An SSH key is a cryptographic key pair used to authenticate securely with remote systems via SSH. The private key remains on the client device, while the public key is stored on the remote server. SSH keys provide stronger security than passwords and enable automated or script-driven access without manual login.
Why it matters
SSH keys reduce risk by avoiding password-based authentication, which is vulnerable to brute-force attacks. They are critical for cloud access, DevOps workflows, and automated deployments.
Examples
Generating a key with ssh-keygen and placing the public key in a server’s ~/.ssh/authorized_keys file. Lessons like SSH Basics demonstrate their usage.