Guides ยท Engineering

SSH Key Setup Basics

Set up SSH keys securely

This guide covers generating SSH key pairs, using strong passphrases, adding keys to agents, configuring authorized_keys, and rotating keys periodically.

Generate keys securely

Use modern algorithms (ed25519 or rsa 4096) with a passphrase.

Store and load

Keep private keys in user profile, use ssh-agent, and avoid copying to multiple machines unsecured.

Configure access

Add public keys to authorized_keys with limited permissions; disable password login where possible.

Rotate and audit

Replace keys periodically and remove old or unused keys.

Related Terms