# Getting Started - MGS

## Getting Started with Managed Guardian Service (MGS)

Welcome to the Managed Guardian Service (MGS).

MGS is an enterprise-grade platform that allows you to build, manage, and deploy digital environmental assets and policies without needing to manage infrastructure.

With MGS, you have two ways to operate:

* **MGS Managed (ATP) (Recommended)**
  * No wallets
  * No private keys
  * No crypto management
  * Fully managed by MGS
* **Self-Managed**
  * Bring your own Hedera accounts and keys

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### Step 1: Create Your Admin Account

1. Navigate to: <https://guardianservice.app/>
2. Click **Sign Up**
3. Enter:
   * Username
   * Email
   * Password
4. Accept the Terms of Use
5. Submit the form

Access is automatically granted.

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### Step 2: Log In as Tenant Admin

1. Log in using your email and password
2. Upon first login:
   * A 31-day free trial is automatically activated
   * You will land on your Admin profile screen

From the left-hand navigation, you will see:

* Tenants
* Subscription and Pricing

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### Step 3: Create Your First Tenant

A tenant represents your Guardian environment.

1. Navigate to **Tenants**
2. Click **Add New Tenant**

Fill out the following:

#### Tenant Configuration

* **Tenant Name**
  * Example: Production, Sandbox, Customer A
* **Network**
  * Testnet (default for trial)
  * Mainnet (available with subscription)
  * Previewnet (available with subscription)

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#### Consumption Management (Important)

You must choose how transactions are handled:

**Option 1: MGS Managed (ATP) (Recommended)**

* No wallet setup required
* No private key management
* Testnet accounts are automatically funded
* Mainnet usage can be paid in USD (consumption bundle should be purchased)
* MGS handles all blockchain interactions

**Option 2: Self-Managed**

* You bring your own Hedera account
* You manage private keys and balances

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#### IPFS Storage Provider

Choose your storage option:

* Managed IPFS Node (Recommended)
* Filebase
* Web3.Storage

For most users, select **Managed IPFS Node** to get started quickly.

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3. Click **Create Tenant**

Your tenant is now ready.

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### Step 4: Invite Your First User (Standard Registry)

The first user should be a **Standard Registry** user.

This user can:

* Create schemas
* Build policies
* Publish policies
* Issue digital assets

#### Invite User

1. Open your tenant
2. Navigate to **Users**
3. Click **Send Invite**
4. Enter:
   * Email address
   * Role: Standard Registry
5. Click **Send Invite**

The user will receive an email invitation.

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### Step 5: Complete User Setup

The invited user will:

1. Open the email invitation
2. Click the registration link
3. Create:
   * Username
   * Password
4. Accept Terms of Use

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#### Setup Flow Depends on Your Selection

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### If Using MGS Managed (ATP)

This is the fastest onboarding path.

User setup includes:

* Digital Identity (DID)
  * Create new DID (recommended)
  * Or bring your own DID
* Organization Profile
  * Company name
  * Details for registry visibility

No wallet required\
No private keys required\
No Hedera setup required\
No vault required

You are ready to start immediately.

***

### If Using Self-Managed (Advanced)

Additional setup is required:

#### Vault Setup

* Use your own key management solution
* Or a compatible vault supported by MGS

Vault is required for Mainnet.

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#### Hedera Account Setup

**For Testnet:**

1. Go to: <https://portal.hedera.com/register>
2. Create a Testnet account
3. Select:
   * ED25519 key type (required)
4. Copy:
   * DER-encoded private key (required)

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**For Mainnet:**

* Use a Hedera-compatible wallet such as HashPack
* Ensure the account is funded with HBAR
* Export the ED25519 key in DER format

Only ED25519 keys in DER format are supported by MGS.

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#### Digital Identity (DID)

* Create a new DID
* Or bring your own DID

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#### Organization Profile

Complete your company details for organization visibility.

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### Step 6: Start Building

Once setup is complete, navigate the platform:

* Schemas to define your data structures
* Policies to build workflows and logic
* Tokens to create and manage digital assets
* Modules and Tools to extend functionality

You can:

* Create policies from scratch
* Import existing policy files

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### Step 7: Test with Dry Run Mode

Dry Run allows you to simulate real workflows.

* Create virtual users
* Execute policies safely
* Validate logic before publishing

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### Step 8: Publish Policies

Once ready:

1. Publish your policy
2. Make it available to users
3. Begin real interactions and data submission

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### Step 9: Invite Policy Users

Invite additional users to interact with your policies. Policy users need to be invited, and will also need to follow the steps mentioned above to finish setting up their user account. Policy users then engage with the specific Standard Registry and interact with policies.

Roles may include:

* Project Developers
* Validators or VVBs
* Data Submitters

All users inherit the tenant configuration that you selected.

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### Step 10: Explore Advanced Features

* Global search using the Indexer
* Token tracking
* Policy imports
* Schema management
* Analytics and reporting

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### Optional: Managed Guardian Service GPT Assistant

Use the MGS Custom GPT Assistant to help you:

* Understand features
* Build policies
* Troubleshoot issues

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### Summary

For most users, the fastest way to get started is:

1. Create Admin Account
2. Create Tenant
3. Select MGS Managed (ATP)
4. Invite Standard Registry User
5. Complete setup without crypto
6. Start building

***

### Need Help?

* Documentation: <https://guardianservice.io>
* Support: <support@guardianservice.io>

***

{% hint style="info" %}
Note: If you are currently using the open-source Guardian APIs, migrating to Managed Guardian Service is really easy!

Simply change the API URL from what you are currently using (i.e. <http://localhost:3002/api/v1/>) to <https://guardianservice.app/api/v1/>
{% endhint %}