Easily manage secure data access and sharing with virtual connections in Tableau

Virtual connections in Tableau make it easier to manage access and sharing of tables across workbooks, data sources, and prep flows.

As Tableau usage has grown across many enterprises, sharing and maintaining access to data has become more complex. Database access must be shared widely with everyone who needs to connect to data for modeling or creating vizzes. If database credentials can’t be shared for security reasons, the burden of creating and maintaining shareable content (like published data sources) falls on whoever has the credentials—whether they’re the best person for the job or not.

Tableau 2021.4 introduces a new solution to this problem, as part of the Data Management Add-on: virtual connections.

Tableau interface where a user is creating a virtual connection for a data source containing three tables, showing table details for one selected table of the three.

What are virtual connections in Tableau?

Virtual connections (“VConns” if you’re in a hurry) are a content type that lets data owners share access to groups of tables that can be used across many different workbooks, data sources, or prep flows. These tables are accessed using credentials stored in the VConn, so users of those tables don't need direct access to the database.

With virtual connections, instead of one connection per piece of Tableau content (data source, workbook, flow), and each connection requiring its own extract and security management, you can create one common managed connection that can access multiple tables in the same database. You can manage extracting the data and the security in one place—at the connection level.

An illustrated diagram showing an example of a Tableau virtual connection sitting between a database and analytical content, demonstrating how one virtual connection can be used across multiple published data sources and subsequent Tableau workbooks.

Simplify sharing access to tables

You can create a virtual connection from Tableau Server or Tableau Online (VConn creation is a web-only feature, but you can still use them in Tableau Desktop). Here's how:

  1. From the Home or Explore page, click New > Virtual Connection.
  2. Connect to your database of choice.
  3. Choose the tables you want to include in the VConn.
  4. Publish the VConn and set the appropriate permissions.

Animated GIF of a user creating a virtual connection in Tableau Server, connecting to a database and selecting tables to be included.

Once a virtual connection exists, you can use it in your data sources and workbooks like any other content in Server or Online.

Animated GIF of a user creating a workbook in Tableau Server, using a virtual connection to connect to data to bring into the viz.

Keep your data secure with centralized permissions and data policies

Since a virtual connection enables a single point of access to your database (though it doesn’t have to be—you’re free to make more than one if you want), it’s the best place to define and enforce security on that data. You can apply permissions and policies to make sure that the data is only available to the right people and groups. And it’s all enforced by Tableau—no need to keep track of who knows the password to your database.

Like all Tableau content, virtual connections have permissions. You can allow or deny access to users, groups, or projects. Note: for security reasons, the “Connect” permission is not globally granted by default on new VConns, so make sure you add it before other people use your VConn.

Tableau Server permissions interface, highlighting the permissions that allow users to connect to a virtual connection.

Along with virtual connections, we introduced data policies for centralized row-level security. This is a big feature that’s worth its own blog post, so watch for that in the near future!

Tableau interface where a user can create and manage data policies for virtual connections, which enables row-level security.

Maintain databases and tables with ease

Since virtual connections eliminate the need for workbooks and published data sources to connect directly to databases, owners of that content no longer need to worry about changes to the database schema, credentials, or connection information. For maintenance tasks such as password rotations, you would only update the VConn and all downstream content would continue working with no disruption. Instead of coordinating every password change across your entire Tableau community, you can just edit the VConn, enter the new password, and publish the update.

Animated GIF of a user in Tableau web authoring changing the password for database credentials embedded in a virtual connection.

How do virtual connections benefit your Tableau users?

Virtual connections will make life easier for everyone in your Tableau community:

  • Data owners (such as database administrators, data stewards, and Tableau Admins) can create and manage VConns to exercise more flexible control over the data they’re responsible for.
  • Creators and some Explorers can use tables from VConns in their data sources, workbooks, and flows. They’ll be able to connect directly to the data they need without having to find connection information and credentials.
  • Viewers and most Explorers will not notice any changes. They'll keep using existing data sources or workbooks that may or may not use VConns behind the scenes. (But they’ll probably enjoy knowing that their coworkers are happier.)

Learn more about virtual connections and centralized security with Tableau

Virtual connections are your key to easily sharing secured data in Tableau, and we can’t wait to learn about all the ways our customers are taking advantage of this content type.

Want to learn more?