diff --git a/src/main/java/org/opensearch/flowframework/workflow/CreateConnectorStep.java b/src/main/java/org/opensearch/flowframework/workflow/CreateConnectorStep.java
index e17bf2aa0..7cf3d2898 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/opensearch/flowframework/workflow/CreateConnectorStep.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/opensearch/flowframework/workflow/CreateConnectorStep.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import org.opensearch.flowframework.exception.FlowFrameworkException;
 import org.opensearch.ml.client.MachineLearningNodeClient;
 import org.opensearch.ml.common.connector.ConnectorAction;
+import org.opensearch.ml.common.connector.ConnectorAction.ActionType;
 import org.opensearch.ml.common.transport.connector.MLCreateConnectorInput;
 import org.opensearch.ml.common.transport.connector.MLCreateConnectorResponse;
 
@@ -24,8 +25,10 @@
 import java.security.PrivilegedActionException;
 import java.security.PrivilegedExceptionAction;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Locale;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Map.Entry;
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
@@ -84,38 +87,35 @@ public void onFailure(Exception e) {
         String description = null;
         String version = null;
         String protocol = null;
-        Map<String, String> parameters = new HashMap<>();
-        Map<String, String> credentials = new HashMap<>();
-        List<ConnectorAction> actions = new ArrayList<>();
+        Map<String, String> parameters = Collections.emptyMap();
+        Map<String, String> credentials = Collections.emptyMap();
+        List<ConnectorAction> actions = Collections.emptyList();
 
         for (WorkflowData workflowData : data) {
-            Map<String, Object> content = workflowData.getContent();
-
-            for (Entry<String, Object> entry : content.entrySet()) {
+            for (Entry<String, Object> entry : workflowData.getContent().entrySet()) {
                 switch (entry.getKey()) {
                     case NAME_FIELD:
-                        name = (String) content.get(NAME_FIELD);
+                        name = (String) entry.getValue();
                         break;
                     case DESCRIPTION_FIELD:
-                        description = (String) content.get(DESCRIPTION_FIELD);
+                        description = (String) entry.getValue();
                         break;
                     case VERSION_FIELD:
-                        version = (String) content.get(VERSION_FIELD);
+                        version = (String) entry.getValue();
                         break;
                     case PROTOCOL_FIELD:
-                        protocol = (String) content.get(PROTOCOL_FIELD);
+                        protocol = (String) entry.getValue();
                         break;
                     case PARAMETERS_FIELD:
-                        parameters = getParameterMap((Map<String, String>) content.get(PARAMETERS_FIELD));
+                        parameters = getParameterMap(entry.getValue());
                         break;
                     case CREDENTIALS_FIELD:
-                        credentials = (Map<String, String>) content.get(CREDENTIALS_FIELD);
+                        credentials = getStringToStringMap(entry.getValue(), CREDENTIALS_FIELD);
                         break;
                     case ACTIONS_FIELD:
-                        actions = (List<ConnectorAction>) content.get(ACTIONS_FIELD);
+                        actions = getConnectorActionList(entry.getValue());
                         break;
                 }
-
             }
         }
 
@@ -145,14 +145,20 @@ public String getName() {
         return NAME;
     }
 
-    private static Map<String, String> getParameterMap(Map<String, String> params) {
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    private static Map<String, String> getStringToStringMap(Object map, String fieldName) {
+        if (map instanceof Map) {
+            return (Map<String, String>) map;
+        }
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException("[" + fieldName + "] must be a key-value map.");
+    }
 
+    private static Map<String, String> getParameterMap(Object parameterMap) {
         Map<String, String> parameters = new HashMap<>();
-        for (String key : params.keySet()) {
-            String value = params.get(key);
+        for (Entry<String, String> entry : getStringToStringMap(parameterMap, PARAMETERS_FIELD).entrySet()) {
             try {
                 AccessController.doPrivileged((PrivilegedExceptionAction<Void>) () -> {
-                    parameters.put(key, value);
+                    parameters.put(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue());
                     return null;
                 });
             } catch (PrivilegedActionException e) {
@@ -162,4 +168,29 @@ private static Map<String, String> getParameterMap(Map<String, String> params) {
         return parameters;
     }
 
+    private static List<ConnectorAction> getConnectorActionList(Object array) {
+        if (!(array instanceof Map[])) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("[" + ACTIONS_FIELD + "] must be an array of key-value maps.");
+        }
+        List<ConnectorAction> actions = new ArrayList<>();
+        for (Map<?, ?> map : (Map<?, ?>[]) array) {
+            String actionType = (String) map.get(ConnectorAction.ACTION_TYPE_FIELD);
+            if (actionType == null) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("[" + ConnectorAction.ACTION_TYPE_FIELD + "] is missing.");
+            }
+            @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+            ConnectorAction action = ConnectorAction.builder()
+                .actionType(ActionType.valueOf(actionType.toUpperCase(Locale.ROOT)))
+                .method((String) map.get(ConnectorAction.METHOD_FIELD))
+                .url((String) map.get(ConnectorAction.URL_FIELD))
+                .headers((Map<String, String>) map.get(ConnectorAction.HEADERS_FIELD))
+                .requestBody((String) map.get(ConnectorAction.REQUEST_BODY_FIELD))
+                .preProcessFunction((String) map.get(ConnectorAction.ACTION_PRE_PROCESS_FUNCTION))
+                .postProcessFunction((String) map.get(ConnectorAction.ACTION_POST_PROCESS_FUNCTION))
+                .build();
+            actions.add(action);
+        }
+        return actions;
+    }
+
 }