Why You Should Use SSH Keys

SSH keys provide a more secure and convenient method of authentication compared to passwords. While passwords can be guessed, stolen through phishing, or cracked through brute force attacks, SSH keys use public-key cryptography to provide strong authentication without ever transmitting a secret over the network. Once properly set up, SSH keys make remote access both more secure and more convenient than traditional passwords.

An SSH key pair consists of a private key (kept secret on your machine) and a public key (shared with servers you want to access). When connecting, the server uses your public key to create a challenge that only your private key can solve, proving your identity without revealing the private key itself. This asymmetric approach means even if an attacker captures all network traffic or compromises the server, they cannot derive your private key or impersonate you to other servers.

Beyond security, SSH keys dramatically improve workflow efficiency. No more typing passwords dozens of times per day or storing them in potentially insecure password managers. SSH agents can hold your decrypted keys in memory, providing seamless access to multiple servers. You can even configure different keys for different services, use ssh-agent forwarding for jump hosts, and set up sophisticated access patterns that would be impractical with passwords.

Setting up SSH keys is straightforward: generate a key pair with ssh-keygen, copy the public key to servers with ssh-copy-id, and you're done. Best practices include using strong passphrases to encrypt private keys, generating different keys for different purposes (personal vs. work), and regularly rotating keys. Some organizations require hardware security keys that store private keys in tamper-resistant chips. Whether you're managing a single VPS or accessing dozens of servers daily, SSH keys are an essential tool that enhances both security and productivity.