Google Cloud Storage Setup - GCS

10 minutes read

Level: Beginner

Last Updated: October 2025

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Video Tutorial

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Google Cloud Storage (GCS) is a cloud-based service provided by Google Cloud Platform (GCP) that allows you to store and access data—such as files, images, videos, backups, and large datasets—on Google’s secure servers instead of on your local computer or server. Google Cloud Storage (GCS) will be used for various purposes like storing data for reporting via BigQuery as well as for storing media files.

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:

• A Google account (preferably linked to your organisation).

• A valid phone number and payment details for Google Cloud billing.

• Legal documents of your for verification.

Setup

The overall setup includes:

Create Google Cloud Account → Enable Billing → Create Project → Enable APIs→ Create Storage Bucket → Add Service Account Key → Link with Glific

Step 1: Create a Google Cloud Account

1. Go to Google Cloud Console and sign in with your Gsuite account.

2. After signing in you will be redirected to the Google Cloud console. Use link if not redirected: https://console.cloud.google.com/getting-started

3. Click on TRY FOR FREE and fill in Billing details.

• Google provides USD 300 free credits valid for 90 days.

• Once credits expire, you must switch to a paid plan.

• If not upgraded, the syncing of data will stop working.

4. Select Country and check to agree to terms and conditions.

5. Now fill in your primary contact and payment information details and click on start free.

This whole process of account information and payment information verification will take a few minutes.

6. Answer the four questions asked by Google Cloud

• What best describes your organization and its needs?

• What brought you to Google Cloud?

• What are you interested in doing with Google Cloud?

• What best describes your role?

Step 2: Create a New Project

1. Click on My Project in the top bar to create a new project.

2. Click on New Project at the top right corner.

3. Fill in your project details and click on the CREATE button. Once the new project is created, select it, and in the top search bar:

GCS Setup with UPI (not mandatory, required only when the payment method is UPI.)

Step 1: Creating a GCS Account

• Navigate to the GCS registration portal.
• Click on 'Create New Account'.

• Agree to the Terms of Service. Step 2: Starting the Free Trial

• Click on 'Try for Free'.

• Note that this is a trial account with USD 300 in benefits.

Step 3: Selecting Country

• Choose your country from the dropdown and selection “Agree & continue”

Step 4: Selecting Payment Profile

• Choose an existing payment profile or create a new one.

Step 5: Filling Out Payment Form

• Enter the required billing details in the form.

Step 6: Choosing Payment Method

• Click on Add payment method.

In the payment method screen shown here, Choose the UPI QR code option for payment. You can alternatively choose Credit Card or Net banking as well.

• Highlight: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) requirement for mandate approval.

Step 7: Selecting UPI QR Code

• Use your phone (UPI app) to make the payment after scanning the QR code.

Step 8: Completing Welcome Form

The screen changes once the payment is completed and a welcome form appears after payment confirmation.

Step 9: Verifying Credits

The account dashboard shows the credited USD 300 trial funds.

Step 3: Enable Required APIs

1. In the left menu, go to APIs & Services → Library.

2. Type BigQuery API and enable it if it’s not already enabled. If enabled, it will show as Manage.

3. Similarly, search for Google Sheets API and enable it if it’s not already enabled. If enabled, it will show as Manage.

Step 4: Create a Storage Bucket

1. Select Cloud Storageand the Buckets from the side panel of Google Cloud Console Dashboard

2. Click on +CREATE button to create a bucket to store data

3. Enter the name of the bucket to be created and the preferred data location where data will be stored

4. Choose the preferred plan for storage and access control type and click on the CREATE button.

5. A new bucket is created.

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Making bucket Public

1 . Once Bucket is created, Open the bucket and click on Permissions.

2 . Under the View By Principle section, click Grant Access.

3 . Under add principle, tab choose allUsersand choose a role as Storage Admin.

4 . Click on save open and a pop-up will come for confirmation of making the bucket publicly accessible.

5 . Click on ALLOW PUBLIC ACCESS

Step 5: Create Service Account & Key

1. Select IAM & Adminand then Service Accounts from the side panel of Google Cloud Console Dashboard

2. Click + Create Service Account, enter the details, and click Create and Continue.

3. Grant this service account access to the project, ensuring it has Owner access as well. Click Done.

4. Click on the three-dot dropdown next to the service account, then select Manage Keys.

5. Click Add Key, select JSON as the key type, and click Create.

6. Save the downloaded JSON file and copy its content.

Please Note - Save this JSON file securely. You will upload it to Glific later. The JSON key is what authenticates Glific to access your data.

Integrate Google Cloud Storage with Glific

1. Open the Glific account and click on the NGO main account button (bottom left corner), then go to Settings and select Google Cloud Storage.

2. Enable the active box, paste the copied JSON file into the Goth Credentials field.

3. Copy the client email from the JSON file and paste it into Goth Credentials.

4. Enter the bucket name (you can find it in Google Cloud Console > Cloud Storage > Buckets).

Integrate BigQuery API with Glific

1. Open BigQuery from the left panel in Glific.

2. Enable the active box and paste the copied JSON content into the Goth Credentials field. Click Save.

Integrate Google Sheets API with Glific

1. Open Google Sheets from the left panel in Glific.

2. Enable the active box and paste the copied JSON content into the Goth Credentials field. Click Save.

What's the reason for setting the GCS bucket to public?

The GCS (Google Cloud Storage) bucket is set to public to make it easier to share files—like PDFs, images, videos etc — without needing user authentication.

This is especially useful when files need to be accessed directly through chatbot flows or shared publicly with partners and beneficiaries. When a file is public, anyone with the link can open or download it without logging in. This avoids errors or delays caused by restricted access.

Example:

If an NGO’s bot sends a PDF through a the chatbot, and the file is stored in a public bucket, the end user can simply tap the link and view it — no login or permission required. Note: Only non-sensitive, public-facing files should be stored in the public bucket. Private or personal data should always be stored securely with proper access controls.

Is it possible to keep my GCS bucket private instead of making it public?

It's perfectly fine to keep your GCS bucket private as long as you don't plan to share any content publicly.

However, if you need to send media as attachments (instead of sharing via links), the bucket would need to be public for access.

Also, just to clarify — BigQuery tables and GCS buckets serve different purposes.

• BigQuery tables are used to store structured data (like databases).
• GCS buckets are used to store media files such as images, audio, and documents.

Assign access to the Service Account in Google Console

• Go to Google Cloud Console and sign in with your Gsuite account.

• Click on IAM & Admin and select Service Accounts.

• Access the created Service Account and go to Permissions.

• Click on Grant Access, select New Principal, enter the desired email address (e.g., reporting@projecttech4dev.org), and assign the role as Owner.

• Click Save.

Reference Articles

• GCS Pricing Details

• Google Help Docs