1. Close all browser windows.
  2. Open https://{yoursite}.desk.com/login/new, then click Login with Google. You should be automatically redirected to the Google sign in page.
  3. Enter your sign in credentials.
  4. After your sign in credentials are authenticated, you are automatically redirected back to Desk.
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