## Creating a SSH Key Pair
SSH key pairs are used for secure, password-less login to instances. Public keys are injected into instances at creation time, allowing administrators or users to authenticate using the corresponding private key.
click the "Create a SSH Key Pair button" to access the menu for creating new Key Pairs.
![[Pasted image 20251002000929.png]]
Follow the instructions to create a new Key pair.
The Public Key can be left blank, in which case the Atlas Cloud will generate a new key for you. Make sure you back the generated Private Key up, as the Atlas Cloud does not store the Private Key. That's your secret to keep.