diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/migrations/env.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/migrations/env.py
index 1e35f40..d2797e8 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/migrations/env.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/migrations/env.py
@@ -3,22 +3,22 @@ from logging.config import fileConfig
 
 from sqlalchemy import engine_from_config
 from sqlalchemy import pool
-from sqlmodel import create_engine
 
 from alembic import context
-from sshecret_backend.models import *
-
-def get_database_url() -> str:
-    """Get database URL."""
-    if db_file := os.getenv("SSHECRET_BACKEND_DB"):
-        return f"sqlite:///{db_file}"
-    return "sqlite:///sshecret.db"
-
+from sshecret_backend.models import Base
 
 # this is the Alembic Config object, which provides
 # access to the values within the .ini file in use.
 config = context.config
 
+
+def get_database_url() -> str | None:
+    """Get database URL."""
+    if db_file := os.getenv("SSHECRET_BACKEND_DB"):
+        return f"sqlite:///{db_file}"
+    return config.get_main_option("sqlalchemy.url")
+
+
 # Interpret the config file for Python logging.
 # This line sets up loggers basically.
 if config.config_file_name is not None:
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ if config.config_file_name is not None:
 # for 'autogenerate' support
 # from myapp import mymodel
 # target_metadata = mymodel.Base.metadata
-#target_metadata = None
-target_metadata = SQLModel.metadata
+target_metadata = Base.metadata
 
 # other values from the config, defined by the needs of env.py,
 # can be acquired:
@@ -68,7 +67,11 @@ def run_migrations_online() -> None:
     and associate a connection with the context.
 
     """
-    connectable = create_engine(get_database_url())
+    connectable = engine_from_config(
+        config.get_section(config.config_ini_section, {}),
+        prefix="sqlalchemy.",
+        poolclass=pool.NullPool,
+    )
 
     with connectable.connect() as connection:
         context.configure(
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/migrations/script.py.mako b/packages/sshecret-backend/migrations/script.py.mako
index 81f5923..480b130 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/migrations/script.py.mako
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/migrations/script.py.mako
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ from typing import Sequence, Union
 
 from alembic import op
 import sqlalchemy as sa
-import sqlmodel
 ${imports if imports else ""}
 
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/audit.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/audit.py
index f429ec6..00eabd4 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/audit.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/audit.py
@@ -5,13 +5,14 @@
 import logging
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, Request, Query
-from sqlmodel import Session, col, func, select
-from sqlalchemy import desc
+from pydantic import TypeAdapter
+from sqlalchemy import select, func
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from typing import Annotated
 
 from sshecret_backend.models import AuditLog
 from sshecret_backend.types import DBSessionDep
-from sshecret_backend.view_models import AuditInfo
+from sshecret_backend.view_models import AuditInfo, AuditView
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ def get_audit_api(get_db_session: DBSessionDep) -> APIRouter:
     """Construct audit sub-api."""
     router = APIRouter()
 
-    @router.get("/audit/", response_model=list[AuditLog])
+    @router.get("/audit/", response_model=list[AuditView])
     async def get_audit_logs(
         request: Request,
         session: Annotated[Session, Depends(get_db_session)],
@@ -29,35 +30,37 @@ def get_audit_api(get_db_session: DBSessionDep) -> APIRouter:
         limit: Annotated[int, Query(le=100)] = 100,
         filter_client: Annotated[str | None, Query()] = None,
         filter_subsystem: Annotated[str | None, Query()] = None,
-    ) -> Sequence[AuditLog]:
+    ) -> Sequence[AuditView]:
         """Get audit logs."""
         #audit.audit_access_audit_log(session, request)
-        statement = select(AuditLog).offset(offset).limit(limit).order_by(desc(col(AuditLog.timestamp)))
+        statement = select(AuditLog).offset(offset).limit(limit).order_by(AuditLog.timestamp.desc())
         if filter_client:
             statement = statement.where(AuditLog.client_name == filter_client)
 
         if filter_subsystem:
             statement = statement.where(AuditLog.subsystem == filter_subsystem)
 
-        results = session.exec(statement).all()
-        return results
+        LogAdapt = TypeAdapter(list[AuditView])
+        results = session.scalars(statement).all()
+        return LogAdapt.validate_python(results, from_attributes=True)
+
 
     @router.post("/audit/")
     async def add_audit_log(
         request: Request,
         session: Annotated[Session, Depends(get_db_session)],
-        entry: AuditLog,
-    ) -> AuditLog:
+        entry: AuditView,
+    ) -> AuditView:
         """Add entry to audit log."""
-        audit_log = AuditLog.model_validate(entry.model_dump(exclude_none=True))
+        audit_log = AuditLog(**entry.model_dump(exclude_none=True))
         session.add(audit_log)
         session.commit()
-        return audit_log
+        return AuditView.model_validate(audit_log, from_attributes=True)
 
     @router.get("/audit/info")
     async def get_audit_info(request: Request, session: Annotated[Session, Depends(get_db_session)]) -> AuditInfo:
         """Get audit info."""
-        audit_count = session.exec(select(func.count('*')).select_from(AuditLog)).one()
+        audit_count = session.scalars(select(func.count('*')).select_from(AuditLog)).one()
         return AuditInfo(entries=audit_count)
 
 
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/clients.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/clients.py
index 56a3b3c..536e176 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/clients.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/clients.py
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@ import uuid
 import logging
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException, Query, Request
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, model_validator
-from sqlmodel import Session, col, select
-from sqlalchemy import func
-from typing import Annotated, Self, TypeVar
+from typing import Annotated, Any, Self, TypeVar, cast
 
-from sqlmodel.sql.expression import SelectOfScalar
+from sqlalchemy import select, func
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
+from sqlalchemy.sql import Select
 from sshecret_backend.types import DBSessionDep
 from sshecret_backend.models import Client, ClientSecret
 from sshecret_backend.view_models import (
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ T = TypeVar("T")
 
 
 def filter_client_statement(
-    statement: SelectOfScalar[T], params: ClientListParams, ignore_limits: bool = False
-) -> SelectOfScalar[T]:
+    statement: Select[Any], params: ClientListParams, ignore_limits: bool = False
+) -> Select[Any]:
     """Filter a statement with the provided params."""
     if params.id:
         statement = statement.where(Client.id == params.id)
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ def filter_client_statement(
     if params.name:
         statement = statement.where(Client.name == params.name)
     elif params.name__like:
-        statement = statement.where(col(Client.name).like(params.name__like))
+        statement = statement.where(Client.name.like(params.name__like))
     elif params.name__contains:
-        statement = statement.where(col(Client.name).contains(params.name__contains))
+        statement = statement.where(Client.name.contains(params.name__contains))
 
     if ignore_limits:
         return statement
@@ -86,13 +86,13 @@ def get_clients_api(get_db_session: DBSessionDep) -> APIRouter:
         """Get clients."""
         # Get total results first
         count_statement = select(func.count("*")).select_from(Client)
-        count_statement = filter_client_statement(count_statement, filter_query, True)
+        count_statement = cast(Select[tuple[int]], filter_client_statement(count_statement, filter_query, True))
 
-        total_results = session.exec(count_statement).one()
+        total_results = session.scalars(count_statement).one()
 
         statement = filter_client_statement(select(Client), filter_query, False)
 
-        results = session.exec(statement)
+        results = session.scalars(statement)
         remainder = total_results - filter_query.offset - filter_query.limit
         if remainder < 0:
             remainder = 0
@@ -170,13 +170,12 @@ def get_clients_api(get_db_session: DBSessionDep) -> APIRouter:
                 status_code=404, detail="Cannot find a client with the given name."
             )
         client.public_key = client_update.public_key
-        for secret in session.exec(
+        for secret in session.scalars(
             select(ClientSecret).where(ClientSecret.client_id == client.id)
         ).all():
             LOG.debug("Invalidated secret %s", secret.id)
             secret.invalidated = True
             secret.client_id = None
-            secret.client = None
 
         session.add(client)
         session.refresh(client)
@@ -206,13 +205,12 @@ def get_clients_api(get_db_session: DBSessionDep) -> APIRouter:
         public_key_updated = False
         if client_update.public_key != client.public_key:
             public_key_updated = True
-            for secret in session.exec(
+            for secret in session.scalars(
                 select(ClientSecret).where(ClientSecret.client_id == client.id)
             ).all():
                 LOG.debug("Invalidated secret %s", secret.id)
                 secret.invalidated = True
                 secret.client_id = None
-                secret.client = None
 
         session.add(client)
         session.commit()
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/common.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/common.py
index 566ddc4..fad0b57 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/common.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/common.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ import re
 import uuid
 import bcrypt
 
-from sqlmodel import Session, select
+from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
 from sshecret_backend.models import Client
 
@@ -20,13 +21,13 @@ def verify_token(token: str, stored_hash: str) -> bool:
 async def get_client_by_name(session: Session, name: str) -> Client | None:
     """Get client by name."""
     client_filter = select(Client).where(Client.name == name)
-    client_results = session.exec(client_filter)
+    client_results = session.scalars(client_filter)
     return client_results.first()
 
 async def get_client_by_id(session: Session, id: uuid.UUID) -> Client | None:
     """Get client by name."""
     client_filter = select(Client).where(Client.id == id)
-    client_results = session.exec(client_filter)
+    client_results = session.scalars(client_filter)
     return client_results.first()
 
 async def get_client_by_id_or_name(session: Session, id_or_name: str) -> Client | None:
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/policies.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/policies.py
index 8c7a89e..624d2ec 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/policies.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/policies.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 
 import logging
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException, Request
-from sqlmodel import Session, select
+from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from typing import Annotated
 
 from sshecret_backend.models import ClientAccessPolicy
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ def get_policy_api(get_db_session: DBSessionDep) -> APIRouter:
                 status_code=404, detail="Cannot find a client with the given name."
             )
         # Remove old policies.
-        policies = session.exec(
+        policies = session.scalars(
             select(ClientAccessPolicy).where(ClientAccessPolicy.client_id == client.id)
         ).all()
         deleted_policies: list[ClientAccessPolicy] = []
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/secrets.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/secrets.py
index fadb9ce..0808db4 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/secrets.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/api/secrets.py
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
 import logging
 from collections import defaultdict
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException, Request
-from sqlmodel import Session, select
+from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from typing import Annotated
 
 from sshecret_backend.models import Client, ClientSecret
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ async def lookup_client_secret(
         .where(ClientSecret.client_id == client.id)
         .where(ClientSecret.name == name)
     )
-    results = session.exec(statement)
+    results = session.scalars(statement)
     return results.first()
 
 
@@ -165,7 +166,7 @@ def get_secrets_api(get_db_session: DBSessionDep) -> APIRouter:
     ) -> list[ClientSecretList]:
         """Get a list of all secrets and which clients have them."""
         client_secret_map: defaultdict[str, list[str]] = defaultdict(list)
-        for client_secret in session.exec(select(ClientSecret)).all():
+        for client_secret in session.scalars(select(ClientSecret)).all():
             if not client_secret.client:
                 if client_secret.name not in client_secret_map:
                     client_secret_map[client_secret.name] = []
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@ def get_secrets_api(get_db_session: DBSessionDep) -> APIRouter:
     ) -> list[ClientSecretDetailList]:
         """Get a list of all secrets and which clients have them."""
         client_secrets: dict[str, ClientSecretDetailList] = {}
-        for client_secret in session.exec(select(ClientSecret)).all():
+        for client_secret in session.scalars(select(ClientSecret)).all():
 
             if client_secret.name not in client_secrets:
                 client_secrets[client_secret.name] = ClientSecretDetailList(name=client_secret.name)
@@ -202,7 +203,7 @@ def get_secrets_api(get_db_session: DBSessionDep) -> APIRouter:
     ) -> ClientSecretList:
         """Get a  list of which clients has a named secret."""
         clients: list[str] = []
-        for client_secret in session.exec(
+        for client_secret in session.scalars(
             select(ClientSecret).where(ClientSecret.name == name)
         ).all():
             if not client_secret.client:
@@ -219,7 +220,7 @@ def get_secrets_api(get_db_session: DBSessionDep) -> APIRouter:
     ) -> ClientSecretDetailList:
         """Get a  list of which clients has a named secret."""
         detail_list = ClientSecretDetailList(name=name)
-        for client_secret in session.exec(
+        for client_secret in session.scalars(
             select(ClientSecret).where(ClientSecret.name == name)
         ).all():
             if not client_secret.client:
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/audit.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/audit.py
index d369f63..3f0b0be 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/audit.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/audit.py
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 from fastapi import Request
-from sqlmodel import Session, select
+from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
-from .models import AuditLog, Client, ClientSecret, ClientAccessPolicy
+from .models import AuditLog, Client, ClientSecret, ClientAccessPolicy, Operation, SubSystem
 
 
 def _get_origin(request: Request) -> str | None:
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ def _write_audit_log(
     """Write the audit log."""
     origin = _get_origin(request)
     entry.origin = origin
-    entry.subsystem = "backend"
+    entry.subsystem = SubSystem.BACKEND
     session.add(entry)
     if commit:
         session.commit()
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ def audit_create_client(
 ) -> None:
     """Log the creation of a client."""
     entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="CREATE",
+        operation=Operation.CREATE,
         client_id=client.id,
         client_name=client.name,
         message="Client Created",
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ def audit_delete_client(
 ) -> None:
     """Log the creation of a client."""
     entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="CREATE",
+        operation=Operation.CREATE,
         client_id=client.id,
         client_name=client.name,
         message="Client deleted",
@@ -63,9 +64,9 @@ def audit_create_secret(
 ) -> None:
     """Audit a create secret event."""
     entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="CREATE",
-        object="ClientSecret",
-        object_id=str(secret.id),
+        operation=Operation.CREATE,
+        secret_id=secret.id,
+        secret_name=secret.name,
         client_id=client.id,
         client_name=client.name,
         message="Added secret to client",
@@ -81,13 +82,13 @@ def audit_remove_policy(
     commit: bool = True,
 ) -> None:
     """Audit removal of policy."""
+    data = {"object": "ClientAccessPolicy", "object_id": str(policy.id)}
     entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="DELETE",
-        object="ClientAccessPolicy",
-        object_id=str(policy.id),
+        operation=Operation.DELETE,
         client_id=client.id,
         client_name=client.name,
         message="Deleted client policy",
+        data=data,
     )
     _write_audit_log(session, request, entry, commit)
 
@@ -100,13 +101,13 @@ def audit_update_policy(
     commit: bool = True,
 ) -> None:
     """Audit update of policy."""
+    data: dict[str, str] = {"object": "ClientAccessPolicy", "object_id": str(policy.id)}
     entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="CREATE",
-        object="ClientAccessPolicy",
-        object_id=str(policy.id),
-        client_id=client.id,
+        operation=Operation.CREATE,
         client_name=client.name,
+        client_id=client.id,
         message="Updated client policy",
+        data=data,
     )
     _write_audit_log(session, request, entry, commit)
 
@@ -119,11 +120,10 @@ def audit_update_client(
 ) -> None:
     """Audit an update secret event."""
     entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="UPDATE",
-        object="Client",
+        operation=Operation.UPDATE,
         client_id=client.id,
         client_name=client.name,
-        message="Client updated",
+        message="Client data updated",
     )
     _write_audit_log(session, request, entry, commit)
 
@@ -137,11 +137,11 @@ def audit_update_secret(
 ) -> None:
     """Audit an update secret event."""
     entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="UPDATE",
-        object="ClientSecret",
-        object_id=str(secret.id),
+        operation=Operation.UPDATE,
         client_id=client.id,
         client_name=client.name,
+        secret_name=secret.name,
+        secret_id=secret.id,
         message="Secret value updated",
     )
     _write_audit_log(session, request, entry, commit)
@@ -155,8 +155,7 @@ def audit_invalidate_secrets(
 ) -> None:
     """Audit Invalidate client secrets."""
     entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="INVALIDATE",
-        object="ClientSecret",
+        operation=Operation.UPDATE,
         client_name=client.name,
         client_id=client.id,
         message="Client public-key changed. All secrets invalidated.",
@@ -173,9 +172,9 @@ def audit_delete_secret(
 ) -> None:
     """Audit Delete client secrets."""
     entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="DELETE",
-        object="ClientSecret",
-        object_id=str(secret.id),
+        operation=Operation.DELETE,
+        secret_name=secret.name,
+        secret_id=secret.id,
         client_name=client.name,
         client_id=client.id,
         message="Deleted secret.",
@@ -195,7 +194,7 @@ def audit_access_secrets(
     With no secrets provided, all secrets of the client will be resolved.
     """
     if not secrets:
-        secrets = session.exec(
+        secrets = session.scalars(
             select(ClientSecret).where(ClientSecret.client_id == client.id)
         ).all()
 
@@ -215,37 +214,21 @@ def audit_access_secret(
 ) -> None:
     """Audit that someone accessed one secrets."""
     entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="ACCESS",
+        operation=Operation.READ,
         message="Secret was viewed",
-        object="ClientSecret",
-        object_id=str(secret.id),
+        secret_name=secret.name,
+        secret_id=secret.id,
         client_id=client.id,
         client_name=client.name,
     )
     _write_audit_log(session, request, entry, commit)
 
-
-def audit_access_audit_log(
-    session: Session, request: Request, commit: bool = True
-) -> None:
-    """Audit access to the audit log.
-
-    Because why not...
-    """
-    entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="ACCESS",
-        message="Audit log was viewed",
-        object="AuditLog",
-    )
-    _write_audit_log(session, request, entry, commit)
-
-
 def audit_client_secret_list(
     session: Session, request: Request, commit: bool = True
 ) -> None:
     """Audit a list of all secrets."""
     entry = AuditLog(
-        operation="ACCESS",
+        operation=Operation.READ,
         message="All secret names and their clients was viewed",
     )
     _write_audit_log(session, request, entry, commit)
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/backend_api.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/backend_api.py
index 43a2563..aca6a52 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/backend_api.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/backend_api.py
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
 import logging
 from typing import Annotated
 
-import bcrypt
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, Header, HTTPException
-from sqlmodel import Session, select
-
+from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from .api import get_audit_api, get_clients_api, get_policy_api, get_secrets_api
+from .auth import verify_token
 from .models import (
     APIClient,
 )
@@ -18,13 +18,6 @@ LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 API_VERSION = "v1"
 
 
-def verify_token(token: str, stored_hash: str) -> bool:
-    """Verify token."""
-    token_bytes = token.encode("utf-8")
-    stored_bytes = stored_hash.encode("utf-8")
-    return bcrypt.checkpw(token_bytes, stored_bytes)
-
-
 def get_backend_api(
     get_db_session: DBSessionDep,
 ) -> APIRouter:
@@ -37,7 +30,7 @@ def get_backend_api(
         """Validate token."""
         LOG.debug("Validating token %s", x_api_token)
         statement = select(APIClient)
-        results = session.exec(statement)
+        results = session.scalars(statement)
         valid = False
         for result in results:
             if verify_token(x_api_token, result.token):
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/cli.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/cli.py
index 956bad4..1eda37f 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/cli.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/cli.py
@@ -3,15 +3,24 @@
 import code
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import cast
-from dotenv import load_dotenv
+from typing import Literal, cast
+
 import click
-from sqlmodel import Session, col, func, select
 import uvicorn
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
-from .db import get_engine, create_api_token
-
-from .models import Client, ClientSecret, ClientAccessPolicy, AuditLog, APIClient, init_db
+from .db import create_api_token, get_engine, hash_token
+from .models import (
+    APIClient,
+    AuditLog,
+    Client,
+    ClientAccessPolicy,
+    ClientSecret,
+    SubSystem,
+    init_db,
+)
 from .settings import BackendSettings
 
 DEFAULT_LISTEN = "127.0.0.1"
@@ -21,22 +30,44 @@ WORKDIR = Path(os.getcwd())
 
 load_dotenv()
 
-def generate_token(settings: BackendSettings) -> str:
+
+def generate_token(
+    settings: BackendSettings, subsystem: Literal["admin", "sshd"]
+) -> str:
     """Generate a token."""
     engine = get_engine(settings.db_url)
     init_db(engine)
     with Session(engine) as session:
-        token = create_api_token(session, True)
+        token = create_api_token(session, subsystem)
     return token
 
-def count_tokens(settings: BackendSettings) -> int:
-    """Count the amount of tokens created."""
+
+def add_system_tokens(settings: BackendSettings) -> None:
+    """Add token for subsystems."""
+    if not settings.admin_token and not settings.sshd_token:
+        # Tokens should be generated manually.
+        return
+
     engine = get_engine(settings.db_url)
     init_db(engine)
+    tokens: list[tuple[str, SubSystem]] = []
+    if admin_token := settings.admin_token:
+        tokens.append((admin_token, SubSystem.ADMIN))
+    if sshd_token := settings.sshd_token:
+        tokens.append((sshd_token, SubSystem.SSHD))
     with Session(engine) as session:
-        count = session.exec(select(func.count("*")).select_from(APIClient)).one()
+        for token, subsystem in tokens:
+            hashed_token = hash_token(token)
+            if existing := session.scalars(
+                select(APIClient).where(APIClient.subsystem == subsystem)
+            ).first():
+                existing.token = hashed_token
+            else:
+                new_token = APIClient(token=hashed_token, subsystem=subsystem)
+                session.add(new_token)
 
-    return count
+        session.commit()
+    click.echo("Generated system tokens.")
 
 
 @click.group()
@@ -49,27 +80,30 @@ def cli(ctx: click.Context, database: str) -> None:
     else:
         settings = BackendSettings()
 
+    add_system_tokens(settings)
 
-    if settings.generate_initial_tokens:
-        if count_tokens(settings) == 0:
-            click.echo("Creating initial tokens for admin and sshd.")
-            admin_token = generate_token(settings)
-            sshd_token = generate_token(settings)
-            click.echo(f"Admin token: {admin_token}")
-            click.echo(f"SSHD token: {sshd_token}")
+    # if settings.generate_initial_tokens:
+    #     if count_tokens(settings) == 0:
+    #         click.echo("Creating initial tokens for admin and sshd.")
+    #         admin_token = generate_token(settings)
+    #         sshd_token = generate_token(settings)
+    #         click.echo(f"Admin token: {admin_token}")
+    #         click.echo(f"SSHD token: {sshd_token}")
 
     ctx.obj = settings
 
 
 @cli.command("generate-token")
+@click.argument("subsystem", type=click.Choice(["sshd", "admin"]))
 @click.pass_context
-def cli_generate_token(ctx: click.Context) -> None:
-    """Generate a token."""
+def cli_generate_token(ctx: click.Context, subsystem: Literal["sshd", "admin"]) -> None:
+    """Generate a token for a subsystem.."""
     settings = cast(BackendSettings, ctx.obj)
-    token = generate_token(settings)
+    token = generate_token(settings, subsystem)
     click.echo("Generated api token:")
     click.echo(token)
 
+
 @cli.command("run")
 @click.option("--host", default="127.0.0.1")
 @click.option("--port", default=8022, type=click.INT)
@@ -77,7 +111,10 @@ def cli_generate_token(ctx: click.Context) -> None:
 @click.option("--workers", type=click.INT)
 def cli_run(host: str, port: int, dev: bool, workers: int | None) -> None:
     """Run the server."""
-    uvicorn.run("sshecret_backend.main:app", host=host, port=port, reload=dev, workers=workers)
+    uvicorn.run(
+        "sshecret_backend.main:app", host=host, port=port, reload=dev, workers=workers
+    )
+
 
 @cli.command("repl")
 @click.pass_context
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/db.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/db.py
index 5840def..ff5a0e5 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/db.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/db.py
@@ -2,57 +2,109 @@
 
 import logging
 import secrets
+import sqlite3
+
 from collections.abc import Generator, Callable
-from pathlib import Path
-from sqlalchemy import Engine
-from sqlmodel import Session, create_engine, text
-import bcrypt
+from typing import Literal
+from sqlalchemy import create_engine, Engine, event, select
+from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import create_async_engine, AsyncEngine
+
+from sqlalchemy.orm import sessionmaker, Session
 
 from sqlalchemy.engine import URL
 
-
-from .models import APIClient
+from .auth import hash_token, verify_token
+from .models import APIClient, SubSystem
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def setup_database(
-    db_url: URL | str,
+    db_url: URL,
 ) -> tuple[Engine, Callable[[], Generator[Session, None, None]]]:
     """Setup database."""
 
-    engine = create_engine(db_url, echo=False)
-    with engine.connect() as connection:
-        connection.execute(text("PRAGMA foreign_keys=ON"))  # for SQLite only
+    engine = get_engine(db_url)
+    SessionLocal = sessionmaker(autocommit=False, autoflush=False, future=True)
 
     def get_db_session() -> Generator[Session, None, None]:
         """Get DB Session."""
-        with Session(engine) as session:
+        session = SessionLocal(bind=engine)
+        try:
             yield session
+        finally:
+            session.close()
 
     return engine, get_db_session
 
 
 def get_engine(url: URL, echo: bool = False) -> Engine:
     """Initialize the engine."""
-    engine = create_engine(url, echo=echo)
-    with engine.connect() as connection:
-        connection.execute(text("PRAGMA foreign_keys=ON"))  # for SQLite only
+    engine = create_engine(url, echo=echo, future=True)
+    if url.drivername.startswith("sqlite"):
+
+        @event.listens_for(engine, "connect")
+        def set_sqlite_pragma(
+            dbapi_connection: sqlite3.Connection, _connection_record: object
+        ) -> None:
+            cursor = dbapi_connection.cursor()
+            cursor.execute("PRAGMA foreign_keys=ON")
+            cursor.close()
 
     return engine
 
 
-def create_api_token(session: Session, read_write: bool) -> str:
-    """Create API token."""
-    token = secrets.token_urlsafe(32)
-    pwbytes = token.encode("utf-8")
-    salt = bcrypt.gensalt()
-    hashed_bytes = bcrypt.hashpw(password=pwbytes, salt=salt)
-    hashed = hashed_bytes.decode()
+def get_async_engine(url: URL, echo: bool = False) -> AsyncEngine:
+    """Get an async engine."""
+    engine = create_async_engine(url, echo=echo, future=True)
+    if url.drivername.startswith("sqlite+"):
+
+        @event.listens_for(engine, "connect")
+        def set_sqlite_pragma(
+            dbapi_connection: sqlite3.Connection, _connection_record: object
+        ) -> None:
+            cursor = dbapi_connection.cursor()
+            cursor.execute("PRAGMA foreign_keys=ON")
+            cursor.close()
+
+    return engine
+
+
+
+def create_api_token_with_value(session: Session, token: str, subsystem: Literal["admin", "sshd"]) -> None:
+    """Create API token with a given value."""
+
+    existing = session.scalars(select(APIClient).where(APIClient.subsystem == SubSystem(subsystem))).first()
+    if existing:
+        if verify_token(token, existing.token):
+            LOG.info("Token is up to date.")
+            return
+        LOG.info("Updating token value for subsystem %s", subsystem)
+        hashed = hash_token(token)
+        existing.token=hashed
+        session.commit()
+        return
+
+    LOG.info("No existing token found. Creating new")
+    hashed = hash_token(token)
+    api_token = APIClient(token=hashed, subsystem=SubSystem(subsystem))
 
-    api_token = APIClient(token=hashed, read_write=read_write)
     session.add(api_token)
     session.commit()
 
+def create_api_token(session: Session, subsystem: Literal["admin", "sshd", "test"], recreate: bool = False) -> str:
+    """Create API token."""
+    subsys = SubSystem(subsystem)
+    token = secrets.token_urlsafe(32)
+    hashed = hash_token(token)
+    if existing := session.scalars(select(APIClient).where(APIClient.subsystem == subsys)).first():
+        if not recreate:
+            raise RuntimeError("Error: A token already exist for this subsystem.")
+        existing.token = hashed
+    else:
+        api_token = APIClient(token=hashed, subsystem=subsys)
+        session.add(api_token)
+    session.commit()
+
     return token
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/models.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/models.py
index 4030e82..6eab429 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/models.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/models.py
@@ -7,128 +7,182 @@ This might require some changes to these schemas.
 
 """
 
+import enum
 import logging
 import uuid
 from datetime import datetime
+
 import sqlalchemy as sa
-from sqlmodel import JSON, Column, DateTime, Field, Relationship, SQLModel
+from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase, Mapped, mapped_column, relationship
+
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class Client(SQLModel, table=True):
-    """Client model."""
+class SubSystem(enum.StrEnum):
+    """Available subsystems."""
 
-    id: uuid.UUID = Field(default_factory=uuid.uuid4, primary_key=True)
-    name: str = Field(unique=True)
-    description: str | None = None
-    public_key: str
+    ADMIN = enum.auto()
+    SSHD = enum.auto()
+    BACKEND = enum.auto()
+    TEST = enum.auto()
 
-    created_at: datetime | None = Field(
-        default=None,
-        sa_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        sa_column_kwargs={"server_default": sa.func.now()},
-        nullable=False,
+
+class Operation(enum.StrEnum):
+    """Various operations for the audit logging module."""
+
+    CREATE = enum.auto()
+    READ = enum.auto()
+    UPDATE = enum.auto()
+    DELETE = enum.auto()
+    DENY = enum.auto()
+    PERMIT = enum.auto()
+    LOGIN = enum.auto()
+    REGISTER = enum.auto()
+    NONE = enum.auto()
+
+
+class Base(DeclarativeBase):
+    pass
+
+
+class Client(Base):
+    """Clients."""
+
+    __tablename__: str = "client"
+
+    id: Mapped[uuid.UUID] = mapped_column(
+        sa.Uuid(as_uuid=True), primary_key=True, default=uuid.uuid4
+    )
+    name: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(sa.String, unique=True)
+    description: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(sa.String, nullable=True)
+    public_key: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(sa.Text)
+
+    created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=sa.func.now(), nullable=False
     )
 
-    updated_at: datetime | None = Field(
-        default=None,
-        sa_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        sa_column_kwargs={"onupdate": sa.func.now(), "server_default": sa.func.now()},
+    updated_at: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+        server_default=sa.func.now(),
+        onupdate=sa.func.now(),
     )
 
-    secrets: list["ClientSecret"] = Relationship(
-        back_populates="client", passive_deletes="all"
+    secrets: Mapped[list["ClientSecret"]] = relationship(
+        back_populates="client", passive_deletes=True
     )
 
-    policies: list["ClientAccessPolicy"] = Relationship(back_populates="client")
+    policies: Mapped[list["ClientAccessPolicy"]] = relationship(back_populates="client")
 
 
-class ClientAccessPolicy(SQLModel, table=True):
+class ClientAccessPolicy(Base):
     """Client access policies."""
 
-    id: uuid.UUID = Field(default_factory=uuid.uuid4, primary_key=True)
-    source: str
-    client_id: uuid.UUID | None = Field(foreign_key="client.id", ondelete="CASCADE")
-    client: Client | None = Relationship(back_populates="policies")
+    __tablename__: str = "client_access_policy"
 
-    created_at: datetime | None = Field(
-        default=None,
-        sa_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        sa_column_kwargs={"server_default": sa.func.now()},
-        nullable=False,
+    id: Mapped[uuid.UUID] = mapped_column(
+        sa.Uuid(as_uuid=True), primary_key=True, default=uuid.uuid4
+    )
+    source: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(sa.String)
+    client_id: Mapped[uuid.UUID | None] = mapped_column(
+        sa.Uuid(as_uuid=True), sa.ForeignKey("client.id", ondelete="CASCADE")
+    )
+    client: Mapped[Client] = relationship(back_populates="policies")
+
+    created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=sa.func.now(), nullable=False
     )
 
-    updated_at: datetime | None = Field(
-        default=None,
-        sa_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        sa_column_kwargs={"onupdate": sa.func.now(), "server_default": sa.func.now()},
+    updated_at: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+        server_default=sa.func.now(),
+        onupdate=sa.func.now(),
     )
 
 
-class ClientSecret(SQLModel, table=True):
+class ClientSecret(Base):
     """A client secret."""
 
-    id: uuid.UUID = Field(default_factory=uuid.uuid4, primary_key=True)
-    name: str
-    description: str | None = None
-    client_id: uuid.UUID | None = Field(foreign_key="client.id", ondelete="CASCADE")
-    client: Client | None = Relationship(back_populates="secrets")
-    secret: str
-    invalidated: bool = Field(default=False)
-    created_at: datetime | None = Field(
-        default=None,
-        sa_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        sa_column_kwargs={"server_default": sa.func.now()},
-        nullable=False,
+    __tablename__: str = "client_secret"
+
+    id: Mapped[uuid.UUID] = mapped_column(
+        sa.Uuid(as_uuid=True), primary_key=True, default=uuid.uuid4
+    )
+    name: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(sa.String)
+    description: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(sa.String, nullable=True)
+    secret: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(sa.String)
+
+    client_id: Mapped[uuid.UUID | None] = mapped_column(
+        sa.Uuid(as_uuid=True), sa.ForeignKey("client.id", ondelete="CASCADE")
+    )
+    client: Mapped[Client] = relationship(back_populates="secrets")
+    invalidated: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(default=False)
+
+    created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=sa.func.now(), nullable=False
     )
 
-    updated_at: datetime | None = Field(
-        default=None,
-        sa_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        sa_column_kwargs={"onupdate": sa.func.now(), "server_default": sa.func.now()},
+    updated_at: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+        server_default=sa.func.now(),
+        onupdate=sa.func.now(),
     )
 
 
-class AuditLog(SQLModel, table=True):
+class APIClient(Base):
+    """A client on the API.
+
+    This should eventually get more granular permissions.
+    """
+
+    __tablename__: str = "api_client"
+
+    id: Mapped[uuid.UUID] = mapped_column(
+        sa.Uuid(as_uuid=True), primary_key=True, default=uuid.uuid4
+    )
+    subsystem: Mapped[SubSystem | None] = mapped_column(sa.String, nullable=True)
+    token: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(sa.String)
+    created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=sa.func.now(), nullable=False
+    )
+    updated_at: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+        server_default=sa.func.now(),
+        onupdate=sa.func.now(),
+    )
+
+
+class AuditLog(Base):
     """Audit log.
 
     This is implemented without any foreign keys to avoid losing data on
     deletions.
     """
 
-    id: uuid.UUID = Field(default_factory=uuid.uuid4, primary_key=True)
-    subsystem: str
-    message: str
-    operation: str
-    client_id: uuid.UUID | None = None
-    client_name: str | None = None
-    origin: str | None = None
-    Field(default=None, sa_column=Column(JSON))
-
-    timestamp: datetime | None = Field(
-        default=None,
-        sa_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        sa_column_kwargs={"server_default": sa.func.now()},
-        nullable=False,
+    __tablename__: str = "audit_log"
+    id: Mapped[uuid.UUID] = mapped_column(
+        sa.Uuid(as_uuid=True), primary_key=True, default=uuid.uuid4
     )
 
+    subsystem: Mapped[SubSystem] = mapped_column(sa.String)
+    message: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(sa.String)
+    operation: Mapped[Operation] = mapped_column(sa.String)
+    client_id: Mapped[uuid.UUID | None] = mapped_column(
+        sa.Uuid(as_uuid=True), nullable=True
+    )
+    data: Mapped[dict[str, str] | None] = mapped_column(sa.JSON, nullable=True)
+    client_name: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(sa.String, nullable=True)
+    secret_id: Mapped[uuid.UUID | None] = mapped_column(
+        sa.Uuid(as_uuid=True), nullable=True
+    )
+    secret_name: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(sa.String, nullable=True)
 
-class APIClient(SQLModel, table=True):
-    """Stores API Keys."""
-
-    id: uuid.UUID = Field(default_factory=uuid.uuid4, primary_key=True)
-    token: str
-    read_write: bool
-    created_at: datetime | None = Field(
-        default=None,
-        sa_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        sa_column_kwargs={"server_default": sa.func.now()},
-        nullable=False,
+    origin: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(sa.String, nullable=True)
+    timestamp: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=sa.func.now(), nullable=False
     )
 
 
 def init_db(engine: sa.Engine) -> None:
-    """Create database."""
-    LOG.info("Running init_db")
-    SQLModel.metadata.create_all(engine)
+    """Initialize database."""
+    Base.metadata.create_all(engine)
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/settings.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/settings.py
index 7159fe5..0ddb63e 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/settings.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/settings.py
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 """Settings management."""
 
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Annotated, Any
-from pydantic import Field, field_validator
+from pydantic import Field
 from pydantic_settings import (
     BaseSettings,
     SettingsConfigDict,
-    ForceDecode,
 )
 from sqlalchemy import URL
 
@@ -22,24 +20,19 @@ class BackendSettings(BaseSettings):
     )
 
     database: str = Field(default=DEFAULT_DATABASE)
-    generate_initial_tokens: Annotated[bool, ForceDecode] = Field(default=False)
-
-    @field_validator("generate_initial_tokens", mode="before")
-    @classmethod
-    def cast_bool(cls, value: Any) -> bool:
-        """Ensure we catch the boolean."""
-        if isinstance(value, str):
-            if value.lower() in ("1", "true", "on"):
-                return True
-            if value.lower() in ("0", "false", "off"):
-                return False
-        return bool(value)
+    admin_token: str | None = Field(default=None, alias="sshecret_admin_backend_token")
+    sshd_token: str | None = Field(default=None, alias="sshecret_sshd_backend_token")
 
     @property
     def db_url(self) -> URL:
         """Construct database url."""
         return URL.create(drivername="sqlite", database=self.database)
 
+    @property
+    def async_db_url(self) -> URL:
+        """Construct database url with sync handling."""
+        return URL.create(drivername="sqlite+aiosqlite", database=self.database)
+
     @property
     def db_exists(self) -> bool:
         """Check if databatase exists."""
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/testing.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/testing.py
index cae9ba6..f18664f 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/testing.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/testing.py
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 """Test helpers."""
 
 import logging
-from sqlmodel import Session
 from sshecret_backend.settings import BackendSettings
+
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from .models import init_db
 from .db import create_api_token, setup_database
 
@@ -14,4 +15,4 @@ def create_test_token(settings: BackendSettings) -> str:
     engine, _setupdb = setup_database(settings.db_url)
     with Session(engine) as session:
         init_db(engine)
-        return create_api_token(session, True)
+        return create_api_token(session, "test")
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/types.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/types.py
index c2cec04..39ba47b 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/types.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/types.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from collections.abc import Callable, Generator
 
-from sqlmodel import Session
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
 
 DBSessionDep = Callable[[], Generator[Session, None, None]]
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/view_models.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/view_models.py
index c9cb847..cc92384 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/view_models.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/src/sshecret_backend/view_models.py
@@ -4,15 +4,14 @@ import uuid
 from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Annotated, Self, override
 
-from sqlmodel import Field, SQLModel
-from pydantic import AfterValidator, IPvAnyAddress, IPvAnyNetwork
+from pydantic import AfterValidator, BaseModel, Field, IPvAnyAddress, IPvAnyNetwork
 
 from sshecret.crypto import public_key_validator
 
 from . import models
 
 
-class ClientView(SQLModel):
+class ClientView(BaseModel):
     """View for a single client."""
 
     id: uuid.UUID
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ class ClientView(SQLModel):
         return view
 
 
-class ClientQueryResult(SQLModel):
+class ClientQueryResult(BaseModel):
     """Result class for queries towards the client list."""
 
     clients: list[ClientView] = Field(default_factory=list)
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ class ClientQueryResult(SQLModel):
     remaining_results: int
 
 
-class ClientCreate(SQLModel):
+class ClientCreate(BaseModel):
     """Model to create a client."""
 
     name: str
@@ -74,19 +73,19 @@ class ClientCreate(SQLModel):
         )
 
 
-class ClientUpdate(SQLModel):
+class ClientUpdate(BaseModel):
     """Model to update the client public key."""
 
     public_key: Annotated[str, AfterValidator(public_key_validator)]
 
 
-class BodyValue(SQLModel):
+class BodyValue(BaseModel):
     """A generic model with just a value parameter."""
 
     value: str
 
 
-class ClientSecretPublic(SQLModel):
+class ClientSecretPublic(BaseModel):
     """Public model to manage client secrets."""
 
     name: str
@@ -122,7 +121,7 @@ class ClientSecretResponse(ClientSecretPublic):
         )
 
 
-class ClientPolicyView(SQLModel):
+class ClientPolicyView(BaseModel):
     """Update object for client policy."""
 
     sources: list[str] = ["0.0.0.0/0", "::/0"]
@@ -135,27 +134,27 @@ class ClientPolicyView(SQLModel):
         return cls(sources=[policy.source for policy in client.policies])
 
 
-class ClientPolicyUpdate(SQLModel):
+class ClientPolicyUpdate(BaseModel):
     """Model for updating policies."""
 
     sources: list[IPvAnyAddress | IPvAnyNetwork]
 
 
-class ClientSecretList(SQLModel):
+class ClientSecretList(BaseModel):
     """Model for aggregating identically named secrets."""
 
     name: str
     clients: list[str]
 
 
-class ClientReference(SQLModel):
+class ClientReference(BaseModel):
     """Reference to a client."""
 
     id: str
     name: str
 
 
-class ClientSecretDetailList(SQLModel):
+class ClientSecretDetailList(BaseModel):
     """A more detailed version of the ClientSecretList."""
 
     name: str
@@ -163,7 +162,22 @@ class ClientSecretDetailList(SQLModel):
     clients: list[ClientReference] = Field(default_factory=list)
 
 
-class AuditInfo(SQLModel):
+class AuditView(BaseModel):
+    """Audit log view."""
+
+
+    id: uuid.UUID | None = None
+    subsystem: models.SubSystem
+    message: str
+    operation: models.Operation
+    data: dict[str, str] | None = None
+    client_id: uuid.UUID | None = None
+    client_name: str | None = None
+    origin: str | None = None
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None
+
+
+class AuditInfo(BaseModel):
     """Information about audit information."""
 
     entries: int
diff --git a/packages/sshecret-backend/tests/test_backend.py b/packages/sshecret-backend/tests/test_backend.py
index 69c7dc0..fc6031c 100644
--- a/packages/sshecret-backend/tests/test_backend.py
+++ b/packages/sshecret-backend/tests/test_backend.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
 from sshecret.crypto import generate_private_key, generate_public_key_string
 from sshecret_backend.app import create_backend_app
 from sshecret_backend.testing import create_test_token
-from sshecret_backend.models import AuditLog
+from sshecret_backend.view_models import AuditView
 from sshecret_backend.settings import BackendSettings
 
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def create_client_fixture(tmp_path: Path):
 
     db_file = tmp_path / "backend.db"
     print(f"DB File: {db_file.absolute()}")
-    settings = BackendSettings(db_url=f"sqlite:///{db_file.absolute()}")
+    settings = BackendSettings(database=str(db_file.absolute()))
     app = create_backend_app(settings)
 
     token = create_test_token(settings)
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ def test_audit_logging(test_client: TestClient) -> None:
     assert len(audit_logs) > 0
     for entry in audit_logs:
         # Let's try to reassemble the objects
-        audit_log = AuditLog.model_validate(entry)
+        audit_log = AuditView.model_validate(entry)
         assert audit_log is not None
 
 
@@ -522,9 +522,8 @@ def test_operations_with_id(test_client: TestClient) -> None:
 def test_write_audit_log(test_client: TestClient) -> None:
     """Test writing to the audit log."""
     params = {
-        "object": "Test",
-        "operation": "TEST",
-        "object_id": "Something",
+        "subsystem": "backend",
+        "operation": "read",
         "message": "Test Message"
     }
     resp = test_client.post("/api/v1/audit", json=params)
diff --git a/src/sshecret/backend/__init__.py b/src/sshecret/backend/__init__.py
index be1b7d5..619e3d1 100644
--- a/src/sshecret/backend/__init__.py
+++ b/src/sshecret/backend/__init__.py
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@ from .models import (
     ClientReference,
     ClientSecret,
     DetailedSecrets,
+    Operation,
     Policy,
     Secret,
+    SubSystem,
     FilterType,
 )
 
@@ -22,7 +24,9 @@ __all__ = [
     "ClientSecret",
     "DetailedSecrets",
     "FilterType",
+    "Operation",
     "Policy",
     "Secret",
+    "SubSystem",
     "SshecretBackend",
 ]
diff --git a/src/sshecret/backend/api.py b/src/sshecret/backend/api.py
index c35db51..7125c48 100644
--- a/src/sshecret/backend/api.py
+++ b/src/sshecret/backend/api.py
@@ -1,21 +1,26 @@
 """Backend client.
 
+This is an API calling the HTTP API of the sshecret-backend package so that the
+admin and sshd library do not need to implement the same
 """
 
 import logging
-from typing import Any, Self
+from typing import Any, Self, override
 import httpx
 
 from pydantic import TypeAdapter
 
 from .models import (
+    AuditInfo,
     AuditLog,
     Client,
     ClientSecret,
     ClientQueryResult,
     ClientFilter,
     DetailedSecrets,
+    Operation,
     Secret,
+    SubSystem,
 )
 from .exceptions import BackendValidationError, BackendConnectionError
 from .utils import validate_public_key
@@ -84,12 +89,14 @@ class ClientQueryIterator:
         raise StopAsyncIteration
 
 
-class SshecretBackend:
-    """Backend interface."""
+class BaseBackend:
+    """Base backend class."""
 
     def __init__(self, backend_url: str, api_token: str) -> None:
         """Initialize backend client."""
 
+        self._backend_url: str = backend_url
+        self._api_token: str = api_token
         url = httpx.URL(backend_url)
 
         self.http_client: httpx.AsyncClient = httpx.AsyncClient(
@@ -101,31 +108,55 @@ class SshecretBackend:
             base_url=url,
         )
 
-    async def _get(self, path: str) -> httpx.Response:
+    def _handle_response(self, response: httpx.Response) -> httpx.Response:
+        """Handle response."""
+        LOG.debug("Handling response with status_code %s", response.status_code)
+        if response.status_code == 422:
+            LOG.error("Validation error from backend:\n%s", response.text)
+            raise BackendValidationError(response.text)
+        if response.status_code != 404 and str(response.status_code).startswith("4"):
+            raise BackendConnectionError("Error from backend: %s", response.text)
+
+        return response
+
+    async def _get(
+        self, path: str, params: dict[str, str] | None = None
+    ) -> httpx.Response:
         """Perform a get request."""
         try:
-            return await self.http_client.get(path)
+            response = await self.http_client.get(path, params=params)
+            return self._handle_response(response)
         except httpx.ConnectError as e:
-            raise BackendConnectionError() from e
+            raise BackendConnectionError("Could not connect to backend.") from e
 
     async def _delete(self, path: str) -> httpx.Response:
         """Perform a delete request."""
         try:
-            return await self.http_client.delete(path)
+            response = await self.http_client.delete(path)
+            return self._handle_response(response)
         except httpx.ConnectError as e:
             raise BackendConnectionError() from e
 
     async def _post(self, path: str, json: Any | None = None) -> httpx.Response:
         """Perform a POST request."""
         try:
-            return await self.http_client.post(path, json=json)
+            response = await self.http_client.post(path, json=json)
+            return self._handle_response(response)
+        except httpx.ConnectError as e:
+            raise BackendConnectionError() from e
+
+    def _post_sync(self, path: str, json: Any | None = None) -> httpx.Response:
+        """Perform a synchronous post request."""
+        try:
+            return self._handle_response(self.sync_client.post(path, json=json))
         except httpx.ConnectError as e:
             raise BackendConnectionError() from e
 
     async def _put(self, path: str, json: Any | None = None) -> httpx.Response:
         """Perform a PUT request."""
         try:
-            return await self.http_client.put(path, json=json)
+            response = await self.http_client.put(path, json=json)
+            return self._handle_response(response)
         except httpx.ConnectError as e:
             raise BackendConnectionError() from e
 
@@ -134,175 +165,90 @@ class SshecretBackend:
         response = await self._get(path)
         return response
 
-    async def create_client(
-        self, name: str, public_key: str, description: str | None = None
+
+class AuditAPI(BaseBackend):
+    """API for the audit logging."""
+
+    @override
+    def __init__(self, backend_url: str, api_token: str, subsystem: str) -> None:
+        """Initialize backend client."""
+        super().__init__(backend_url, api_token)
+        self.subsystem: SubSystem = SubSystem(subsystem)
+
+    def _create_model(
+        self,
+        operation: Operation,
+        message: str,
+        origin: str,
+        client: Client | None = None,
+        secret: ClientSecret | None = None,
+        secret_name: str | None = None,
+        data: dict[str, str] | None = None,
+    ) -> AuditLog:
+        """Create the audit log object."""
+        model = AuditLog(
+            subsystem=self.subsystem,
+            operation=operation,
+            message=message,
+            origin=origin,
+        )
+        if client:
+            model.client_id = str(client.id) or None
+            model.client_name = client.name
+
+        if secret:
+            model.secret_name = secret.name
+        elif secret_name:
+            model.secret_name = secret_name
+        if data:
+            model.data = data
+
+        return model
+
+    def write_model(self, model: AuditLog) -> None:
+        """Write model."""
+        path = f"/api/v1/audit/"
+        self.sync_client.post(path, json=model.model_dump())
+
+    async def write_model_async(self, model: AuditLog) -> None:
+        """Write model async."""
+        path = f"/api/v1/audit/"
+        await self._post(path, json=model.model_dump())
+
+    def write(
+        self,
+        operation: Operation,
+        message: str,
+        origin: str,
+        client: Client | None = None,
+        secret: ClientSecret | None = None,
+        secret_name: str | None = None,
+        **data: str,
     ) -> None:
-        """Register a new client."""
-        if not validate_public_key(public_key):
-            raise BackendValidationError("Error: Invalid public key format.")
-        data = {
-            "name": name,
-            "public_key": public_key,
-        }
-        if description:
-            data["description"] = description
-        path = "/api/v1/clients/"
-        response = await self._post(path, json=data)
+        """Write an audit entry."""
+        model = self._create_model(
+            operation, message, origin, client, secret, secret_name, data
+        )
 
-        response.raise_for_status()
+        self.write_model(model)
 
-    async def get_clients(self, filter: ClientFilter | None = None) -> list[Client]:
-        """Get all clients."""
-        clients: list[Client] = []
-        async for client in ClientQueryIterator(self.http_client, filter):
-            clients.append(client)
-
-        return clients
-
-    async def get_client(self, name: str) -> Client | None:
-        """Lookup a client on username."""
-        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{name}"
-        response = await self.request(path)
-        if response.status_code == 404:
-            return None
-        response.raise_for_status()
-        client = Client.model_validate(response.json())
-        return client
-
-    async def get_client_by_id(self, id: str) -> Client | None:
-        """Lookup a client on username."""
-        path = f"/api/v1/clients/id/{id}"
-        response = await self.request(path)
-        if response.status_code == 404:
-            return None
-        response.raise_for_status()
-        client = Client.model_validate(response.json())
-        return client
-
-    async def delete_client(self, client_name: str) -> None:
-        """Delete a client."""
-        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{client_name}"
-        response = await self._delete(path)
-
-        response.raise_for_status()
-
-    async def delete_client_by_id(self, id: str) -> None:
-        """Delete a client."""
-        path = f"/api/v1/clients/id/{id}"
-        response = await self._delete(path)
-
-        response.raise_for_status()
-
-    async def create_client_secret(
-        self, client_name: str, secret_name: str, encrypted_secret: str
+    async def write_async(
+        self,
+        operation: Operation,
+        message: str,
+        origin: str,
+        client: Client | None = None,
+        secret: ClientSecret | None = None,
+        secret_name: str | None = None,
+        **data: str,
     ) -> None:
-        """Create a secret.
+        """Write an audit entry."""
+        model = self._create_model(
+            operation, message, origin, client, secret, secret_name, data
+        )
+        await self.write_model_async(model)
 
-        This will overwrite any existing secret with that name.
-        """
-        path = f"api/v1/clients/{client_name}/secrets/{secret_name}"
-        response = await self._put(path, json={"value": encrypted_secret})
-
-        response.raise_for_status()
-
-    async def get_client_secret(self, name: str, secret_name: str) -> str:
-        """Fetch a secret."""
-        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{name}/secrets/{secret_name}"
-        response = await self.request(path)
-        response.raise_for_status()
-        secret = ClientSecret.model_validate(response.json())
-        return secret.secret
-
-    async def delete_client_secret(self, client_name: str, secret_name: str) -> None:
-        """Delete a secret from a client."""
-        path = f"api/v1/clients/{client_name}/secrets/{secret_name}"
-        response = await self._delete(path)
-
-        response.raise_for_status()
-
-    async def update_client(self, client: Client) -> Client:
-        """Update the client."""
-        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{client.name}"
-        client_update = {
-            "name": client.name,
-            "description": client.description,
-            "public_key": client.public_key,
-        }
-        response = await self._put(path, json=client_update)
-        LOG.info("Response %s", response.text)
-
-        response.raise_for_status()
-        if client.policies:
-            await self.update_client_sources(
-                str(client.id), [str(source) for source in client.policies]
-            )
-        return client
-
-    async def update_client_key(self, client_name: str, public_key: str) -> None:
-        """Update the client key."""
-        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{client_name}/public-key"
-        response = await self._post(path, json={"public_key": public_key})
-
-        response.raise_for_status()
-
-    async def update_client_sources(
-        self, client_name: str, addresses: list[str] | None
-    ) -> None:
-        """Update client source addresses.
-
-        Pass None to sources to allow from all.
-        """
-        if not addresses:
-            addresses = []
-
-        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{client_name}/policies/"
-        response = await self._put(path, json={"sources": addresses})
-
-        response.raise_for_status()
-
-    async def get_detailed_secrets(self) -> list[DetailedSecrets]:
-        """Get detailed list of secrets."""
-        path = "/api/v1/secrets/detailed/"
-        response = await self._get(path)
-        response.raise_for_status()
-
-        secret_list = TypeAdapter(list[DetailedSecrets])
-        return secret_list.validate_python(response.json())
-
-    async def get_secrets(self) -> list[Secret]:
-        """Get Secrets.
-
-        This provides a list of secret names and which clients have them.
-        """
-        path = "/api/v1/secrets/"
-        response = await self._get(path)
-
-        response.raise_for_status()
-
-        secret_list = TypeAdapter(list[Secret])
-        return secret_list.validate_python(response.json())
-
-    async def get_secret(self, name: str) -> Secret | None:
-        """Get clients mapped to a single secret."""
-        path = f"/api/v1/secrets/{name}"
-        response = await self._get(path)
-        if response.status_code == 404:
-            return None
-        response.raise_for_status()
-
-        return Secret.model_validate(response.json())
-
-    async def get_detailed_secret(self, name: str) -> DetailedSecrets | None:
-        """Get clients mapped to a single secret."""
-        path = f"/api/v1/secrets/{name}/detailed"
-        response = await self._get(path)
-        if response.status_code == 404:
-            return None
-        response.raise_for_status()
-
-        return DetailedSecrets.model_validate(response.json())
-
-    async def get_audit_log(
+    async def get(
         self,
         offset: int = 0,
         limit: int = 100,
@@ -321,30 +267,169 @@ class SshecretBackend:
         if subsystem:
             params["filter_subsystem"] = subsystem
 
-        response = await self.http_client.get(path, params=params)
-        response.raise_for_status()
+        response = await self._get(path, params=params)
         audit_log_adapter = TypeAdapter(list[AuditLog])
         return audit_log_adapter.validate_python(response.json())
 
-    async def add_audit_log(self, entry: AuditLog) -> None:
-        """Add audit log entry."""
-        path = f"/api/v1/audit/"
-
-        response = await self.http_client.post(path, json=entry.model_dump())
-        response.raise_for_status()
-
-    async def get_audit_log_count(self) -> int:
+    async def count(self) -> int:
         """Get amount of messages in the audit log."""
         path = f"/api/v1/audit/info"
         response = await self._get(path)
-        response.raise_for_status()
-        data = response.json()
-        return int(data["entries"])
+        audit_info = AuditInfo.model_validate(response.json())
+        return audit_info.entries
 
-    def add_audit_log_sync(self, entry: AuditLog) -> None:
-        """Add audit log entry."""
-        path = f"/api/v1/audit/"
-        LOG.info("AUDIT LOG SYNC %r", entry)
 
-        response = self.sync_client.post(path, json=entry.model_dump())
-        response.raise_for_status()
+class SshecretBackend(BaseBackend):
+    """Backend interface."""
+
+    async def create_client(
+        self, name: str, public_key: str, description: str | None = None
+    ) -> None:
+        """Register a new client."""
+        if not validate_public_key(public_key):
+            raise BackendValidationError("Error: Invalid public key format.")
+        data = {
+            "name": name,
+            "public_key": public_key,
+        }
+        if description:
+            data["description"] = description
+        path = "/api/v1/clients/"
+        response = await self._post(path, json=data)
+
+    async def get_clients(self, filter: ClientFilter | None = None) -> list[Client]:
+        """Get all clients."""
+        clients: list[Client] = []
+        async for client in ClientQueryIterator(self.http_client, filter):
+            clients.append(client)
+
+        return clients
+
+    async def get_client(self, name: str) -> Client | None:
+        """Lookup a client on username."""
+        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{name}"
+        response = await self._get(path)
+        if response.status_code == 404:
+            return None
+        client = Client.model_validate(response.json())
+        return client
+
+    async def get_client_by_id(self, id: str) -> Client | None:
+        """Lookup a client on username."""
+        path = f"/api/v1/clients/id/{id}"
+        response = await self._get(path)
+        if response.status_code == 404:
+            return None
+        client = Client.model_validate(response.json())
+        return client
+
+    async def delete_client(self, client_name: str) -> None:
+        """Delete a client."""
+        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{client_name}"
+        response = await self._delete(path)
+
+    async def delete_client_by_id(self, id: str) -> None:
+        """Delete a client."""
+        path = f"/api/v1/clients/id/{id}"
+        response = await self._delete(path)
+
+    async def create_client_secret(
+        self, client_name: str, secret_name: str, encrypted_secret: str
+    ) -> None:
+        """Create a secret.
+
+        This will overwrite any existing secret with that name.
+        """
+        path = f"api/v1/clients/{client_name}/secrets/{secret_name}"
+        response = await self._put(path, json={"value": encrypted_secret})
+
+    async def get_client_secret(self, name: str, secret_name: str) -> str | None:
+        """Fetch a secret."""
+        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{name}/secrets/{secret_name}"
+        response = await self._get(path)
+        if response.status_code == 404:
+            return None
+        secret = ClientSecret.model_validate(response.json())
+        return secret.secret
+
+    async def delete_client_secret(self, client_name: str, secret_name: str) -> None:
+        """Delete a secret from a client."""
+        path = f"api/v1/clients/{client_name}/secrets/{secret_name}"
+        await self._delete(path)
+
+    async def update_client(self, client: Client) -> Client:
+        """Update the client."""
+        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{client.name}"
+        client_update = {
+            "name": client.name,
+            "description": client.description,
+            "public_key": client.public_key,
+        }
+        response = await self._put(path, json=client_update)
+        LOG.info("Response %s", response.text)
+
+        if client.policies:
+            await self.update_client_sources(
+                str(client.id), [str(source) for source in client.policies]
+            )
+        return client
+
+    async def update_client_key(self, client_name: str, public_key: str) -> None:
+        """Update the client key."""
+        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{client_name}/public-key"
+        await self._post(path, json={"public_key": public_key})
+
+    async def update_client_sources(
+        self, client_name: str, addresses: list[str] | None
+    ) -> None:
+        """Update client source addresses.
+
+        Pass None to sources to allow from all.
+        """
+        if not addresses:
+            addresses = []
+
+        path = f"/api/v1/clients/{client_name}/policies/"
+        await self._put(path, json={"sources": addresses})
+
+    async def get_detailed_secrets(self) -> list[DetailedSecrets]:
+        """Get detailed list of secrets."""
+        path = "/api/v1/secrets/detailed/"
+        response = await self._get(path)
+
+        secret_list = TypeAdapter(list[DetailedSecrets])
+        return secret_list.validate_python(response.json())
+
+    async def get_secrets(self) -> list[Secret]:
+        """Get Secrets.
+
+        This provides a list of secret names and which clients have them.
+        """
+        path = "/api/v1/secrets/"
+        response = await self._get(path)
+
+        secret_list = TypeAdapter(list[Secret])
+        return secret_list.validate_python(response.json())
+
+    async def get_secret(self, name: str) -> Secret | None:
+        """Get clients mapped to a single secret."""
+        path = f"/api/v1/secrets/{name}"
+        response = await self._get(path)
+        if response.status_code == 404:
+            return None
+
+        return Secret.model_validate(response.json())
+
+    async def get_detailed_secret(self, name: str) -> DetailedSecrets | None:
+        """Get clients mapped to a single secret."""
+        path = f"/api/v1/secrets/{name}/detailed"
+        response = await self._get(path)
+        if response.status_code == 404:
+            return None
+
+        return DetailedSecrets.model_validate(response.json())
+
+    def audit(self, subsystem: SubSystem) -> AuditAPI:
+        """Create the audit API."""
+        audit = AuditAPI(self._backend_url, self._api_token, subsystem)
+        return audit
diff --git a/src/sshecret/backend/models.py b/src/sshecret/backend/models.py
index 9ca4523..423f8fd 100644
--- a/src/sshecret/backend/models.py
+++ b/src/sshecret/backend/models.py
@@ -17,6 +17,27 @@ class FilterType(enum.StrEnum):
     CONTAINS = "contains"
 
 
+class SubSystem(enum.StrEnum):
+    """Available subsystems."""
+
+    ADMIN = enum.auto()
+    SSHD = enum.auto()
+    BACKEND = enum.auto()
+
+
+class Operation(enum.StrEnum):
+    """Various operations for the audit logging module."""
+
+    CREATE = enum.auto()
+    READ = enum.auto()
+    UPDATE = enum.auto()
+    DELETE = enum.auto()
+    DENY = enum.auto()
+    PERMIT = enum.auto()
+    LOGIN = enum.auto()
+    NONE = enum.auto()
+
+
 class Client(BaseModel):
     """Implementation of the backend class ClientView."""
 
@@ -101,15 +122,22 @@ class ClientFilter(BaseModel):
 
 
 class AuditLog(BaseModel):
-    """Implementation of the backend class AuditLog."""
+    """Implementation of the backend class AuditView."""
 
     id: str | None = None
-    subsystem: str | None = None
-    object: str | None = None
-    object_id: str | None = None
-    operation: str
+    subsystem: SubSystem
+    operation: Operation
     client_id: str | None = None
     client_name: str | None = None
+    secret_id: str | None = None
+    secret_name: str | None = None
+    data: dict[str, str] | None = None
     message: str
     origin: str | None = None
     timestamp: datetime | None = None
+
+
+class AuditInfo(BaseModel):
+    """Implementation of the backend class AuditInfo."""
+
+    entries: int