---
name: ssh-keys-about
title: About SSH keys
description: SSH keys are used by SSH servers to identify a user or device through public-key cryptography. SSH keys are made up of an alpha-numeric combination of characters and are unique to their assigned device. At any time, authorized users can add, edit, or delete SSH keys by using the IBM Cloud® console.
last-updated: 2025-04-24
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/ssh-keys?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# About SSH keys
{: #about-ssh-keys}

SSH keys are used by SSH servers to identify a user or device through public-key cryptography. SSH keys are made up of an alpha-numeric combination of characters and are unique to their assigned device. At any time, authorized users can add, edit, or delete SSH keys by using the IBM Cloud® console.
{: shortdesc}

You can request SSH keys during provisioning or through an [OS Reload](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/bare-metal?topic=bare-metal-reloading-the-os&format=markdown).

SSH keys allow access to a device without using a password from corresponding clients for each public key that is implemented on the device. By adding an SSH key to a device, the device that was provided with the SSH key accesses the device for the corresponding key without the use of a password.