Google Cloud SQL - PostgreSQL database connection from QGIS for third parties

Question

I have a Google Cloud SQL PostgreSQL database in which I can connect by using SSL and by entering my IP address in allowed connection settings. However, I do not want to list all the IP addresses that is going to connect to this database (because I do not know all the IP addresses). I have around 15 people which I want them to login to my database using QGIS and they should be able to change the data as this is a research. Security is not a big issue as this database will be online for a very short period of time. What connection method can you suggest? The users are not very proficient so I need to setup everything.

Answer 1

I hope you're doing fine.

I would like to suggest to set the connections with the Cloud SQL proxy as it will provide the security needed without using ssl or the need of authorize any network. so basically the set up is to:

1. Enable the API
2. Install the proxy client on your local machine
3. Determine how you will authenticate the proxy
4. If required by your authentication method, create a service account

Also you can find the steps on "Connecting to Cloud SQL from external applications"

Hope this works for you as I have never used it with QGIS but I believe that as you are using a proxy it won't be hard from there to use it with QGIS as if you connected to a local server.