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About machines

In the context of machine identity security, a machine refers to a specific instance or endpoint where certificates are managed and provisioned. This can include physical servers, virtual machines, cloud instances, or any other type of computing resource that requires a digital certificate for secure communications.

Key points about machines

  1. Machine identity: Each machine has a unique identity that is managed through the control plane. This identity is tied to the certificates that are issued and installed on that machine.

  2. Certificate management: Machines are the primary entities for which certificates are provisioned, renewed, and monitored. You can manage the entire lifecycle of certificates associated with these machines.

  3. Integration with keystores: Machines can be configured to connect to various keystores (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) where certificates are stored and managed.

  4. Discovery and provisioning: CyberArk provides capabilities to discover machines in your environment and provision certificates to them automatically, ensuring that all necessary endpoints are secured.

  5. Role in installations: In the context of installations, creating a machine allows Certificate Manager - SaaS to connect directly to keystores where applications keep their certificates, facilitating the management of machine identities.

Next steps

Learn how to create a new machine.