How to Configure Encryption in Transit in BigQuery

How do I enforce encryption in transit in BigQuery?

Encryption in transit protects data moving between clients and BigQuery by using TLS/HTTPS to prevent eavesdropping or tampering.

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Description

Example H2

Example H3

What does “encryption in transit” mean for BigQuery?

Google automatically wraps every connection to BigQuery in TLS 1.2+ so data packets are ciphered while traveling between your application and Google’s edge. No extra SQL is required, yet you can still validate and enforce the secure channel at the client layer.

How do I verify that my BigQuery session is encrypted?

Use the bq CLI with --connection_type=REST or open your browser’s developer tools. All requests should show https://. For JDBC/ODBC drivers, inspect the connection properties and confirm SSL=true or UseEncryption=1.

Which connection strings force TLS?

JDBC

jdbc:bigquery://https://www.googleapis.com/bigquery/v2:443;ProjectId=myproject;OAuthType=3;SSL=true;

ODBC

Encrypt=1;TrustServerCertificate=0;ProjectId=myproject;

Can I combine Customer-Managed Keys with encryption in transit?

Yes. CMEK protects data at rest, while TLS secures it in motion. Using both satisfies stringent compliance frameworks like HIPAA and PCI-DSS.

How to run an encrypted query from Python?

BigQuery’s Python client uses HTTPS by default. Installing google-cloud-bigquery and executing a query automatically leverages TLS; no extra flags are necessary.

Example: pulling customer orders over an encrypted JDBC link

After adding SSL=true to the JDBC URL, issue:

SELECT c.id, c.name, o.total_amount FROM `myproject.ecommerce.Customers` AS c JOIN `myproject.ecommerce.Orders` AS o ON o.customer_id = c.id WHERE o.order_date >= '2023-01-01';

The query text is identical; the secure channel is handled by the driver.

Best practices for encryption in transit

Always use HTTPS endpoints or port 443.
Explicitly set SSL=true in JDBC/ODBC strings.
Rotate service-account keys and restrict firewall rules.
Combine TLS with IAM Conditions for least privilege.

Common pitfalls and fixes

Forgetting to enable SSL in legacy drivers

Older drivers may default to plain TCP. Add Encrypt=1 or upgrade to the latest Google-signed driver.

Assuming encryption in transit also encrypts data at rest

TLS only covers the wire. Enable CMEK on datasets or projects for full at-rest control.

Why How to Configure Encryption in Transit in BigQuery is important

How to Configure Encryption in Transit in BigQuery Example Usage


SELECT oi.order_id, p.name AS product_name, oi.quantity, p.price
FROM `myproject.ecommerce.OrderItems` AS oi
JOIN `myproject.ecommerce.Products`   AS p
  ON oi.product_id = p.id
WHERE oi.quantity > 2;
/* Executed through a TLS-secured JDBC connection with SSL=true */

How to Configure Encryption in Transit in BigQuery Syntax


JDBC syntax:
jdbc:bigquery://https://www.googleapis.com/bigquery/v2:443;ProjectId=<project>;OAuthType=3;SSL=true;

ODBC syntax:
Driver={BigQuery};Encrypt=1;ProjectId=<project>;TrustServerCertificate=0;

bq CLI syntax:
bq --location=US query --use_legacy_sql=false 'SELECT * FROM `ecommerce.Customers`';
(The CLI uses HTTPS automatically.)

Common Mistakes

Using an outdated JDBC/ODBC driver that defaults to unencrypted TCP. Fix: install the latest Google-signed driver and add SSL=true.
Believing TLS also encrypts at rest. Fix: enable CMEK or default Google encryption for stored data.