# Integrate Google Cloud Monitoring Grafana Datasource
To set up the Google Cloud Monitoring datasource in Grafana, you need to configure the necessary credentials and permissions. This involves creating a service account in GCP with appropriate permissions to access metrics and data.
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For more information see Grafana's Google Cloud Monitoring Datasource [documentation](https://grafana.com/docs/grafana/latest/datasources/google-cloud-monitoring/#configure-a-gcp-service-account)
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### Setting up the service account
Grafana's Google Cloud Monitoring datasource requires a service account with the `Monitoring Viewer` role.
Create a new service account in the GCP console.
1. Choose a unique service name, such as `groundcover-monitoring`
2. Choose `JSON` as the key type
3. Assign the `Monitoring Viewer` role
### Create a new service account key
After provisioning the service account above, you will need to create a key to allow the Grafana datasource to authenticate with it.
1. Access the newly provisioned service account through the `Service Accounts` page
2. Click on the `Keys` tab and choose `Add key` -> `Create new key`
3. Choose the `JSON` key type
4. Click `Create`
The key will be downloaded as a local `.json` file. You will need this file for the next step.
### Provisioning the datasource
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Self provisioning of data sources is only available as part of the enterprise plan. If you are on the team plan, contact the groundcover's team to provision the new datasource.
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The following steps require a user with admin privileges in the platform
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In the Grafana `Data sources` page, add a new `Google Cloud Monitoring` datasource.
1. Name: Select a meaningful name to your choosing.
2. Authentication:
1. Authentication type: Select `Google JWT File`
2. JWT token: Either upload the file created previously or paste its contents directly using `Paste JWT token`
Click `Save & test` to verify the data source correctness.
### Use the datasource in groundcover
After provisioning you can now use new Google Cloud Monitoring datasource in groundcover's Grafana. Explore, built dashboards and create alerts based on any metric availalbe in the GCP monitoring stack.
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