# Managing API Keys

Zeenea provides a **machine-to-machine** authentication mechanism based on API keys. This key must be generated from the administration interface on your platform.

## Create an API key

1. Login to Zeenea as a user with the "Connectivity Administration" permission.
2. Open Zeenea Administration.
3. Go to the **API Keys** section.
4. Click the **Create API Key** button.<br />A **Create API key** window opens. 
5. In the **Name** field, enter a unique name for your API key. <br />This name helps you identify the key in the interface later.
6. Choose a **Permission scope** for the API key:    
    * **Read-only**: Allows read permission on all catalog items.
    * **Manage documentation**: Allows read and write permissions on all catalog items (create, update, delete).
    * **Admin**: Allows read and write permissions on catalog items, users, and the metamodel.
    * **Scanner**: Allows permission for use in scanners.
    * **Access request**: Allows permission to use the Access Request API.      
7. Select an expiration date for the API key.
8. Click **Create API key** button. <br />Your new API key is generated.
9. Copy the API key and store it in a secure location.

!!! warning "Important"
    The API key is displayed only once and cannot be retrieved later.

 
## Delete an API key

You can delete an existing API key at any time from the **API Key** section in the administration interface.

!!! warning "Important"
    Be careful when deleting the API key, because the services (script, scanners, or others) that use this key for authentication will no longer be able to connect to the Zeenea platform.