# Getting Started with ACE
Source: https://docs.chain.link/ace/getting-started
Last Updated: 2026-10-05

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).

ACE enforces compliance in two ways. Start with what you need:

- **Block non-compliant transactions** in a contract you build or can upgrade: use the preventive managers, Policy Manager and Identity Manager.
- **Monitor addresses and react when their risk changes** on a token you already run, without changing its contract: use Active Monitoring.
- **Both**: the two modes complement each other and share the same setup.

See [Preventive and Continuous Compliance](/ace/concepts/preventive-vs-continuous) for the differences.

ACE offers four managers. Choose the path that matches what you need to do:

| Manager               | What it does                                                                                                                                              | Get started                                                                              |
| --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Policy Manager**    | Attach and configure compliance policies on smart contracts — volume limits, allowlists, RBAC, identity-based checks, and more                            | [Policy Manager Quick Start](/ace/getting-started/policy-manager)                        |
| **Identity Manager**  | Manage identity registries, register cross-chain identities (CCIDs), and issue credentials such as Proof of Identity or accreditation attestations        | [Identity Manager Quick Start](/ace/getting-started/identity-manager)                    |
| **Active Monitoring** | Screen the addresses you choose with TRM on a schedule, and record, flag, or enforce an onchain action when their risk changes, on tokens you already run | [Active Monitoring Quick Start](/ace/active-monitoring/quick-start)                      |
| **Reporting Manager** | Query on-chain transaction history, policy configurations, and identity states via a read-only API for compliance verification                            | [Reporting concepts](/ace/concepts/reporting) — [API Reference](/api/ace/reporting/docs) |

### Shared first step

All managers require **account setup** first — creating your organization, sharing your Org ID for enablement, generating an API key, and setting up [CRE Connect Wallets](/ace/concepts/key-terms#cre-connect-wallet):

- [Account Setup](/ace/getting-started/account-setup) — the four steps every ACE user completes before using any manager

### Not sure which Manager you need?

- If you are a **token issuer or protocol team** deciding which compliance rules to enforce, start with the [Policy Manager Quick Start](/ace/getting-started/policy-manager).
- If you are an **identity provider (IDV)** or **credential issuer**, or **sanctions data provider** supplying data for others to consume, start with the [Identity Manager Quick Start](/ace/getting-started/identity-manager).
- If your token is already deployed and you want to screen its holders and react to risk changes without changing the contract, start with the [Active Monitoring Quick Start](/ace/active-monitoring/quick-start).
- Many organizations use **more than one manager**. Start with whichever is most relevant to your first use case — the guides cross-reference each other where the workflows intersect.

### Background reading

Before diving in, these pages provide essential context:

- [Signing & Ownership Model](/ace/concepts/signing-ownership) — how ACE manages keys and the delegated and self-signing models
- [ACE Architecture](/ace/concepts/architecture) — system components and how they connect
- [Key Terms](/ace/concepts/key-terms) — ACE-specific terminology
- [Preventive and Continuous Compliance](/ace/concepts/preventive-vs-continuous) — the two ways ACE enforces compliance
- [Beta Scope](/ace/beta-scope) — what is and is not available during the Beta program