Why enabling pipelines in a repository requires SSH setup?

[Bitwise DEVS]

As far as I remember, you are not allowed to enable Bitbucket Pipelines in Cloud unless you enable SSH in Personal Settings. Why is such configuration is required or recommended?

[Pramodh M · Accepted solution]

Hi @Bitwise DEVS

There's no setting like that!

Maybe your workspace is enforced to have 2FA in place which is causing this result

Here's a public repo I just tested it out without SSH Key --> Link here

May I know the Bitbucket pipelines you have enabled has some tasks related to SSH Authentication?

Thanks,
Pramodh

[Bitwise DEVS]

Ohh yes, I do enable 2FA. Is that the whole reason? I do not have SSH authentication in my pipelines and its steps.

[Bitwise DEVS]

@Pramodh M But to enable pipelines we still need to enable 2FA, so its related.

[Pramodh M]

Yes, then 2FA is the reason!!

[Bitwise DEVS]

But why enabling pipelines need 2FA enable thus SSH setup became a requirements.

[Pramodh M]

No @Bitwise DEVS 

We don't need a 2FA or SSH key to run pipelines!!

We need an SSH key in order to enable 2FA.

Can you please confirm whether you have added the SSH key?

Or try with adding an SSH Key and updating the 2FA setting, then work with repos you have in your workspace and all is working well and confirm once

[Pramodh M]

Maybe your workspace admin has made it required for the repos in your workspace

Try enabling 2FA and then running the pipelines?

[Bitwise DEVS]

My account is the owner and admin, I don't remember making it required in my repo, maybe because they were set to private.

[Bitwise DEVS]

Related question : https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Bitbucket-questions/Cannot-create-Bitbucket-Pipeline-without-SSH-key/qaq-p/1729647#U1919841

[Pramodh M]

Thanks @Bitwise DEVS 

Yep, @Theodora Boudale has given the reason in the thread!! This is it.

To prevent abuse from misusing the Pipelines feature, these are some pre-checks that they have implemented.

So go ahead and enable SSH Key, 2FA on your account which makes it secure!!

Let me know if you have need any clarification.

Thanks,
Pramodh

[Pramodh M]

FYI 

I just created a Pipeline in my account with private access, I was able to run it.

May be if you are using the Bitbucket pipelines feature extensively, that is causing it to enable the SSH Keys

[Bitwise DEVS]

Great, many thanks! This is a helpful clarification.