Adding SSH keys to GitLab allows you to establish a secure connection between your computer and the GitLab servers without having to enter a password every time you interact with a remote repository. Here are a few reasons why this is important:
Security: Using SSH keys provides a higher level of security than using passwords. SSH keys use public key cryptography, which makes them more difficult to crack than regular passwords.
Convenience: Once SSH keys are set up, you don't have to enter a password every time you interact with GitLab. This is convenient and saves time, especially if you interact with repositories frequently.
Automation: If you automate any processes in your development workflow (e.g. build, test, deploy), using SSH keys will allow you to automatically interact with GitLab without having to manually enter passwords.
Access Control: In GitLab, you can configure access to your repositories based on SSH keys. You can add and remove SSH keys for different users and manage repository access levels.
Thus, adding SSH keys to GitLab is not only a security measure, but also a way to make working with repositories more convenient and efficient.