
Cloud Setup
Bootstrap Elastic Cloud API authentication and defaults in a local `.env` so other `cloud/*` agent skills can create and manage serverless projects without secrets in chat.
Overview
cloud-setup is an agent skill for the Operate phase that configures Elastic Cloud authentication and environment defaults so dependent `cloud/*` skills can run safely.
Install
npx skills add https://github.com/elastic/agent-skills --skill cloud-setupWhat is this skill?
- 3-step workflow: verify API key, set defaults, validate connection
- Requires `EC_API_KEY` via `.env`—never paste keys into agent chat
- Documents 14-day Elastic Cloud Serverless free trial path when no account exists
- Key needs Project Admin or Org Owner scopes for serverless project management
- Foundation skill that other Elastic `cloud/*` skills depend on
- 3-step setup workflow checklist
- 14-day Elastic Cloud Serverless free trial referenced in docs
Adoption & trust: 973 installs on skills.sh; 502 GitHub stars; 3/3 security scanners passed (skills.sh audits).
What problem does it solve?
Your Elastic Cloud automations fail or stall because API credentials and defaults were never set locally—and you risk leaking keys into chat.
Who is it for?
Builders adopting Elastic’s official agent-skills pack who need a one-time, repeatable Cloud auth bootstrap.
Skip if: Self-managed Elastic on VMs only with no Elastic Cloud API—use deployment skills aimed at on-prem stacks instead of this Cloud key flow.
When should I use this skill?
Setting up EC_API_KEY, configuring Cloud API access, or when another Elastic cloud skill requires credentials.
What do I get? / Deliverables
A validated `EC_API_KEY` in `.env` plus defaults unlocks the rest of the Elastic cloud skill chain without secrets in conversation history.
- Local `.env` with `EC_API_KEY` and documented defaults
- Successful Cloud API connection validation
Recommended Skills
Journey fit
Operate/infra is the canonical shelf because this skill establishes production-adjacent cloud credentials and connectivity before observability or deployment automation runs. Infra subphase matches API keys, environment defaults, and connection validation—not application feature coding.
How it compares
Credential and connectivity bootstrap for Elastic Cloud skills, not a substitute for application instrumentation or Kibana dashboard design.
Common Questions / FAQ
Who is cloud-setup for?
Solo developers and small teams using Elastic’s agent-skills who need Elastic Cloud API access configured before project creation, monitoring, or other `cloud/*` automation.
When should I use cloud-setup?
At the start of any Elastic Cloud agent workflow—before ship/launch observability setup or operate/monitoring tasks—when `EC_API_KEY` is missing or connection validation fails.
Is cloud-setup safe to install?
The skill explicitly forbids pasting API keys into chat; store keys in `.env` locally and review the Security Audits panel on this page before granting shell and secrets access to an agent.
SKILL.md
READMESKILL.md - Cloud Setup
# Cloud Environment Setup Configure Elastic Cloud authentication and preferences. All other `cloud/*` skills depend on this setup. ## Workflow ```text Setup Progress: - [ ] Step 1: Verify API key - [ ] Step 2: Set defaults - [ ] Step 3: Validate connection ``` ### Step 1: Verify API key Check whether `EC_API_KEY` is already set: ```bash echo "${EC_API_KEY:?Not set}" ``` If not set, instruct the user to set it. **Never ask the user to paste an API key into the chat** — secrets must not appear in conversation history. If the user indicates they do not have an Elastic Cloud account yet, propose starting a free trial at [Elastic Cloud free trial](https://cloud.elastic.co/registration). The trial provides 14 days of full access to Elastic Cloud Serverless with no credit card required. Once the user has registered and logged in, proceed with API key generation below. Direct the user to: 1. Generate a key at [Elastic Cloud API keys](https://cloud.elastic.co/account/keys). Only **Organization owners** can create and manage Cloud API keys. 1. When creating this key, include **Project Admin** privileges or higher (Org Owner) so it can create and manage serverless projects. 1. Create a `.env` file in the project root (recommended — works in sandboxed agent shells): ```bash EC_API_KEY=your-api-key ``` All `cloud/*` scripts auto-load `.env` from the working directory — no manual sourcing needed. Alternatively, export directly in the terminal: ```bash export EC_API_KEY="your-api-key" ``` Terminal exports might not be visible to sandboxed agents running in a separate shell session. Prefer the `.env` file when working with an agent. Remind the user that storing secrets in local files is acceptable for development, but for production or shared environments, use a centralized secrets manager (for example, HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, 1Password CLI) to avoid secrets sprawl. ### Step 2: Set defaults Export the base URL and default region: ```bash export EC_BASE_URL="https://api.elastic-cloud.com" export EC_REGION="gcp-us-central1" ``` Ask the user if they want a different region. To list available regions: ```bash curl -s -H "Authorization: ApiKey ${EC_API_KEY}" \ "${EC_BASE_URL}/api/v1/serverless/regions" | python3 -m json.tool ``` ### Step 3: Validate connection Confirm the API key works by calling the regions endpoint: ```bash curl -sf -H "Authorization: ApiKey ${EC_API_KEY}" \ "${EC_BASE_URL}/api/v1/serverless/regions" > /dev/null && echo "Authenticated." || echo "Authentication failed." ``` If validation fails, check: - The API key is valid and not expired - Network connectivity to `api.elastic-cloud.com` ## Examples ### First-time setup ```text User: set up my cloud environment Agent: Check if EC_API_KEY is set in your terminal. If not, generate a key at https://cloud.elastic.co/account/keys and run: export EC_API_KEY="your-key" Then confirm and I'll validate the connection. ``` ### Setup with custom region ```text User: set up cloud with eu region Agent: [runs setup, sets EC_REGION to user's preferred EU region] ``` ## Guidelines - Never receive, echo, or log API keys, passwords, or any credentials in the chat. Instruct the user to manage secrets in their terminal or using files directly. - Always validate the connection after setting the key. - Default region is `gcp-us-central1` — only change if the user requests a different region. - This skill is a prerequisite. Other cloud skills should refer here when `EC_API_KEY` is missing. ## Environment variables | Variable | Required | Description | | ------------- | -------- | ----------------------