Ever find yourself juggling data in MySQL or PostgreSQL when you’d rather be analyzing it in BigQuery? Good news! Google Cloud’s got a feature (currently in Preview) to automate that transfer for you. Whether you’re running an e-commerce store, managing a CRM, or just trying to get your data ducks in a row, this tool has your back.

When Does This Come in Handy?
• Centralizing your data. Tired of hunting through different databases for insights? Consolidate everything in BigQuery for streamlined analysis.
• Switching gears to BigQuery. If you’re making BigQuery your main analytics platform, this feature simplifies the transition.
• Automating ETL. No more manual exports and imports; set it up once and let the magic happen.
• Blending OLTP with BigQuery. Perfect for merging your operational databases (like MySQL or PostgreSQL) with other data already living in BigQuery.

How to Set It Up

Step 1: Prep Your Database
• For MySQL: Make sure it’s accessible via a public IP. Add Google Cloud’s IPs to your firewall rules (don’t worry, they’ve got a full list in the docs).
• or PostgreSQL: Enable external connections and whitelist those same Google Cloud IPs.

Step 2: Get Your Google Cloud Project Ready
• Create or select a Google Cloud project.
• Turn on the BigQuery Data Transfer API.
• Set up credentials (think service account keys).

Step 3: Set Up the Transfer
• Head to BigQuery > Transfers in the Google Cloud Console.
• Click Create Transfer and choose your source: MySQL or PostgreSQL.
• Add the connection details: host, port, username, and password (don’t worry, no one’s judging your password hygiene). For PostgreSQL, toss in the database and schema names too.
• Schedule the transfer—daily at midnight? Hourly? You’re the boss.

Step 4: Test & Secure
• Hit Test Connection to make sure everything’s talking nicely.
• If you’re using SSL/TLS, ensure your certificates are in order. No one likes a party crasher.

Step 5: Analyze!
Once the transfer is set up, your data will flow straight into BigQuery, ready for slicing, dicing, and dashboarding.

Ready to Dive Deeper?

If you work with GA4 to BigQuery exports, be sure to check out my SQL cheat sheet.