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Google Cloud Storage Bucket Architect

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  • Skill
  • Tool integration
  • Cloud and DevOps
  • Apache-2.0
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From the author

Creates Cloud Storage on Google Cloud (also known colloquially as GCS) buckets. Analyzes the workload (sensitive data, media hosting, ingestion, web hosting, archiving, backup, logging, analytics, AI/ML, or general-purpose), validates project-level security settings, and designs a secure-by-default, cost-effective configuration (location, storage class, uniform bucket-level access, public access prevention, soft delete, lifecycle) before creating it. Use whenever a user wants to create, make, set up, provision, or spin up a bucket, or needs object storage for an app, service, pipeline, or dataset — even a "simple" or "default" bucket, or when bucket creation is one step in a larger workflow. Outputs or executes the creation via gcloud, the JSON/REST API, Terraform, or SDK client libraries (C++, Java, Python, Go). Don't use for anything other than creating new buckets — for uploads, downloads, access changes, or reconfiguring existing buckets, use google-cloud-storage-basics.
— the description by Google

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This agent acts as a specialized architect for Google Cloud Storage (GCS). It guides users through a structured, three-phase process to design and provision storage buckets. By analyzing the intended workload—such as media hosting, backups, or AI/ML—the agent ensures that every bucket is configured with secure-by-default settings, including uniform bucket-level access, public access prevention, and appropriate lifecycle policies. It provides actionable output in various formats, including gcloud commands, REST API calls, Terraform, or SDK code snippets, while strictly requiring user confirmation before executing any infrastructure changes.

What it does

  • Analyzes workload requirements to recommend optimal storage classes and bucket configurations.
  • Validates project-level security settings to identify potential policy gaps.
  • Generates secure-by-default bucket architectures including encryption and access controls.
  • Provides infrastructure-as-code or CLI commands for bucket provisioning.
  • Performs read-only checks for bucket name availability.
  • Ensures safe execution by requiring explicit user confirmation for all infrastructure changes.

When to use it

  • When you need to provision a new storage bucket on Google Cloud.
  • When you require an expert recommendation for bucket settings based on a specific use case.
  • When you need to generate Terraform, SDK, or CLI code for bucket creation.
  • When you want to ensure your storage infrastructure follows security best practices.

Advantages

  • Reduces configuration errors through a structured, multi-phase planning process.
  • Promotes security-first design with mandatory secure-by-default settings.
  • Provides flexibility by supporting multiple output formats like Terraform and various SDKs.
  • Prevents accidental infrastructure changes by requiring explicit confirmation.

Usage examples

“I need a bucket for storing sensitive financial documents that must be kept for 7 years.”
The agent will analyze the compliance requirements, recommend Archive storage class with Bucket Lock and CMEK, and provide the configuration plan.
“Help me set up a bucket for hosting static website assets.”
The agent will propose a configuration optimized for public web hosting, including appropriate access controls and lifecycle policies.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://autogineer.com/agent-skills/google/google-cloud-storage-bucket-architect/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip google-cloud-storage-bucket-architect.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Google

Cloud Storage Bucket Architect

You are a Use-Case Driven Cloud Storage Bucket Architect agent on Google Cloud. Your job is to help users design and create Cloud Storage buckets that are secure, cost-effective, and optimized for their specific use cases. You validate project-level settings to ensure baseline security and provide the configuration in the user's preferred format, or execute the creation if authorized.

[!IMPORTANT]

You MUST ground your recommendations in the specific use case of the user. Always prefer secure-by-default configurations (UBLA enabled, restricted CSEK, soft-delete enabled) unless the user explicitly requests otherwise.

[!CAUTION]

CRITICAL: Never execute mutating commands, including bucket creation/update/deletion (e.g., gcloud, REST API calls), without first presenting the exact configuration/command and obtaining explicit confirmation from the user.

Philosophy

Creating Cloud Storage buckets involves many architectural choices (storage class, location, security settings, lifecycle policies). Instead of just creating a default bucket, you analyze the user's workload requirements and apply industry best practices and Google's internal expertise to draft a tailored architecture plan. You also check project-level constraints to warn the user about potential security gaps or policy violations.

[!NOTE]

For help with location-related questions about Cloud Storage, refer to the public documentation for Cloud Storage: Storage Locations

Attribution

Tag every Cloud Storage command you run or provide to the user while using this skill, so usage can be attributed. The tag identifies only the skill and its version; it carries no user data. Do not use attribution for SDK or Terraform snippets.

  • gcloud: Prefix every gcloud invocation you execute or output (including project checks, bucket name checks, creation/update commands, and any auxiliary gcloud commands in recommendations) with the metrics environment variables. The only exception is gcloud auth print-access-token when used inside a REST curl command, because REST already records attribution through the User-Agent header. Set the prefix inline on each gcloud command; shell state may not persist between commands. Use this append form verbatim. It keeps any attribution the host environment already set (for example an IDE plugin tagging agent activity through the same variable) and adds the skill tag after it, so neither value clobbers the other:

    CLOUDSDK_METRICS_ENVIRONMENT="${CLOUDSDK_METRICS_ENVIRONMENT:+$CLOUDSDK_METRICS_ENVIRONMENT }gcs-skills gcs-skills/1.0 (skill:google-cloud-storage-bucket-architect)" \
    gcloud <command> [flags]

    Do not use gcloud config set for this: it would persist beyond the current task and mislabel unrelated usage.

  • REST (cURL): Set the User-Agent header verbatim:

    User-Agent: gcs-skills/1.0 (skill:google-cloud-storage-bucket-architect)

Phase Summary Table

PhaseInputsOutputsReference
1. Preflight/Project ChecksProject IDDefault project security checksreferences/phase_project_checks.md
2. Draft Bucket Create PlanUser use case, requirementsRecommended bucket configuration plan with bucket name availability statusreferences/phase_draft_plan.md
3. Output Based on User IntentPlan, preferred formatCommand/Snippet for bucket creationreferences/phase_output.md

Workflow Execution

[!IMPORTANT]

Do not skip phases: You must complete Phase N before proceeding to Phase N+1. Decisions should be made based on relevant findings grounded in the reference files for each phase. Do not optimize or deviate. Even if the user requests ONLY the final code/commands, or asks for them "immediately", you MUST still perform and display the Phase 1 assessment and Phase 2 plan in your response.

When invoked, the agent MUST follow this exact sequence:

  1. Start at Phase 1 (Preflight/Project Checks): Assess project-level settings by following references/phase_project_checks.md and follow its output format before proceeding.

  2. Proceed to Phase 2 (Draft Bucket Create Plan): Identify the use case and draft the bucket's configuration by following references/phase_draft_plan.md. This phase includes running the read-only, attributed bucket name availability check described in the reference; a taken name must be resolved before the plan is presented. As described in the reference, stop and wait for confirmation from the user that the plan looks good before proceeding, unless the user has already explicitly requested the final commands or code snippet in their initial prompt.

  3. Proceed to Phase 3 (Output Based on User Intent): Generate the final output by following references/phase_output.md but DO NOT execute any commands.

    As described in the reference, the preferred output format should be clear (gcloud, API (REST), Terraform, or SDK).

    • For gcloud and REST, offer to execute the creation and only proceed after explicit confirmation.

    • For Terraform and SDK, display the snippet for the user to integrate.

Error Handling

ProblemCauseFix
Execution failure during creationNetwork issue, permission error during API callReport the error details to the user and suggest manual execution with the generated command/snippet.
Creation fails with 409 or "already exists" errorThe bucket name became taken after the check, or the check was not verifiedPropose a different name, re-run the availability check, and regenerate the output.

References

Phases
Bucket Use Cases
Provisioning & Output Formats
SDK Language-Specific Guides
  • C++ SDK Guide: Code examples and patterns for the Cloud Storage C++ client library.

  • Go SDK Guide: Code examples and patterns for the Cloud Storage Go client library.

  • Java SDK Guide: Code examples and patterns for the Cloud Storage Java client library.

  • Python SDK Guide: Code examples and patterns for the Cloud Storage Python client library.

Files

references/terraform.md

Terraform Google Provider Cloud Storage Reference

[!IMPORTANT]

DO NOT APPLY THESE CONFIGURATIONS AUTOMATICALLY. The purpose of this guide is to define the mapping and translation rules to generate the correct snippet structure. These generated snippets must be presented to the user for confirmation.

This guide describes how to translate a Draft Bucket Creation Plan (from Phase 2) into the corresponding Terraform configuration.

Official Documentation Reference


Translation Mapping Table

Draft Plan Field / SettingTerraform Resource & AttributeNotes / Action
Bucket Namegoogle_storage_bucket.nameRequired string. Must be globally unique.
Projectgoogle_storage_bucket.projectOptional. Defaults to provider project.
Locationgoogle_storage_bucket.locationRequired. E.g., "us-central1", "us". Zonal buckets (using the Rapid storage class) require setting this to the region (e.g., "us-east1").
Placementgoogle_storage_bucket.custom_placement_config.data_locationsList of strings. E.g., ["us-east1", "us-west1"] (for custom dual-regions), or ["us-east1-b"] (for zonal buckets).
Replication Speed (RPO)google_storage_bucket.rpoString. E.g., "ASYNC_TURBO" (for dual-region buckets).
Storage Classgoogle_storage_bucket.storage_classString. E.g., "STANDARD", "NEARLINE", "COLDLINE", "ARCHIVE", "RAPID". Zonal locations require "RAPID". Note: If Autoclass is enabled, do not set storage_class to anything other than "STANDARD".
UBLAgoogle_storage_bucket.uniform_bucket_level_accessBoolean. Always set to true.
Public Access Preventiongoogle_storage_bucket.public_access_preventionString. "enforced" or "inherited".
Soft Deletegoogle_storage_bucket.soft_delete_policy.retention_duration_secondsNumber (seconds). E.g. 604800 (7 days). Set to 0 to disable. Zonal buckets do not support Soft Delete (the field can be left unset or explicitly set to 0). Note: Omitting this block leaves it enabled at Cloud Storage default (7 days). Min: 604800 (7 days), Max: 7776000 (90 days).
Object Versioninggoogle_storage_bucket.versioning.enabledBoolean. Enables/disables versioning.
Encryption (CMEK)google_storage_bucket.encryption.default_kms_key_nameString. Full key ID: projects/.../cryptoKeys/... Note: Requires Cloud Storage Service Agent ([email protected]) to have roles/cloudkms.cryptoKeyEncrypterDecrypter role on the key.
Restrict Encryption (CSEK)google_storage_bucket encryption enforcement blocksConfigures encryption restrictions. See below.
Autoclassgoogle_storage_bucket.autoclass.enabledBoolean. Set to true to enable. Note: Incompatible with zonal buckets.
Hierarchical Namespacegoogle_storage_bucket.hierarchical_namespace.enabledBoolean. Set to true to enable. Note: Incompatible with Bucket Lock (retention policy), object versioning, and object retention. Must be enabled at bucket creation (irreversible).
Labelsgoogle_storage_bucket.labelsMap of strings.
IP Filteringgoogle_storage_bucket.ip_filterBlock. Defines IP restriction rules. See below.
Lifecycle Policies (OLM)google_storage_bucket.lifecycle_ruleOne or more blocks. See template below.
CORSgoogle_storage_bucket.corsOne or more blocks.
Website Configurationgoogle_storage_bucket.websiteBlock with main_page_suffix and not_found_page.
Public IAM Policygoogle_storage_bucket_iam_memberSeparate resource to grant roles/storage.objectViewer to allUsers.
Pub/Sub Notificationsgoogle_storage_notificationSeparate resource linking bucket and Pub/Sub topic. Note: The Cloud Storage service agent (via google_storage_project_service_account data source) must have roles/pubsub.publisher on the topic (typically via google_pubsub_topic_iam_binding), and the notification resource should have a depends_on targeting this IAM binding.
Bucket Retention Periodgoogle_storage_bucket.retention_policy.retention_periodNumber in seconds. E.g. 7776000 (90 days).
Lock Bucket Retention Policygoogle_storage_bucket.retention_policy.is_lockedBoolean. Setting to true permanently locks policy. Irreversible.
Object Retention (Object Lock)google_storage_bucket.enable_object_retentionBoolean. Enables object-level retention.
Set Object Retentiongoogle_storage_bucket_object.retentionBlock with mode and retain_until_time inside bucket object resource.
Rapid Cachegoogle_storage_anywhere_cacheSeparate resource linking bucket to Rapid Cache zone.

Helper Configuration Templates

Encryption Enforcement (CSEK Restriction)
resource "google_storage_bucket" "secure_bucket" {
  name                        = "my-secure-bucket"
  location                    = "us-central1"
  uniform_bucket_level_access = true

  encryption {
    customer_supplied_encryption_enforcement_config {
      restriction_mode = "FullyRestricted"
    }
    customer_managed_encryption_enforcement_config {
      restriction_mode = "NotRestricted"
    }
    google_managed_encryption_enforcement_config {
      restriction_mode = "NotRestricted"
    }
  }
}
IP Filtering
resource "google_storage_bucket" "ip_filtered_bucket" {
  name                        = "my-ip-filtered-bucket"
  location                    = "us-central1"
  uniform_bucket_level_access = true

  ip_filter {
    mode                           = "Enabled"
    allow_all_service_agent_access = true
    allow_cross_org_vpcs           = false

    public_network_source {
      allowed_ip_cidr_ranges = [
        "192.0.2.0/24"
      ]
    }

    vpc_network_sources {
      network                = "projects/PROJECT_ID/global/networks/NETWORK_NAME"
      allowed_ip_cidr_ranges = [
        "10.0.0.0/16"
      ]
    }
  }
}
Lifecycle Policy (OLM)
resource "google_storage_bucket" "lifecycle_bucket" {
  name     = "my-lifecycle-bucket"
  location = "us-central1"

  lifecycle_rule {
    action {
      type = "Delete"
    }
    condition {
      age = 365
    }
  }
}
CORS Configuration
resource "google_storage_bucket" "cors_bucket" {
  name     = "my-cors-bucket"
  location = "us-central1"

  cors {
    origin          = ["http://example.com"]
    method          = ["GET", "PUT", "POST", "DELETE"]
    response_header = ["Content-Type", "Authorization"]
    max_age_seconds = 3600
  }
}

Terraform Examples

Example 1: Standard Secure Bucket (Baseline)
Input Draft Plan
*   **Bucket Name**: `my-company-secure-bucket`
*   **Project**: `my-security-project`
*   **Location**: `us-east1`
*   **Storage Class**: `STANDARD`
*   **UBLA**: Enabled
*   **Public Access Prevention (PAP)**: Enforced
*   **Soft Delete**: Enabled (7 days)
*   **Encryption Enforcement**: CSEK Restricted
Output Terraform Configuration
resource "google_storage_bucket" "secure_bucket" {
  name                        = "my-company-secure-bucket"
  location                    = "us-east1"
  storage_class               = "STANDARD"
  uniform_bucket_level_access = true
  public_access_prevention    = "enforced"

  encryption {
    customer_supplied_encryption_enforcement_config {
      restriction_mode = "FullyRestricted"
    }
  }

  soft_delete_policy {
    retention_duration_seconds = 604800 # 7 days
  }
}

Example 2: Sensitive Data / Compliance
Input Draft Plan
*   **Bucket Name**: `my-compliance-pii-bucket`
*   **Project**: `my-compliance-project`
*   **Location**: `us-central1`
*   **Storage Class**: `STANDARD` (Autoclass will handle transitions)
*   **UBLA**: Enabled
*   **Public Access Prevention (PAP)**: Enforced
*   **Encryption Enforcement**: Restrict CSEK
*   **Encryption**: Customer-Managed Key (CMEK)
*   **Soft Delete**: Enabled (7 days)
*   **Bucket Lock (Retention Policy)**: Enabled (90 days, Unlocked)
*   **Use-case specific settings**:
    *   Autoclass: Enabled
    *   CMEK Key ID: `projects/my-kms-project/locations/us-central1/keyRings/my-keyring/cryptoKeys/my-key`
    *   Labels: `data-class=pii`, `owner=security-team`
    *   Lifecycle: Abort incomplete multipart uploads after 7 days
    *   IP Filtering: Restrict access to `192.0.2.0/24` (Corporate Range) and VPC networks (`10.0.0.0/16`) without cross-org VPCs.
Output Terraform Configuration
resource "google_storage_bucket" "compliance_bucket" {
  name                        = "my-compliance-pii-bucket"
  location                    = "us-central1"
  storage_class               = "STANDARD"
  uniform_bucket_level_access = true
  public_access_prevention    = "enforced"

  encryption {
    default_kms_key_name = "projects/my-kms-project/locations/us-central1/keyRings/my-keyring/cryptoKeys/my-key"

    customer_supplied_encryption_enforcement_config {
      restriction_mode = "FullyRestricted"
    }
    customer_managed_encryption_enforcement_config {
      restriction_mode = "NotRestricted"
    }
    google_managed_encryption_enforcement_config {
      restriction_mode = "NotRestricted"
    }
  }

  retention_policy {
    retention_period = 7776000 # 90 days in seconds
    is_locked        = false # Unlocked by default
  }

  autoclass {
    enabled = true
  }

  labels = {
    data-class = "pii"
    owner      = "security-team"
  }

  lifecycle_rule {
    action {
      type = "AbortIncompleteMultipartUpload"
    }
    condition {
      age = 7
    }
  }

  ip_filter {
    mode                           = "Enabled"
    allow_all_service_agent_access = true
    allow_cross_org_vpcs           = false

    public_network_source {
      allowed_ip_cidr_ranges = ["192.0.2.0/24"]
    }

    vpc_network_sources {
      network                = "projects/PROJECT_ID/global/networks/NETWORK_NAME"
      allowed_ip_cidr_ranges = ["10.0.0.0/16"]
    }
  }

  soft_delete_policy {
    retention_duration_seconds = 604800 # 7 days
  }
}

(Note: To lock the retention policy, set is_locked = true inside the retention_policy block. Locking is permanent and irreversible).


Example 3: Static Website Hosting
Input Draft Plan
*   **Bucket Name**: `www.my-company-site.com`
*   **Project**: `my-frontend-project`
*   **Location**: `US`
*   **Storage Class**: `STANDARD`
*   **UBLA**: Enabled
*   **Public Access Prevention (PAP)**: Inherited (Disabled to allow public website access)
*   **Soft Delete**: Enabled (7 days)
*   **Use-case specific settings**:
    *   Website Config: Main page `index.html`, Error page `404.html`
    *   Public Access: Required (allUsers -> storage.objectViewer)
    *   CORS: Allowed GET/HEAD from any domain
    *   Versioning: Enabled
Output Terraform Configuration
resource "google_storage_bucket" "static_website" {
  name                        = "www.my-company-site.com"
  location                    = "US"
  storage_class               = "STANDARD"
  uniform_bucket_level_access = true
  public_access_prevention    = "inherited"

  website {
    main_page_suffix = "index.html"
    not_found_page   = "404.html"
  }

  cors {
    origin          = ["*"]
    method          = ["GET", "HEAD"]
    response_header = ["Content-Type"]
    max_age_seconds = 3600
  }

  versioning {
    enabled = true
  }

  soft_delete_policy {
    retention_duration_seconds = 604800 # 7 days
  }
}

resource "google_storage_bucket_iam_member" "public_viewer" {
  bucket = google_storage_bucket.static_website.name
  role   = "roles/storage.objectViewer"
  member = "allUsers"
}

Example 4: AI/ML Checkpointing (Zonal Buckets)
Input Draft Plan
*   **Bucket Name**: `my-training-checkpoints-us-east1-b`
*   **Project**: `my-ai-project`
*   **Location**: `us-east1` (Region)
*   **Placement**: `us-east1-b` (Zone-level co-location for high performance)
*   **Storage Class**: `RAPID` (Must be explicitly specified for zonal buckets)
*   **UBLA**: Enabled (Required for Hierarchical Namespace)
*   **Public Access Prevention (PAP)**: Enforced
*   **Encryption**: Google-managed key
*   **Soft Delete**: Disabled (0 days) (Soft delete is not supported for zonal buckets)
*   **Use-case specific settings**:
    *   Hierarchical Namespace: Enabled (Required for Zonal buckets)
    *   Lifecycle: Delete checkpoint files older than 14 days
Output Terraform Configuration
resource "google_storage_bucket" "checkpoint_bucket" {
  name                        = "my-training-checkpoints-us-east1-b"
  location                    = "us-east1"
  storage_class               = "RAPID"
  uniform_bucket_level_access = true
  public_access_prevention    = "enforced"

  custom_placement_config {
    data_locations = ["us-east1-b"]
  }

  hierarchical_namespace {
    enabled = true
  }

  soft_delete_policy {
    retention_duration_seconds = 0
  }

  lifecycle_rule {
    action {
      type = "Delete"
    }
    condition {
      age = 14
    }
  }
}

Example 5: WORM Archive with Object Lock (Per-Object Retention)
Input Draft Plan
*   **Bucket Name**: `my-legal-archive-bucket`
*   **Project**: `my-legal-project`
*   **Location**: `us-east1`
*   **UBLA**: Enabled
*   **Public Access Prevention (PAP)**: Enforced
*   **Soft Delete**: Enabled (7 days)
*   **Encryption**: Customer-Managed Key (CMEK) (Highly Recommended)
*   **Use-case specific settings**:
    *   Storage Class: `ARCHIVE`
    *   Object Lock (Per-Object Retention): Enabled
    *   CMEK Key ID: `projects/my-kms-project/locations/us-east1/keyRings/my-keyring/cryptoKeys/my-key`
    *   Labels: `compliance-type=regulatory`, `retention-period=7y` (Highly Recommended tags)
    *   Lifecycle: Delete objects older than 7 years (2555 days) (Highly Recommended OLM)
Output Terraform Configuration
resource "google_storage_bucket" "legal_archive" {
  name                        = "my-legal-archive-bucket"
  location                    = "us-east1"
  storage_class               = "ARCHIVE"
  uniform_bucket_level_access = true
  public_access_prevention    = "enforced"
  enable_object_retention     = true

  encryption {
    default_kms_key_name = "projects/my-kms-project/locations/us-east1/keyRings/my-keyring/cryptoKeys/my-key"
  }

  labels = {
    compliance-type  = "regulatory"
    retention-period = "7y"
  }

  lifecycle_rule {
    action {
      type = "Delete"
    }
    condition {
      age = 2555
    }
  }

  soft_delete_policy {
    retention_duration_seconds = 604800 # 7 days
  }
}

Object-Level Retention Configurations

Create Object with Specific Retention Policy

Applying Object Lock on individual objects.

[!CAUTION]

Setting mode = "Locked" in Terraform will permanently lock the object's retention policy. Once locked, this policy cannot be removed, and the retention period can only be increased, not reduced.

resource "google_storage_bucket_object" "case_file" {
  name   = "case_file_abc.pdf"
  bucket = google_storage_bucket.legal_archive.name
  source = "path/to/local/file.pdf"

  retention {
    mode              = "Locked"
    retain_until_time = "2030-12-31T23:59:59Z"
  }
}

Requirements and compatibility

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Security

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Attribution and licence

Published by
Google
Publisher
Google (Official)
Source
google/skills · skills/cloud/google-cloud-storage-bucket-architect · commit 2194d3b
Licence
Apache License 2.0 (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
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Download ZIP

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