How to Create a GCP Service Account for use with Google Drive

Approximate time to complete: 5-7 minutes, excluding prerequisites

This how to article gives you step-by-step instructions for creating a Google Drive service account with credentials in Google Cloud Platform. It will also show you how to configure a source connector from Vectorize to Google Drive as part of a RAG pipeline.

Before you begin

Before starting, ensure you have access to the credentials, connection parameters, and API keys as appropriate for the following:

• A Vectorize account (Create one free here ↗)

• A GCP Cloud Account (Create one free here ↗)

Enable the Google Drive API

1. Open Google Cloud Console

   • Navigate to the Google Cloud Console.

   • Make sure you are working in the correct project.

2. Go to APIs & Services

   • From the dashboard, locate the "APIs & Services" option in the quick access section.

   • Click on APIs & Services.

   
3. Enable Cloud Storage API

   • Click on ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES.

   

   • In the API library, use the search box and type Google Drive to locate the API.

   

   • From the search results, click on the Google Drive option from Google Enterprise API.

   

   • On the Google Drive API details page, click ENABLE.

   • If the API is already enabled, you can go to the next step.

   

Set Up the Service Account

1. Navigate to APIs & Services > Credentials.

1. Click CREATE CREDENTIALS, then click Service account.

1. Fill in your service details

• Provide a Service account name, this will automatically populate the Service account ID field as well

• Click on CREATE AND CONTINUE, making sure you're clicking the button shown and NOT the more prominent DONE button.

1. Assign roles to your service account

• In the role selection section, grant the Viewer role for the service account.

1. Finalizing the Service Account

   • To finalize the setup, click DONE to complete the creation of the service account.

   

Step 4: Create Keys for the Service Account

1. Select the Service Account

   • After creating the service account, you should see a list with the new service account listed.

   • If you left that page, you can always get to it by going to IAM & Admin > Service Accounts using upper left "hamburger" menu.

   • Click on the service account email to manage it.

   
2. Go to the Keys Tab

   • Once in the service account details, navigate to the KEYS tab.

   
3. Add a New Key

   • Open the ADD KEY dropdown

   
4. Select Create new key to generate a new key for this service account.

   
5. Create a JSON Key

   • When prompted, select the JSON key type and click CREATE.

   
6. Save the Key

   • A JSON file will be downloaded. Save this file securely as it contains the private key for your service account.

   • Make sure to keep this key file secure, as it cannot be recovered if lost.