Google Cloud Setup checklist

Before you run workloads on Google Cloud, we recommend that administrators configure a foundation using Google Cloud Setup. A foundation includes fundamental settings that help you organize, manage, and maintain Google Cloud resources.

Using the interactive guide in Google Cloud Setup, you can quickly deploy a default configuration or make adjustments to align with your business needs:

Go to Google Cloud Setup

This document outlines steps and background information to help you complete the setup process, including the following phases:

  • Select a foundation option (Preview): Based on the workload that you want to support, select a proof of concept, production, or enhanced security foundation.

  • Establish your organization, administrators, and billing: Set up the top-level node of your hierarchy, create initial administrator users and assign access, and connect your payment method.

  • Create an initial architecture: Select an initial folder and project structure, apply security settings, configure logging and monitoring, and set up your network.

  • Deploy your settings: Your initial architecture choices are compiled in Terraform configuration files. You can quickly deploy through the Google Cloud console, or download the files to customize and iterate using your own workflow. After you deploy, select a support plan.

Select a Google Cloud Setup foundation option

To get started with Google Cloud Setup, you select one of the following foundation options based on your organization's needs:

  • Proof of concept: Support proof of concept workloads with basic security in mind. This option guides you through the Organization and Billing tasks. For example, you can select this option to experiment with Google Cloud before making a larger commitment.

  • Production: Support production-ready workloads with security and scalability in mind. This option includes all Google Cloud Setup tasks in this document. For example, you can select this option to configure a secure and scalable foundation for your organization.

  • Enhanced security: Includes all tasks in the Production foundation, as well as additional security options in the Security task. For example, you can select this option if your organization is subject to strict security requirements.

To select a foundation option, do the following:

  1. Go to Google Cloud Setup: Foundations.

    Go to Foundations

  2. Click Start under one of the following options:

    • Proof of concept.
    • Production.
    • Enhanced security.
  3. Do one of the following:

Create a proof of concept foundation

A proof of concept foundation helps you perform the following:

  • Organization and Billing tasks.
  • A lightweight deployment through the console that includes the following:
    • A proof of concept folder and project.
    • Organization and billing administrator groups.
    • Recommended organization policies.

To create a proof of concept foundation, do the following:

  1. Complete the Organization task.

    Configure an identity provider, verify your domain, and generate your organization.

  2. Sign in to the console as the super administrator user you created in the Organization task.

  3. Select the Proof of concept foundation option.

  4. Make sure the organization you created is selected, and click Continue to Billing.

    The gcp-organization-admins and gcp-billing-admins groups are created, and you are added as a member of each group.

  5. Select or create a billing account. For more information, see the Billing task.

  6. Click Continue to Review and Deploy Foundation.

  7. From the Review and deploy your configuration screen, review the following draft configurations:

    • Resource hierarchy: Review the proof of concept folder and project.

    • Organization policies: Review the list of recommended organization policies. For more information, see Apply recommended organization policies.

  8. Click Deploy. Your proof of concept foundation is deployed.

For information on experimenting and building, see Build your Google Cloud architecture.

Establish your organization, administrators, and billing

Create an initial architecture

Deploy your settings