What is SSH (Secure Shell)?
Turkish: SSH
SSH is a network protocol for encrypted remote login, command execution, and secure file transfer on remote servers.
What is SSH?
SSH (Secure Shell) is the protocol used to access a remote machine securely from the command line. It is common in server administration, deployment, log inspection, backups, and secure file transfer. Its default port is 22, although teams may use a different port as part of their access policy.
During connection, the client verifies the server identity through the known_hosts record, then authenticates the user with a password or, more commonly, a public/private key pair. The private key stays on the user’s machine; only the public key is stored on the server. This model is easier to audit and automate than shared passwords.
Use and Security
SSH is not limited to interactive terminal sessions. SFTP file transfer, port forwarding, access through a bastion host, and secure Git operations can all use SSH. If a team manages a VPS or cloud server, SSH access policy is part of the core infrastructure design.
A secure setup disables direct root login, prefers keys over passwords, protects keys with passphrases, and narrows access through VPNs, security groups, or IP restrictions where possible. Person-specific keys are safer than shared team keys because access can be removed quickly when roles change.
Related Terms
SFTP transfers files over an SSH connection through encrypted command and data channels, supporting key-based authentication.
VPS (Virtual Private Server)A VPS is a hosting model that provides isolated resources and administrative control inside a virtualized physical server.