Glossary

Table 1. Term definition
Term Definition
SSH Secure Socket Shell (SSH), also known as simply Secure Shell, is a cryptographic protocol used to enable secure access to remote servers and devices over the internet using SSH keys, certificates, or passwords.
SSH key SSH keys are used to encrypt communication with a remote system. SSH keys usually come in pairs comprising a public and a private key and are used to grant access to authorized personnel to critical systems such as cloud, on-premise servers, and network devices.
Host key A host key is a key that is used to identify the server. It is generated by the server and shared with the client during the initial connection setup. The client uses this key to verify the identity of the server before establishing a connection.
User key A user key is a public key that is associated with a particular user account on the host. It is used to authenticate the user and establish a secure connection with the server.
Public key A public key is used to encrypt data and verify digital signatures. It can be freely distributed, and anyone can use it to encrypt data or verify digital signatures. It is also used to establish a secure connection between the client and the server.
Private key A private key is a secret key that is used to decrypt data and create digital signatures. It must be kept secret and never shared with anyone. The private key is used to authenticate the user and establish a secure connection with the server.
Suspicious key A key without a known client association.
Shared key A key used by more than one user.
Orphan key A key that is found on a non-standard client file-folder path and does not have a known server.
SSH key rotation The process of replacing the old key with a new one that adheres to the SSH key policy.
Weak key A key that is generated using a weaker algorithm and size.