🔐 What is an SSH Key Pair?
An SSH key pair is used to securely access a Linux Virtual Machine (VM) in Azure.
It consists of:
Public Key → Stored on the Azure VM
Private Key (.pem file) → Downloaded and kept securely by the user
Both keys work together to authenticate your connection securely without using passwords.
❗ Why SSH Keys Are Important in Azure
Azure uses SSH keys to provide secure, passwordless authentication when connecting to Linux VMs.
Benefits:
🔐 Enables secure SSH access (no passwords required)
🚫 Protects against brute-force attacks
🧑💻 Only users with the private key can log in
⚠️ If the private key is lost, you may lose access to the VM
🔒 More secure than password-based authentication
> Azure does not store your private key. You are responsible for keeping it safe.
🛠️ Steps to Create an SSH Key in Azure Portal
1️⃣ Sign in to Azure
Go to the Microsoft Azure Portal: 🔗 https://portal.azure.com
2️⃣ Navigate to SSH Keys
From the search bar, type SSH keys
Click SSH keys service
Click + Create
3️⃣ Configure the SSH Key
Fill in:
Subscription → Select your subscription
Resource Group → Select existing or create new
(e.g. kml_rg_main_3908bbd1fc154dfd)
Name → Enter key name
(e.g. datacenter-kp)
SSH public key source → Generate new key pair
Click Review + create
Then click Create
4️⃣ Download and Secure the Private Key
The private key file (.pem) will download automatically
Store it securely (e.g., inside ~/.ssh/ folder)
Set proper permission (Mac/Linux):
plain text
chmod400 datacenter-kp.pem⚠️ Important:
Do NOT share the private key
Do NOT upload it to GitHub
Keep a secure backup
🎯 Result
SSH key successfully created in Azure
Ready to use when creating a Linux VM
Secure authentication enabled