SSH Keys

This article provides standard instructions for generating SSH key pairs and securely sharing public SSH keys. SSH keys are used for secure authentication to servers, network devices, and services without relying on passwords.

What is an SSH Key?

An SSH key is a secure method used to authenticate access to systems over SSH (Secure Shell) without using a password.

SSH keys consist of a public key (safe to share) and a private key (must be kept secret).

Instead of entering a password each time you connect to a server or service, SSH uses a pair of cryptographic keys to verify your identity. This approach is more secure and is the IT‑preferred standard for system access and automation.

Public Key

  • Shared with systems or services you need to access
  • Installed on servers, Git platforms, or network devices
  • Safe to share with IT staff

Private Key

  • Stored on your computer
  • Must be kept secret
  • Protected by file permissions and (ideally) a passphrase

⚠ Never share your private key ⚠

Supported Key Type

In this walk-through we are using ed25519 algorithm which is the preferred IT standard.

  • Algorithm: ed25519 (preferred)
  • Fallback (legacy systems): rsa with 4096-bit key size
  • Passphrase: Required unless explicitly approved otherwise

Generating an SSH Key Pair

Windows

Requires Windows 10+ or Windows 11
  1. Open PowerShell
  2. Run the following command: ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your.name@organization.edu
  3. When prompted:
    1. Accept the default file location
    2. Set a strong passphrase (If your key pair is used for an automation process, do not use a passphrase).
  4. Both the keys should be created in C:\Users\<username>\.ssh\
    1. Private key: id_ed25519 (do not share this file)
    2. Public key: id_ed25519.pub

macOS / Linux

  1. Open Terminal
  2. Run the following command: ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your.name@organization.edu
  3. When prompted:
    1. Accept the default file location
    2. Set a strong passphrase (If your key pair is used for an automation process, do not use a passphrase).
  4. Both the keys should be created in ~\.ssh\
    1. Private key: id_ed25519 (do not share this file)
    2. Public key: id_ed25519.pub

Viewing Your Public Key

To display your public key:

Windows

In PowerShell, type the command: type $env:USERPROFILE\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub 

macOS / Linux

In Terminal, type the command: cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub 

The output will look similar to:
ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAI... your.name@organization.edu

Sharing Your Public SSH Key

Never:

  • Email your private key
  • Upload private keys to shared storage
  • Share keys via chat or unsecured messages


Keywords:
ssh key generate 
Doc ID:
160470
Owned by:
James J. in UW Administration IT
Created:
2026-04-03
Updated:
2026-04-08
Sites:
UW Administration IT