# Access Keys An Access Key is used to authenticate and make secure programmatic API calls to the Zata.ai S3 service. It allows applications and S3-compatible tools to interact with object storage for operations such as uploading, downloading, listing, and managing files. Each access key consists of two parts: * **Access Key ID** – Acts as a public identifier (similar to a username). * **Secret Access Key** – Acts as a private credential (similar to a password). Both are required to authenticate requests to the Zata.ai API. Access keys are used to make secure REST or Query protocol requests to the Zata.ai service. When configuring any S3-compatible client such as S3 Browser or Cyberduck, you must enter the Access Key ID and Secret Access Key in the respective fields. The Zata.ai S3 endpoint is: ``` idr01.zata.ai ``` For security reasons, the Secret Access Key should never be shared with anyone. It is recommended to store access keys securely and rotate them periodically as a best practice. Access keys provide a standardized and secure way to connect applications and tools with Zata.ai Object Storage. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.zata.ai/manage/access-keys.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.