# SHA-2 support for SNMPv3 Authentication

Simple Network Management Protocol version 3 (**SNMPv3**) is an interoperable, standards-based protocol that provides secure access to network devices by utilizing a combination of **authentication** and **encryption** of packets over the network. For monitoring your network devices, OpManager supports the use of SNMPv3, which exerts better security than SNMPv1 and SNMPv2 in terms of privacy and integrity.

OpManager has, for long, supported the use of standard protocols like Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA-1) and Message Digest Algorithm 5 (MD5) for SNMPv3 authentication. However, considering the rapid increase in demand for secure environments and with the widely available support for SHA-2, it becomes essential for any monitoring tool to enforce this at the earliest. With such objective, **OpManager has brought into effect, the use of SHA-2 authentication for SNMPv3 monitoring.** The SHA-2 as a family of 2 hash functions, the **SHA-256 and SHA-512**, signifies a comparatively more secure monitoring of your network devices using the SNMPv3. Users can now choose either of these protocols for authentication, during configuration of credentials.

## Steps to configure SNMPv3 credentials with SHA2 in OpManager

1. Navigate to **Settings → Discovery → Add Credentials.**
2. Click on **Add Credentials**.
3. Select the credential type - **SNMPv3**.

![SHA-2 support for SNMPv3 Authentication in OpManager: Add credentials page under Discovery tab](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/help/images/sha2-image1.JPG)

4. Enter the Profile Name, Description and SNMP user name.
5. Select the Authentication type.

![SHA-2 support for SNMPv3 Authentication in OpManager: Choose authentication type under credentials](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/help/images/sha2-image3.JPG)

6. Select the Encryption type. (You can choose any type of authentication and encryption combination depending on your security preference.)

![SHA-2 support for SNMPv3 Authentication in OpManager: Choose encryption type under credentials](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/help/images/sha2-image2.JPG)

7. Click on **Save**.

## Frequently asked questions

1. [What is SNMP v3 monitoring in OpManager?](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/help/snmpv3.html)
2. [How to configure SNMP agent in OpManager?](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/help/configuring-snmp-agents.html)
3. [What are the other credentials supported in OpManager?](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/help/add-credentials.html#snmp)
4. [How does SNMP Trap monitoring work?](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/help/trap-processing.html)
5. [What is SHA in OpManager?](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/faq.html#sha)
6. [What is the difference between SHA-256 and SHA-512?](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/faq.html#sha-diff)
7. [What is the difference between AES and AES-128?](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/faq.html#aes)
8. [Is it mandatory to specify the privacy protocol and password?](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/faq.html#privacy-protocol)