# Client Registry
The **Client Registry** in Connectware provides a secure, automated mechanism for registering new clients, users, and hardware devices without manually handling credentials.
Instead of manually adding users through the [Admin UI](https://docs.cybus.io/2-0-4/getting-started/admin-ui), this self-registration process allows clients to register themselves or be automatically registered when they connect to Connectware. This eliminates security risks associated with pre-shared credentials while reducing administrative overhead.
## Advantages of Self-Registration
Traditional client authorization methods often rely on manually creating users and sharing passwords, which introduces security vulnerabilities and administrative overhead. The Client Registry solves this by:
* Eliminating the need to manually distribute credentials.
* Enabling secure, automated credential exchange in the background.
* Providing administrator oversight while minimizing manual intervention.
* Supporting certificate-based authentication for enhanced security.
## Self-Registration Methods
| Self-Registration Method | Advantages |
| ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Self-Registering Clients via REST API** | • Support for certificate signing requests (CSR)
• Ability to request specific roles and permissions
• Enhanced control over client configuration
• Suitable for distributed Connectware agents and advanced clients
• More information
|
| **Self-Registering MQTT Clients** | • Works with any standard MQTT or HTTP client
• The client can generate random passwords automatically
• Simple process for basic device integration
• More information
|