# Stash Latest (2.12) : Using SSH keys to secure Git operations

Created and last modified by pwatson on Mar 25, 2014

Stash provides a simple way for user accounts and other systems to connect securely to Stash repositories, using SSH keys, in order to perform Git operations. You can:

- add a personal key to a Stash user account to allow a developer to easily authenticate when performing read operations from his or her local machine. A Stash user can add any number of keys to their account. Read more at SSH user keys for personal use.
- add an access key to a Stash project or repository to allow other systems, such as build servers like Atlassian's Bamboo, to authenticate for either read-only (pull, clone) or read-write (push, merge) operations, without the need to store user credentials. Read more at SSH access keys for system use.

Related pages:

- Creating SSH keys
- Enabling SSH access to Git repositories in Stash
- Permanently authenticating with Git repositories

Before you can use SSH keys to secure a connection with Stash the following must have already been done:

- your Stash administrator must have already enabled SSH access in Stash.
- you need an SSH key! See Creating SSH keys. Alternatively, you can use an existing key, if it isn't already being used as a repository or project access key in Stash.

Note that:

- You can use the same SSH system access key for multiple repositories or projects.
- A Stash user can add any number of keys to their account.
- Keys used for personal user accounts can't be re-used as a project or repository access key, and keys used as a project or repository access key can't be re-used for user accounts.
- Stash supports DSA and RSA2 key types – RSA1 is not supported.

## Attachments:

Stash_1_1_using SSH.png (image/png)
STASH24_clone_repo.png (image/png)
STASH24_SSH_clone.png (image/png)
STASH24_SSH_clone.png (image/png)
STASH24_clone_repo.png (image/png)
Stash_1_1_using SSH.png (image/png)
STASH29_user_account.png (image/png)
STASH29_SSH_clone.png (image/png)
STASH29_access_keys.png (image/png)
STASH_11_keygen5.jpeg (image/jpeg)
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STASH_11_keygen5.png (image/png)
STASH_11_keygen5.jpeg (image/jpeg)
STASH29_access_keys.png (image/png)
STASH29_SSH_clone.png (image/png)
STASH29_user_account.png (image/png)
Stash_1_1_using SSH.png (image/png)
STASH24_clone_repo.png (image/png)
STASH24_SSH_clone.png (image/png)