View Categories

Connect Cloud Databases to Excel and Google Sheets (AWS RDS, Azure SQL, Google Cloud SQL)

11 min read

0:00 11:43
CLOUD DATABASE NO VPN REQUIRED 10 DIALECTS

Connect Cloud Databases to Excel and Google Sheets

Stream live data from AWS RDS, Azure SQL Database, and Google Cloud SQL directly into Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. No VPN tunnels, no firewall changes, no drivers to install.

AWS RDS Azure SQL Cloud SQL 10 Dialects Excel & Sheets
Start Free Learn More
See everything Query Streams can do beyond this guide Get Started Free
Supports
SQL Server PostgreSQL MySQL MariaDB SQLite MS Access Oracle BigQuery DuckDB
+more
Excel Sheets
Live Data

Replace exports with on-demand SQL

Excel Sheets
Nova
BI & AI Analytics

Ask Nova, get SQL + charts

Meet Nova
REST API
Database REST API

One key per partner. No credentials shared.

Build an API
Airtable Smartsheet Baserow SeaTable +more
Automation

Scheduled sync to 6+ platforms

Explore
Stripe HubSpot Shopify GA +more
API to SQL

Query APIs with SQL, no code

Explore
MCP Claude Cursor ChatGPT Grok +more
AI Database MCP

Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & Grok talk to your data

Connect AI

Query Streams is a secure, real-time database integration platform that connects cloud databases like AWS RDS, Azure SQL, and Google Cloud SQL directly to Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets — without VPN tunnels, drivers, or firewall changes. Learn more at QueryStreams.com and sign up for free to start streaming live cloud data into your spreadsheets.

The Cloud Database Challenge

Teams running databases on AWS RDS, Azure SQL Database, or Google Cloud SQL face a common problem: getting that data into a cloud database spreadsheet workflow is far harder than it should be. Cloud databases sit inside private VPCs, behind firewalls, and require specific networking to access. For business users who need data in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, the traditional path is full of friction.

VPC Isolation

Cloud databases are private by design. RDS instances, Azure SQL databases, and Cloud SQL instances live inside virtual networks that block direct external access from spreadsheets.

VPN Complexity

Connecting spreadsheet tools to cloud databases typically requires VPN tunnels, site-to-site connections, or bastion hosts that IT teams must configure and maintain for every user.

Driver Dependencies

Traditional cloud database connectors need ODBC or JDBC drivers installed on every user’s machine, configured with connection strings, ports, and credentials.

Security Concerns

Opening inbound ports on cloud firewalls to allow spreadsheet access creates security risks and attack surface that most cloud architects will not accept.

How Query Streams Connects Your Cloud Database

Query Streams uses a lightweight Agent-based architecture designed specifically for cloud environments. Instead of trying to reach into your VPC from outside, you deploy the Agent inside the VPC alongside your database. The Agent handles all connectivity using outbound-only connections — no open ports, no VPN tunnels, no firewall changes needed. All data sources across all Agents appear in a single unified dropdown in the Excel add-in and Google Sheets add-on.

1

Deploy Agent in VPC

Install the Query Streams Agent on an EC2 instance, Azure VM, or Compute Engine VM in the same VPC as your database.

2

Agent Connects Locally

The Agent reaches your RDS, Azure SQL, or Cloud SQL instance over the private network — same as any application in the VPC.

3

Outbound-Only Relay

The Agent dials out to Query Streams’ secure relay over HTTPS. No inbound ports need to be opened on your cloud firewall.

4

Users Query from Anywhere

Team members open the Excel add-in or Google Sheets add-on and run live queries from wherever they are — no VPN needed.

Cloud Provider Setup Guide

Each major cloud provider has a slightly different networking model, but the Query Streams approach is the same: deploy the Agent close to the database, let it connect locally, and relay data outbound. Below is specific guidance for connecting AWS RDS to Excel, connecting Azure SQL to Google Sheets, and linking Google Cloud SQL to your spreadsheet workflow.

Amazon Web Services (AWS RDS)

To connect AWS RDS to Excel or Google Sheets, deploy the Agent on an EC2 instance in the same VPC as your RDS database:

  1. Launch an EC2 instance (Amazon Linux 2, Ubuntu, or Windows Server) in the same VPC and subnet as your RDS instance. A t3.small or equivalent is sufficient for most workloads.
  2. Download the Query Streams Agent from your portal dashboard and install it on the EC2 instance. The Agent runs as a background service and self-maintains with automatic updates.
  3. Add your RDS database in the Agent’s local configuration UI using the private RDS endpoint (e.g., mydb.abc123.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com), port, and database credentials.
  4. No Security Group changes needed for inbound traffic. The Agent connects to RDS over the private network and dials out to Query Streams over HTTPS — standard egress already permitted by default.
Supported RDS Engines: PostgreSQL MySQL MariaDB SQL Server Oracle

Microsoft Azure SQL Database

To connect Azure SQL Database to Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel without a VPN, place the Agent on an Azure VM in the same virtual network:

  1. Deploy an Azure VM (Windows or Linux) in the same VNet as your Azure SQL Database. For databases using Private Link, ensure the VM can resolve the private endpoint.
  2. Install the Query Streams Agent on the VM. The Agent supports both Windows and Linux and runs as a managed service.
  3. Configure your Azure SQL Database as a data source using the server name (e.g., myserver.database.windows.net), database name, and credentials. Azure AD authentication is also supported.
  4. Standard NSG egress rules apply. The Agent connects outbound through your Network Security Group via HTTPS — no inbound rules, no VPN gateways, no ExpressRoute required for spreadsheet access.
Supported: Azure SQL Database SQL Managed Instance SQL Server on VMs

Google Cloud SQL

To connect Google Cloud SQL to Excel or Google Sheets, deploy the Agent alongside your Cloud SQL instance on a Compute Engine VM:

  1. Create a Compute Engine VM in the same VPC network as your Cloud SQL instance. A small e2-standard-2 machine is adequate for most use cases.
  2. Enable Private IP on the Cloud SQL instance (recommended) so the Agent can reach it over the internal network. Alternatively, use the Cloud SQL Auth Proxy for public IP access.
  3. Install the Query Streams Agent on the Compute Engine VM and add your Cloud SQL database using its private IP address, port, and credentials.
  4. No VPC firewall rules needed for inbound traffic. The Agent queries Cloud SQL locally and relays compressed results over HTTPS outbound.
Supported: Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL Cloud SQL for MySQL Cloud SQL for SQL Server
Best practice: Always deploy the Query Streams Agent in the same cloud region and VPC as your database. This minimizes latency between the Agent and database, keeping query execution times low regardless of where your end users are located. You can deploy multiple Agents across different VPCs, regions, and cloud providers — all data sources appear in a single unified dropdown.
Nova AI
Don’t know SQL? Nova AI builds the query for you.
Try Nova
1
Describe what
data you need
Nova
Nova reads schema
& builds the SQL
Save & run from
Excel or Sheets
Help me create a query for last month’s revenue by product — I need it for my weekly sales report.
Nova
Found order_items and products in your schema. Here’s your query — run it to preview, then save it to your library and share it with your team.
Copy Run Save 
SELECT
    p.product_name,
    SUM(oi.quantity * oi.unit_price) AS revenue
FROM   public.order_items oi
JOIN   public.products p ON oi.product_id = p.id
WHERE  oi.created_at >= DATE_TRUNC('month', NOW() - INTERVAL '1 month')
GROUP BY p.product_name
ORDER BY revenue DESC

Enterprise-Grade Security

Security is non-negotiable when connecting cloud databases to external tools. Query Streams is built with a zero-trust, outbound-only architecture that cloud security teams can approve confidently. Database credentials never leave the Agent machine, users never see your SQL code, and access can be revoked with one click from the web portal.

Outbound-Only Connections

The Agent creates outbound HTTPS connections only. No inbound ports, no reverse tunnels, no attack surface added to your VPC.

Credentials Stay Local

Database usernames, passwords, and connection strings are stored on the Agent machine only. They never pass through Query Streams’ cloud relay.

SQL Hidden from Users

When you share a query, recipients can run it and get results but they never see the underlying SQL, your schema, or the database structure.

One-Click Revocation

Remove any user’s access instantly from the portal. No VPN accounts to deactivate, no credentials to rotate, no IT tickets.

Query Streams also supports dynamic filters — auto-detected from your SQL or created manually using explicit variables like @region or @date_start. Shared users can adjust filters (dates, regions, products) without ever modifying or even seeing the query itself. Combined with scheduled automation to 6+ platforms and parallel query execution (run 5+ queries simultaneously into different worksheet tabs), Query Streams replaces fragile CSV export workflows with live, on-demand cloud database access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to open inbound firewall ports on my cloud VPC to use Query Streams? +
No. The Query Streams Agent makes outbound-only HTTPS connections. You do not need to open any inbound ports on your AWS Security Groups, Azure NSGs, or Google Cloud VPC firewall rules. The Agent works like a web browser — it dials out, never in. This means zero additional attack surface on your cloud infrastructure.
Which database engines does Query Streams support on AWS RDS? +
Query Streams supports RDS for PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, and Oracle. Deploy the Agent on an EC2 instance in the same VPC as your RDS instance, and it connects over the private network. All supported RDS engines work with both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets through the same add-in.
Can I connect Azure SQL Database to Google Sheets without a VPN? +
Yes. Install the Query Streams Agent on an Azure VM in the same VNet as your Azure SQL Database. The Agent creates an outbound-only connection to the Query Streams relay, so your Google Sheets users can run queries from anywhere without VPN tunnels, ExpressRoute, or firewall changes. Azure AD authentication is supported.
Does the Query Streams Agent need to be in the same VPC as my cloud database? +
For best performance and simplest setup, yes. Placing the Agent in the same VPC lets it connect to your database over the private network with minimal latency. However, the Agent can also connect to databases with public endpoints, through VPC peering, or via Transit Gateway for cross-VPC connectivity.
Can I share cloud database queries with external partners who don’t have VPN access? +
This is one of Query Streams’ key differentiators. Share any saved query by entering a recipient’s email address. They install the free Excel add-in or Google Sheets add-on and can run the query on-demand from anywhere in the world. They never see SQL code, database credentials, or your schema. You can revoke access instantly with one click.
How many Agents can I deploy across different cloud providers? +
You can deploy multiple Agents based on your subscription tier — one per VPC, region, or on-premises network. All Agents connect to the same Query Streams account, and all their data sources appear in a single unified dropdown. Users simply select the data source they need without knowing which Agent or cloud provider hosts it.
Does Query Streams support Google Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL and MySQL? +
Yes. Query Streams supports Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL, Cloud SQL for MySQL, and Cloud SQL for SQL Server. Deploy the Agent on a Compute Engine instance in the same VPC, enable Private IP on your Cloud SQL instance, and configure it as a data source. The setup takes minutes.
What about latency when users query cloud databases from different regions? +
Query Streams uses adaptive compression (65-95%) that dramatically reduces data transfer sizes. Even for cross-region queries, a 500,000-row result set typically streams in 15-20 seconds. The Agent-to-database hop stays local within the VPC, and only the compressed results travel over the internet to the user’s spreadsheet.

Get Started

Connect Your Cloud Databases Today

Stream live data from AWS RDS, Azure SQL, and Google Cloud SQL directly into Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. No VPN, no drivers, no firewall changes. Sign up free — no credit card required.

Sign Up Free Download Agent

Related guides: Databases in Microsoft Excel | Databases in Google Sheets | All Features | Text to SQL with Nova AI | Automation and Integration

Category: Articles

Tags: Cloud Database, AWS RDS, Azure SQL, Google Cloud SQL, Excel, Google Sheets, SQL, Database Connector

Meta Description: Connect AWS RDS, Azure SQL, Google Cloud SQL to Excel and Sheets. No VPN. Try free.

Updated on June 26, 2026
aws-rds azure-sql cloud-database excel-connector google-sheets-connector

What are your Feelings

  • Happy
  • Normal
  • Sad

Powered by BetterDocs