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Managed Scope

Managed Scope

Essential9 minutes3 questions2026-08-09
The idea in one minute

Start with meaning, then move to detail.

This lesson explains Managed Scope as part of operating Hermes with explicit security boundaries. You will learn what it does, when it matters, and the smallest safe test that proves it works.

If you are new

If you are new, do not memorize names. Focus on three questions: what problem does this solve, what access does it need, and how can you verify the result?

For hands-on use

For practice, inspect the first example, identify its effects, run it on test data, and compare the result with the source claim.

For specialists

For advanced readers, inspect Where it lives, Relocating the directory, Precedence, then verify failure modes and version compatibility.

What do you need first?

You only need to know which files and accounts the agent may access.

What will you know?

A clear outcome before you read.

  • Understand Managed Scope without assumed prior knowledge.
  • Separate the source description from what still needs testing in your environment.
  • Read the first command and identify its inputs and outputs before copying it.
Lesson terms

Short definitions before the details.

Provider
The service that runs or provides access and authentication to a model.
Approval & sandbox
Approval pauses a sensitive action before execution; sandboxing limits impact if something goes wrong.
Official page description

Administrator-pinned, user-immutable config and secrets via a system-level managed directory

Topic map

What does the source say, and in what order?

  1. 01
    Where it lives

    Start here to understand the core idea or structure.

  2. 02
    Relocating the directory

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  3. 03
    Precedence

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  4. 04
    Seeing what's managed

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  5. 05
    Setting up a managed scope (administrators)

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  6. 06
    Security model and limitations (v1)

    Finish here to verify the result and special cases.

Examples from the official page

Copy only after you understand the effect.

/etc/hermes/ ├── config.yaml # managed config layer (wins over ~/.hermes/config.yaml) └── .env # managed env layer (wins over ~/.hermes/.env + shell)
# Point managed scope at a custom directory (set by IT / the deployment, not the user) export HERMES_MANAGED_DIR=/opt/org/hermes-policy
model: default: org/standard-model
Try it now

Read the first command and identify its inputs and outputs before copying it.

Match every command to your installed Hermes version, review the files and accounts it can reach, and use non-sensitive data for the first test. If this explanation differs from the source, the official source wins.

Knowledge check

Three decisions before completion.

1. What is the source of truth when “Managed Scope” changes?
2. What is the best way to apply this lesson?
3. What should happen before a step can modify files or an external account?