Trusted Agent Access (Smallstep + Keycard)

Zero-trust access for AI agents with Smallstep + Keycard

Keycard defines access. Smallstep verifies the runtime. Together, they secure AI agents end-to-end.

Agentic AI changes the security model

Credential sprawl

Secrets get copied into configs, environment variables, and local files.

Over-scoped permissions

Permissions become overly broad because "it needs to work."

Extension risk

Third-party tools and skills become credential exfiltration paths.

Unverified runtimes

Where the agent runs becomes part of your trust boundary.

Agents don’t just read data

Agents take action across tools and systems — making runtime identity part of your trust boundary.

Malicious agent extensions are targeting credentials

Third-party agent plugins are becoming attack paths, attempting to access API keys, SSH sessions, or runtime tokens. Because agents run with delegated authority, a malicious extension can exploit static credentials and turn access into a breach.

The Trusted Agent Access Stack

Trusted Agent Access combines task-scoped delegation, short-lived certificates, and hardware-verified runtimes.

Keycard limits what agents can do. Smallstep enforces how they access it — issuing short-lived X.509 and SSH certificates tied to approved devices.

From user intent to constrained action

1- A user delegates a task
2- Keycard issues a scoped token
3- The agent proves device identity
4- Smallstep issues a short-lived certificate
5- The action runs — attributable and revocable

Production Use Cases

Practical deployment patterns for securing agentic AI across internal systems, developer workflows, and regulated production environments.

Lock Down Agent Tooling

Stop MCP servers from becoming credential exfiltration paths.

Ship Without Static Secrets

Let agents open PRs and deploy — without master keys.

Production Means Verified Devices

Only hardware-approved runtimes can touch prod.

Kill Access Instantly

Revoke tokens. Expire certs. Contain incidents fast.

Get the data sheet

With Keycard and Smallstep you can combine user identity with device attestation to get agent identity for every request.

Secure agentic AI without static secrets

Combine task-scoped delegation, short-lived certificates, and hardware-backed device identity to control autonomous systems in production.