# Authentication and Authorization for Redpanda in Kubernetes

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/llms.txt). Component-specific: [streaming-full.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming-full.txt)

---
title: Authentication and Authorization for Redpanda in Kubernetes
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.1.9
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
latest-operator-version: v26.1.4
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page-eol-date: March 31, 2027
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
docname: kubernetes/security/authentication/index
page-component-name: streaming
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page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: kubernetes/security/authentication/index.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/main/modules/manage/pages/kubernetes/security/authentication/index.adoc
description: Learn how to configure authentication and authorization for Redpanda in Kubernetes using Helm values or the User resource with the Redpanda Operator.
page-git-created-date: "2024-10-30"
page-git-modified-date: "2025-12-04"
support-status: supported
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/manage/kubernetes/security/authentication.md -->

Redpanda offers two methods to manage authentication and authorization in a Kubernetes environment. These options allow administrators to control user access and permissions, ensuring secure communication with the Redpanda cluster.

-   [Configure Authentication for Redpanda in Kubernetes](k-authentication/)

    Use Helm values or the Redpanda resource manifest to enable authentication for Redpanda. This method provides a way to configure authentication during the initial deployment or updates to the cluster configuration.

-   [Manage Users and ACLs with the Redpanda Operator](k-user-controller/)

    Use the User resource to declaratively create and manage users and ACLs as part of a Redpanda deployment. Each User resource is mapped to a user in your Redpanda cluster. The user controller keeps the corresponding user in sync with the User resource.

-   [Manage Roles with the Redpanda Operator](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/manage/kubernetes/security/authorization/k-role-controller/)

    Use the RedpandaRole resource to declaratively create and manage roles as part of a Redpanda deployment. Each RedpandaRole resource defines a set of permissions that can be assigned to multiple users, providing role-based access control (RBAC) for your Redpanda cluster.

-   [Manage Groups and ACLs with the Redpanda Operator](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/manage/kubernetes/security/authorization/k-group-controller/)

    Use the Group resource to declaratively manage ACLs for OIDC groups as part of a Redpanda deployment. Each Group resource maps to an external OIDC group identity and manages the Kafka ACLs for that group principal.

-   [Manage Schema Registry ACLs with the Redpanda Operator](k-schema-registry-acls/)

    Manage Schema Registry ACLs declaratively in Kubernetes using User, RedpandaRole, and Group custom resources with the Redpanda Operator.