---
title: Securing your repository
intro: 'You can use a number of {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} features to help keep your repository secure.'
permissions: Repository administrators and organization owners can configure repository security settings.
redirect_from:
  - /github/administering-a-repository/about-securing-your-repository
  - /github/code-security/getting-started/about-securing-your-repository
versions:
  fpt: '*'
  ghes: '*'
  ghae: '*'
  ghec: '*'
type: how_to
topics:
  - Repositories
  - Dependencies
  - Vulnerabilities
  - Advanced Security
shortTitle: Secure your repository
---

## Introduction
This guide shows you how to configure security features for a repository. You must be a repository administrator or organization owner to configure security settings for a repository.

Your security needs are unique to your repository, so you may not need to enable every feature for your repository. For more information, see "[{% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} security features](/code-security/getting-started/github-security-features)."

{% data reusables.advanced-security.security-feature-availability %}

## Managing access to your repository

The first step to securing a repository is to establish who can see and modify your code. For more information, see "[Managing repository settings](/github/administering-a-repository/managing-repository-settings)."

From the main page of your repository, click **{% octicon "gear" aria-label="The Settings gear" %} Settings**, then scroll down to the "Danger Zone."

- To change who can view your repository, click **Change visibility**. For more information, see "[Setting repository visibility](/github/administering-a-repository/setting-repository-visibility)."{% ifversion fpt or ghec or ghes > 3.3 or ghae > 3.3 %}
- To change who can access your repository and adjust permissions, click **Manage access**. For more information, see"[Managing teams and people with access to your repository](/github/administering-a-repository/managing-teams-and-people-with-access-to-your-repository)."{% endif %}


## Managing the dependency graph

{% ifversion fpt or ghec %}
{% data reusables.dependency-graph.feature-availability %} The dependency graph interprets manifest and lock files in a repository to identify dependencies.

1. From the main page of your repository, click **{% octicon "gear" aria-label="The Settings gear" %} Settings**.
1. Click **Security & analysis**.
1. Next to Dependency graph, click **Enable** or **Disable**.
{% endif %}

{% data reusables.dependabot.dependabot-alerts-dependency-graph-enterprise %}

For more information, see "[Exploring the dependencies of a repository](/code-security/supply-chain-security/exploring-the-dependencies-of-a-repository#enabling-and-disabling-the-dependency-graph-for-a-private-repository)."

## Managing {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_alerts %}

{% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_alerts %} are generated when {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} identifies a dependency in the dependency graph with a vulnerability. {% ifversion fpt or ghec %}You can enable {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_alerts %} for any repository.{% endif %}

{% ifversion fpt or ghec %}
1. Click your profile photo, then click **Settings**.
1. Click **Security & analysis**.
1. Click **Enable all** next to {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_alerts %}.
{% endif %}

{% data reusables.dependabot.dependabot-alerts-beta %}
{% data reusables.dependabot.dependabot-alerts-dependency-graph-enterprise %}

For more information, see "[About {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_alerts %}](/code-security/supply-chain-security/about-alerts-for-vulnerable-dependencies){% ifversion fpt or ghec %}" and "[Managing security and analysis settings for your personal account](/account-and-profile/setting-up-and-managing-your-personal-account-on-github/managing-personal-account-settings/managing-security-and-analysis-settings-for-your-personal-account){% endif %}."

## Managing dependency review

Dependency review lets you visualize dependency changes in pull requests before they are merged into your repositories. For more information, see "[About dependency review](/code-security/supply-chain-security/understanding-your-software-supply-chain/about-dependency-review)."

Dependency review is a {% data variables.product.prodname_GH_advanced_security %} feature. {% ifversion fpt or ghec %}Dependency review is already enabled for all public repositories. {% ifversion fpt %}Organizations that use {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_cloud %} with {% data variables.product.prodname_advanced_security %} can additionally enable dependency review for private and internal repositories. For more information, see the [{% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_cloud %} documentation](/enterprise-cloud@latest/code-security/getting-started/securing-your-repository#managing-dependency-review). {% endif %}{% endif %}{% ifversion ghec or ghes or ghae %}To enable dependency review for a {% ifversion ghec %}private or internal {% endif %}repository, ensure that the dependency graph is enabled and enable {% data variables.product.prodname_GH_advanced_security %}.

1. From the main page of your repository, click **{% octicon "gear" aria-label="The Settings gear" %}Settings**.
1. Click **Security & analysis**.
1. {% ifversion ghec %}If dependency graph is not already enabled, click **Enable**.{% elsif ghes or ghae %}Check that dependency graph is configured for your enterprise.{% endif %}
1. If {% data variables.product.prodname_GH_advanced_security %} is not already enabled, click **Enable**.

{% endif %}

{% ifversion fpt or ghec or ghes %}

## Managing {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_security_updates %}

For any repository that uses {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_alerts %}, you can enable {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_security_updates %} to raise pull requests with security updates when vulnerabilities are detected.

1. From the main page of your repository, click **{% octicon "gear" aria-label="The Settings gear" %}Settings**.
1. Click **Security & analysis**.
1. Next to {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_security_updates %}, click **Enable**.

For more information, see "[About {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_security_updates %}](/code-security/supply-chain-security/about-dependabot-security-updates)" and "[Configuring {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_security_updates %}](/code-security/supply-chain-security/configuring-dependabot-security-updates)."

## Managing {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_version_updates %}

You can enable {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} to automatically raise pull requests to keep your dependencies up-to-date. For more information, see "[About {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_version_updates %}](/code-security/supply-chain-security/about-dependabot-version-updates)."

{% ifversion dependabot-settings-update-37 %}
1. From the main page of your repository, click **{% octicon "gear" aria-label="The Settings gear" %} Settings**.
1. Click **Security & analysis**.
1. Next to {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_version_updates %}, click **Enable** to create a basic *dependabot.yml* configuration file.
1. Specify the dependencies to update and commit the file to the repository. For more information, see "[Configuring Dependabot version updates](/code-security/dependabot/dependabot-version-updates/configuring-dependabot-version-updates#enabling-dependabot-version-updates)."

{% else %}
To enable {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_version_updates %}, you must create a *dependabot.yml* configuration file. For more information, see "[Configuring {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} version updates](/code-security/supply-chain-security/keeping-your-dependencies-updated-automatically/enabling-and-disabling-dependabot-version-updates)."
{% endif %}

{% endif %}

## Configuring {% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning %}

You can configure {% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning %} to automatically identify vulnerabilities and errors in the code stored in your repository by using a {% data variables.code-scanning.codeql_workflow %} or third-party tool.{% ifversion code-scanning-without-workflow %} Depending on the programming languages in your repository, you can configure {% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning %} with {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %} using the default setup, in which {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} automatically determines the languages to scan, query suites to run, and events that will trigger a new scan.{% else %} For more information, see "[Configuring {% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning %} for a repository](/code-security/code-scanning/automatically-scanning-your-code-for-vulnerabilities-and-errors/configuring-code-scanning-for-a-repository)."{% endif %}

{% ifversion code-scanning-without-workflow %}

1. From the main page of your repository, click {% octicon "gear" aria-label="The gear icon" %} **Settings**.
1. In the "Security" section of the sidebar, click **{% octicon "shield-lock" aria-label="The shield-lock icon" %} Code security and analysis**.
1. In the "{% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning_capc %}" section, select **Set up** {% octicon "triangle-down" aria-label="The downwards-facing triangle icon" %}, then click **Default**.
1. In the pop-up window that appears, review the default configuration settings for your repository, then click **Enable {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %}**.

Alternatively, you can use the advanced setup, which generates a workflow file you can edit to customize your {% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning %} with {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %}. For more information, see "[Configuring {% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning %} for a repository](/code-security/code-scanning/automatically-scanning-your-code-for-vulnerabilities-and-errors/configuring-code-scanning-for-a-repository#creating-an-advanced-setup)."

{% endif %}

{% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning_capc %} is available {% ifversion fpt or ghec %}for all public repositories, and for private repositories owned by organizations that are part of an enterprise with a license for {% else %}for organization-owned repositories if your enterprise uses {% endif %}{% data variables.product.prodname_GH_advanced_security %}.

## Configuring {% data variables.product.prodname_secret_scanning %}

{% ifversion fpt %}
{% data variables.secret-scanning.partner_alerts_caps %} runs automatically on public repositories in all products on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom_the_website %}. {% data variables.secret-scanning.user_alerts_caps %} are available for public repositories, as well as repositories owned by organizations that use {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_cloud %} and have a license for {% data variables.product.prodname_GH_advanced_security %}. {% data reusables.advanced-security.more-info-ghas %}{% endif %}

{% ifversion ghec or ghes or ghae %}

{% data variables.product.prodname_secret_scanning_caps %} is {% ifversion ghec %}enabled for all public repositories and is available for private repositories owned by organizations that are part of an enterprise with a license for {% else %}available for organization-owned repositories if your enterprise uses {% endif %}{% data variables.product.prodname_GH_advanced_security %}. {% ifversion fpt %}For more information, see the [{% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_cloud %} documentation](/enterprise-cloud@latest/code-security/getting-started/securing-your-repository#configuring-secret-scanning).{% else %}{% data variables.product.prodname_secret_scanning_caps %} may already be enabled for your repository, depending upon your organization's settings.

1. From the main page of your repository, click **{% octicon "gear" aria-label="The Settings gear" %}Settings**.
1. Click **Security & analysis**.
1. If {% data variables.product.prodname_GH_advanced_security %} is not already enabled, click **Enable**.
1. Next to {% data variables.product.prodname_secret_scanning_caps %}, click **Enable**.
{% endif %}

{% endif %}

## Setting a security policy

If you are a repository maintainer, it's good practice to specify a security policy for your repository by creating a file named _SECURITY.md_ in the repository. This file instructs users about how to best contact you and collaborate with you when they want to report security vulnerabilities in your repository. You can view the security policy of a repository from the repository’s **Security** tab.

1. From the main page of your repository, click **{% octicon "shield" aria-label="The shield symbol" %} Security**.
2. Click **Security policy**.
3. Click **Start setup**.
4. Add information about supported versions of your project and how to report vulnerabilities.

For more information, see "[Adding a security policy to your repository](/code-security/getting-started/adding-a-security-policy-to-your-repository)."

## Next steps
You can view and manage alerts from security features to address dependencies and vulnerabilities in your code. For more information, see {% ifversion fpt or ghes or ghec %} "[Viewing and updating {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_alerts %}](/code-security/dependabot/dependabot-alerts/viewing-and-updating-dependabot-alerts),"{% endif %} {% ifversion fpt or ghec or ghes %}"[Managing pull requests for dependency updates](/code-security/supply-chain-security/managing-pull-requests-for-dependency-updates)," {% endif %}"[Managing {% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning %} for your repository](/code-security/secure-coding/managing-code-scanning-alerts-for-your-repository)," and "[Managing alerts from {% data variables.product.prodname_secret_scanning %}](/code-security/secret-security/managing-alerts-from-secret-scanning)."

{% ifversion fpt or ghec %}If you have a security vulnerability, you can create a security advisory to privately discuss and fix the vulnerability. For more information, see "[About repository security advisories](/code-security/security-advisories/about-github-security-advisories)" and "[Creating a security advisory](/code-security/security-advisories/creating-a-security-advisory)."
{% endif %}