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---
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layout: docs
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page_title: Security - Overview
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description: >-
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Security requirements and recommendations for Consul vary depending on workloads and environments. Learn how ACLs and encryption can protect access to and communication within your datacenter.
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---
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## Security Models
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Requirements and recommendations for operating a secure Consul deployment may vary drastically depending on your
intended workloads, operating system, and environment. You can find detailed information about the various personas,
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recommendations, requirements, and threats [here](/consul/docs/security/security-models).
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## ACLs
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Consul provides an optional [Access Control List (ACL) system](/consul/docs/security/acl) which can be used to control access
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to data and APIs.
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## Encryption
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The Consul agent supports encrypting all of its network traffic. The exact method of encryption is described on the
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[encryption security page](/consul/docs/security/encryption). There are two separate encryption systems, one for gossip
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traffic and one for HTTP + RPC.
