---
path: onboarding/manager-onboarding/vault-structure.mdx
title: Set up vault structure
sidebar_position: 2
slug: vault-structure
pagination_next: null
pagination_prev: null
description: >-
  How to create a department vault in Passwork and organize a folder hierarchy for
  your team's credentials: naming conventions, folder depth, and best practices.
keywords:
  - Passwork
  - vault
  - company vault
  - create vault
  - folder
  - folder hierarchy
  - department
  - organization
  - naming convention
---

## Create a department vault

1. In the navigation pane, click the **Plus** icon next to the corresponding **vault type**. For a department vault accessible to multiple users, choose **Company vaults**.
2. Enter a vault name (see naming conventions below).
3. Click **Create**.

<ImageComponent
  src="/img/assets/create-vault-1.png"
  alt="Add vault button in the navigation pane"
  format="regular"
/>

<ImageComponent
  src="/img/assets/create-vault-2.png"
  alt="Create vault dialog — name and type selection"
  format="regular"
/>

:::info Vault types
Passwork supports multiple vault types. **Company** vaults are shared across teams with administrator-controlled access. **Private** vaults are visible only to the owner. The available types depend on your organization's configuration.
:::

## Design the folder hierarchy

Folders organize passwords within a vault. Use a logical, consistent structure that makes credentials easy to find without requiring browsing through long flat lists. Keep folder depth at 2–3 levels — deeper hierarchies become difficult to navigate.

### Example structure

```
Marketing Department (vault)
├── Social Media
│   ├── Facebook
│   └── LinkedIn
├── Analytics Tools
│   ├── Google Analytics
│   └── Hotjar
├── CMS Access
└── External Contractors
    └── Agency Name
```

### Create a folder

1. Open the vault where you want to create a folder.
2. Click **Vault settings** (the three-dot menu next to the vault name) and select **Create folder**.

<ImageComponent
  src="/img/assets/Vault-create-folder-1.png"
  alt="Create folder option in the vault settings menu"
  format="regular"
/>

3. Enter a folder name and confirm.

<ImageComponent
  src="/img/assets/vault-create-folder-2.png"
  alt="Create folder dialog"
  format="regular"
/>

To create a nested folder, open the parent folder first, then use the same **Create folder** action.

## Naming conventions

Consistent naming makes vaults and folders discoverable across teams, especially in larger organizations.

- Use the full department or project name, not abbreviations that are not universally known
- For service account credentials, include the service name and environment: *AWS Production*, *AWS Staging*
- For contractor access, include the company name and project: *Agency Name — Project X*
- Avoid generic names like *Misc*, *Old*, or *Temp* — create a specific folder for anything that would otherwise end up there

## Next step

Proceed to [Access management](./access-management.mdx) to invite team members and configure their permissions.