diff --git a/.github/workflows/script/gcs_test.sh b/.github/workflows/script/gcs_test.sh
index 90806a40f..f2eba6a06 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/script/gcs_test.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/script/gcs_test.sh
@@ -31,11 +31,6 @@ else
   storageType=${STORAGE_TYPE}
 fi
 
-if [ -z "${GCP_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_TOKEN}" ]; then
-  echo "GCP_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_TOKEN is not set. Exiting..."
-  exit 1
-fi
-
 if [ -z "${PREFIX}" ]; then
   echo "PREFIX is not set"
 else
@@ -47,6 +42,12 @@ else
         "--aws-write-secrets" "${GCS_SECRET_KEY}"
         "--aws-bucket" "${streamBucket}"
         "--aws-bucket-prefix" "${PREFIX}"
+
+        "--backupWriteSecrets" "${GCS_SECRET_KEY}"
+        "--backupWriteAccessKey" "${GCS_ACCESS_KEY}"
+        "--backupEndpoint" "storage.googleapis.com"
+        "--backupRegion" "us-central1"
+        "--backup-bucket" "${streamBackupBucket}"
     )
   elif [ "${storageType}" == "gcs_only" ]; then
     STORAGE_OPTIONS=(
@@ -55,6 +56,12 @@ else
         "--gcs-write-secrets" "${GCS_SECRET_KEY}"
         "--gcs-bucket" "${streamBucket}"
         "--gcs-bucket-prefix" "${PREFIX}"
+
+        "--backupWriteSecrets" "${GCS_SECRET_KEY}"
+        "--backupWriteAccessKey" "${GCS_ACCESS_KEY}"
+        "--backupEndpoint" "storage.googleapis.com"
+        "--backupRegion" "us-central1"
+        "--backup-bucket" "${streamBackupBucket}"
     )
   fi
 
@@ -72,8 +79,6 @@ fi
 echo "STORAGE_OPTIONS: " "${STORAGE_OPTIONS[@]}"
 echo "MIRROR_STORAGE_OPTIONS: " "${MIRROR_STORAGE_OPTIONS[@]}"
 
-echo "${GCP_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_TOKEN}" > gcp_service_account.json
-
 echo "Using bucket name: ${streamBucket}"
 echo "Test storage type: ${storageType}"
 
@@ -97,9 +102,7 @@ npm run solo-test -- node keys --gossip-keys --tls-keys -i node1 --deployment "$
 
 npm run solo-test -- network deploy --deployment "${SOLO_DEPLOYMENT}" -i node1 \
   --storage-type "${storageType}" \
-  "${STORAGE_OPTIONS[@]}" \
-  --backup-bucket "${streamBackupBucket}" \
-  --google-credential gcp_service_account.json
+  "${STORAGE_OPTIONS[@]}"
 
 npm run solo-test -- node setup -i node1 --deployment "${SOLO_DEPLOYMENT}"
 npm run solo-test -- node start -i node1 --deployment "${SOLO_DEPLOYMENT}"
@@ -120,16 +123,18 @@ node examples/create-topic.js
 
 npm run solo-test -- node stop -i node1 --deployment "${SOLO_DEPLOYMENT}"
 
-echo "Waiting for backup uploader to run"
-# manually call script "backup.sh" from container backup-uploader since it only runs every 5 minutes
-kubectl exec network-node1-0 -c backup-uploader -n solo-e2e -- /backup.sh
-
-echo "Retrieve logs and check if it include the error message"
-# example : {"level":"error","msg":"Updated modification time ......}
-kubectl logs network-node1-0 -c backup-uploader -n solo-e2e > backup-uploader.log
-if grep -q \""error\"" backup-uploader.log; then
-  echo "Backup uploader logs contain error message"
-  exit 1
+if [ "${storageType}" == "aws_only" ] || [ "${storageType}" == "gcs_only" ]; then
+  echo "Waiting for backup uploader to run"
+  # manually call script "backup.sh" from container backup-uploader since it only runs every 5 minutes
+  kubectl exec network-node1-0 -c backup-uploader -n solo-e2e -- /app/backup.sh
+
+  echo "Retrieve logs and check if it include the error message"
+  # example : {"level":"error","msg":"Updated modification time ......}
+  kubectl logs network-node1-0 -c backup-uploader -n solo-e2e > backup-uploader.log
+  if grep -q \""error\"" backup-uploader.log; then
+    echo "Backup uploader logs contain error message"
+    exit 1
+  fi
 fi
 
 npm run solo-test -- network destroy --deployment "${SOLO_DEPLOYMENT}" --force -q
diff --git a/Taskfile.helper.yml b/Taskfile.helper.yml
index 5789743f2..6a3b19509 100644
--- a/Taskfile.helper.yml
+++ b/Taskfile.helper.yml
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ tasks:
         if [[ "${SOLO_CHART_VERSION}" != "" ]]; then
           export SOLO_CHART_FLAG="--solo-chart-version ${SOLO_CHART_VERSION}"
         fi
-        SOLO_HOME_DIR=${SOLO_HOME_DIR} npm run solo -- network deploy --deployment  "${SOLO_DEPLOYMENT}" --node-aliases {{.node_identifiers}} ${CONSENSUS_NODE_FLAG} ${SOLO_CHART_FLAG} ${VALUES_FLAG} ${SETTINGS_FLAG} ${LOG4J2_FLAG} ${APPLICATION_PROPERTIES_FLAG} ${GENESIS_THROTTLES_FLAG} ${DEBUG_NODE_FLAG} ${SOLO_CHARTS_DIR_FLAG} ${LOAD_BALANCER_FLAG} ${NETWORK_DEPLOY_EXTRA_FLAGS} -q --dev
+        SOLO_HOME_DIR=${SOLO_HOME_DIR} npm run solo -- network deploy --deployment  "${SOLO_DEPLOYMENT}" --node-aliases {{.node_identifiers}} ${CONSENSUS_NODE_FLAG} ${SOLO_CHART_FLAG} ${VALUES_FLAG} ${SETTINGS_FLAG} ${LOG4J2_FLAG} ${APPLICATION_PROPERTIES_FLAG} ${GENESIS_THROTTLES_FLAG} ${DEBUG_NODE_FLAG} ${LOAD_BALANCER_FLAG} ${NETWORK_DEPLOY_EXTRA_FLAGS} -q --dev
       - task: "solo:node:setup"
 
   solo:node:setup:
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ tasks:
     cmds:
       - |
         export MINIO_FLAG=$(cat {{ .minio_flag_file }})
-        SOLO_HOME_DIR=${SOLO_HOME_DIR} npm run solo -- cluster-ref setup --cluster-setup-namespace "${SOLO_CLUSTER_SETUP_NAMESPACE}" ${MINIO_FLAG} ${SOLO_CHARTS_DIR_FLAG} ${CLUSTER_TLS_FLAGS} -q --dev
+        SOLO_HOME_DIR=${SOLO_HOME_DIR} npm run solo -- cluster-ref setup --cluster-setup-namespace "${SOLO_CLUSTER_SETUP_NAMESPACE}" ${MINIO_FLAG} ${CLUSTER_TLS_FLAGS} -q --dev
 
   solo:node:addresses:
     internal: true
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ tasks:
           npm run solo -- explorer deploy --deployment "${EXPLORER_DEPLOYMENT}" --cluster-ref ${EXPLORER_CLUSTER_CONTEXT} --mirrorNamespace ${SOLO_NAMESPACE} ${SOLO_CHARTS_DIR_FLAG} ${EXPLORER_DEPLOY_EXTRA_FLAGS}  ${ENABLE_EXPLORER_TLS_FLAG} ${TLS_CLUSTER_ISSUER_TYPE_FLAG} ${ENABLE_EXPLORER_INGRESS} -q --dev
           export EXPLORER_DEPLOYED_NAME_SPACE=${EXPLORER_NAME_SPACE}
         else
-          SOLO_HOME_DIR=${SOLO_HOME_DIR} npm run solo -- explorer deploy --deployment "${SOLO_DEPLOYMENT}"  --cluster-ref kind-${SOLO_CLUSTER_NAME} --mirrorNamespace ${SOLO_NAMESPACE} ${SOLO_CHARTS_DIR_FLAG} ${EXPLORER_DEPLOY_EXTRA_FLAGS}  ${ENABLE_EXPLORER_TLS_FLAG} ${TLS_CLUSTER_ISSUER_TYPE_FLAG} ${ENABLE_EXPLORER_INGRESS} -q --dev
+          SOLO_HOME_DIR=${SOLO_HOME_DIR} npm run solo -- explorer deploy --deployment "${SOLO_DEPLOYMENT}"  --cluster-ref kind-${SOLO_CLUSTER_NAME} --mirrorNamespace ${SOLO_NAMESPACE} ${EXPLORER_DEPLOY_EXTRA_FLAGS}  ${ENABLE_EXPLORER_TLS_FLAG} ${TLS_CLUSTER_ISSUER_TYPE_FLAG} ${ENABLE_EXPLORER_INGRESS} -q --dev
           export EXPLORER_DEPLOYED_NAME_SPACE=${SOLO_NAMESPACE}
         fi
         if [[ "{{ .use_port_forwards }}" == "true" ]];then
diff --git a/src/commands/flags.ts b/src/commands/flags.ts
index e5ff97b22..a39e37403 100644
--- a/src/commands/flags.ts
+++ b/src/commands/flags.ts
@@ -2170,12 +2170,48 @@ export class Flags {
     prompt: undefined,
   };
 
-  public static readonly googleCredential: CommandFlag = {
-    constName: 'googleCredential',
-    name: 'google-credential',
+  public static readonly backupWriteAccessKey: CommandFlag = {
+    constName: 'backupWriteAccessKey',
+    name: 'backup-write-access-key',
     definition: {
       defaultValue: '',
-      describe: 'path of google credential file in json format',
+      describe: 'backup storage access key for write access',
+      type: 'string',
+      dataMask: constants.STANDARD_DATAMASK,
+    },
+    prompt: undefined,
+  };
+
+  public static readonly backupWriteSecrets: CommandFlag = {
+    constName: 'backupWriteSecrets',
+    name: 'backup-write-secrets',
+    definition: {
+      defaultValue: '',
+      describe: 'backup storage secret key for write access',
+      type: 'string',
+      dataMask: constants.STANDARD_DATAMASK,
+    },
+    prompt: undefined,
+  };
+
+  public static readonly backupEndpoint: CommandFlag = {
+    constName: 'backupEndpoint',
+    name: 'backup-endpoint',
+    definition: {
+      defaultValue: '',
+      describe: 'backup storage endpoint URL',
+      type: 'string',
+      dataMask: constants.STANDARD_DATAMASK,
+    },
+    prompt: undefined,
+  };
+
+  public static readonly backupRegion: CommandFlag = {
+    constName: 'backupRegion',
+    name: 'backup-region',
+    definition: {
+      defaultValue: 'us-central1',
+      describe: 'backup storage region',
       type: 'string',
       dataMask: constants.STANDARD_DATAMASK,
     },
@@ -2441,7 +2477,10 @@ export class Flags {
     Flags.storageBucket,
     Flags.storageBucketPrefix,
     Flags.backupBucket,
-    Flags.googleCredential,
+    Flags.backupWriteAccessKey,
+    Flags.backupWriteSecrets,
+    Flags.backupEndpoint,
+    Flags.backupRegion,
     Flags.tlsClusterIssuerType,
     Flags.tlsPrivateKey,
     Flags.tlsPublicKey,
diff --git a/src/commands/network.ts b/src/commands/network.ts
index 22a91ade1..e89028da2 100644
--- a/src/commands/network.ts
+++ b/src/commands/network.ts
@@ -88,7 +88,10 @@ export interface NetworkDeployConfigClass {
   awsBucket: string;
   awsBucketPrefix: string;
   backupBucket: string;
-  googleCredential: string;
+  backupWriteSecrets: string;
+  backupWriteAccessKey: string;
+  backupEndpoint: string;
+  backupRegion: string;
   consensusNodes: ConsensusNode[];
   contexts: string[];
   clusterRefs: ClusterReferences;
@@ -192,7 +195,10 @@ export class NetworkCommand extends BaseCommand {
       flags.awsBucket,
       flags.awsBucketPrefix,
       flags.backupBucket,
-      flags.googleCredential,
+      flags.backupWriteAccessKey,
+      flags.backupWriteSecrets,
+      flags.backupEndpoint,
+      flags.backupRegion,
       flags.domainNames,
     ],
   };
@@ -306,27 +312,30 @@ export class NetworkCommand extends BaseCommand {
   }
 
   async prepareBackupUploaderSecrets(config: NetworkDeployConfigClass) {
-    if (config.googleCredential) {
-      const backupData = {};
-      const namespace = config.namespace;
-      const googleCredential = fs.readFileSync(config.googleCredential, 'utf8');
-      backupData['saJson'] = Base64.encode(googleCredential);
-
-      // create secret in each cluster
-      for (const context of config.contexts) {
-        this.logger.debug(`creating secret for backup uploader using context: ${context}`);
-
-        const k8client = this.k8Factory.getK8(context);
-        const isBackupSecretCreated = await k8client
-          .secrets()
-          .createOrReplace(namespace, constants.BACKUP_SECRET_NAME, SecretType.OPAQUE, backupData, undefined);
-
-        if (!isBackupSecretCreated) {
-          throw new SoloError(`failed to create secret for backup uploader using context: ${context}`);
-        }
+    const {backupWriteAccessKey, backupWriteSecrets, backupEndpoint, backupRegion} = config;
+    const backupData = {};
+    const namespace = config.namespace;
+    backupData['AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID'] = Base64.encode(backupWriteAccessKey);
+    backupData['AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY'] = Base64.encode(backupWriteSecrets);
+    backupData['RCLONE_CONFIG_BACKUPS_ENDPOINT'] = Base64.encode(backupEndpoint);
+    backupData['RCLONE_CONFIG_BACKUPS_REGION'] = Base64.encode(backupRegion);
+    backupData['RCLONE_CONFIG_BACKUPS_TYPE'] = Base64.encode('s3');
+    backupData['RCLONE_CONFIG_BACKUPS_PROVIDER'] = Base64.encode('GCS');
+
+    // create secret in each cluster
+    for (const context of config.contexts) {
+      this.logger.debug(`creating secret for backup uploader using context: ${context}`);
 
-        this.logger.debug(`created secret for backup uploader using context: ${context}`);
+      const k8client = this.k8Factory.getK8(context);
+      const isBackupSecretCreated = await k8client
+        .secrets()
+        .createOrReplace(namespace, constants.BACKUP_SECRET_NAME, SecretType.OPAQUE, backupData, undefined);
+
+      if (!isBackupSecretCreated) {
+        throw new SoloError(`failed to create secret for backup uploader using context: ${context}`);
       }
+
+      this.logger.debug(`created secret for backup uploader using context: ${context}`);
     }
   }
 
@@ -339,7 +348,9 @@ export class NetworkCommand extends BaseCommand {
         await this.prepareStreamUploaderSecrets(config);
       }
 
-      await this.prepareBackupUploaderSecrets(config);
+      if (config.backupBucket) {
+        await this.prepareBackupUploaderSecrets(config);
+      }
     } catch (error: Error | any) {
       throw new SoloError('Failed to create Kubernetes storage secret', error);
     }
@@ -373,7 +384,6 @@ export class NetworkCommand extends BaseCommand {
     awsBucket: string;
     awsBucketPrefix: string;
     backupBucket: string;
-    googleCredential: string;
     loadBalancerEnabled: boolean;
     clusterRefs: ClusterReferences;
     consensusNodes: ConsensusNode[];
@@ -436,7 +446,6 @@ export class NetworkCommand extends BaseCommand {
     awsBucket: string;
     awsBucketPrefix: string;
     backupBucket: string;
-    googleCredential: string;
     loadBalancerEnabled: boolean;
     domainNamesMapping?: Record<NodeAlias, string>;
   }): Record<ClusterReference, string> {
diff --git a/test/unit/core/helpers.test.ts b/test/unit/core/helpers.test.ts
index bf20f71f9..accdc3c34 100644
--- a/test/unit/core/helpers.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/core/helpers.test.ts
@@ -26,12 +26,6 @@ describe('Helpers', () => {
     expect(clonedArray).not.to.equal(input); // ensure cloning creates a new array
   });
 
-  it('Should parse argv to args with datamask correctly', () => {
-    const argv = {[flags.googleCredential.name]: 'VALUE'};
-    const result = flags.stringifyArgv(argv);
-    expect(result).to.equal(`--${flags.googleCredential.name} ${flags.googleCredential.definition.dataMask}`);
-  });
-
   it('Should parse argv to args with boolean flag correctly', () => {
     const argv = {[flags.quiet.name]: true};
     const result = flags.stringifyArgv(argv);
diff --git a/version.ts b/version.ts
index 0e399cd9d..6d3bda7ed 100644
--- a/version.ts
+++ b/version.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import fs from 'node:fs';
  */
 
 export const HELM_VERSION = 'v3.14.2';
-export const SOLO_CHART_VERSION = '0.48.0';
+export const SOLO_CHART_VERSION = '0.49.0';
 export const HEDERA_PLATFORM_VERSION = 'v0.59.5';
 export const MIRROR_NODE_VERSION = 'v0.126.0';
 export const HEDERA_EXPLORER_VERSION = '24.12.1';