// Module included in the following assemblies:
//
// * virt/managing_vms/ssh/virt-using-virtctl-ssh.adoc

:_mod-docs-content-type: CONCEPT
[id="virt-static-key-management-vm_{context}"]
= Manage static keys

[role="_abstract"]
You can add a statically managed public SSH key when you create a virtual machine (VM) by using the {product-title} web console or the command line. The key is added as a cloud-init data source when the VM boots for the first time.

You can also add a public SSH key to a project when you create a VM by using the web console. The key is saved as a secret and is added automatically to all VMs that you create.

[NOTE]
====
If you add a secret to a project and then delete the VM, the secret is retained because it is a namespace resource. You must delete the secret manually.
====
