# Connecting to an MSSQL cloud SQL instance
### **Prerequisites**
Ensure that you have an existing GCP Cloud MSSQL instance.
### **Steps to follow**
1. Go to [this link](http://console.cloud.google.com/sql/instances) where the list of instances will be displayed.
2. Select the required instance from the existing list.
3. If you do not have an existing instance, click on **Create Instance** to create one.
4. On the **Create an instance** page, choose MSSQL database engine from the list.
Creating an instance
5. In the **Primary Instance** pane on the left side, select **Connections** and click on the **Networking** tab.
6. Under **Instance IP assignment**, click on the **Public IP** checkbox.
Choosing Public IP
7. Click on **Add a network** under the **Authorized networks** section. **New network** section will open.
Adding a new network
8. Provide a **Name** and **IP address** in the respective fields. Click on **Done** and click on **Save**.
{% hint style="info" %}
Please note that the IP address in CIDR notation will be provided by the Tellius team.
{% endhint %}
9. Under the **Security** tab, ensure that the checkbox **Allow only SSL connections** is left unchecked.
Unchecking "Allow only SSL connections"
{% hint style="info" %}
If *Only secured connections are allowed to connect to this instance* is displayed, click on **Allow unsecured connections**.\
\
If *Unsecured connections are allowed to connect to this instance* is displayed, you do not need to change anything.
{% endhint %}
10. From the GCP console, please note the following details, as they will be required when setting up the connection on the Tellius platform:
* Under the **Summary** tab, copy the **Public IP address**.
Copying public IP address
* In the **Primary Instance** pane, select **Databases**. From the list of databases, copy the name of the required database.
* In the **Primary Instance** pane, select **Users**. From the list of users, copy the name of the required user.
11. In the Tellius platform, navigate to **Data → Connect → Create New → MSSQL**.
Data → Connect → Create New → MSSQL
12. Paste the IP address in the **Hostname** field.
13. Provide the default port number 1433 in the **Port** field.
14. Paste the copied database name in the **Database** field.
15. Paste the copied user name in the **User** field.
16. Provide the required password in the **Password** field.
17. Click on **Save and Browse Host** (or **Browse Host** if you are using an already established connection). The list of tables from the data source will be displayed on the right side.
