# Securing Elasticsearch cluster

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/securing-elasticsearch-cluster/263509>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Tags:** elastic-stack-security\
**Created:** [February 6, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/securing-elasticsearch-cluster/263509 "2021-02-06T19:47:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ehsan\_kabiri\_33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b77776/32.png) [@ehsan\_kabiri\_33](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ehsan_kabiri_33)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/securing-elasticsearch-cluster/263509/1 "2021-02-06T19:47:41Z")

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I have a 3 nodes cluster in my local VM ware workstation. I followed the instructions on below to make my Elasticsearch 7.10 secure:

[configuring-security](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/configuring-security.html)

[getting-started-with-elasticsearch-security](https://www.elastic.co/blog/getting-started-with-elasticsearch-security)

I could complete the tutorials, but I want to know if I can secure built in users with password but no TLS configuration !! I mean , is it possible only add passwords to Elasticsearch built in users without `Configure Transport Layer Security (TLS/SSL) for internode-communication` ?

In a single node cluster, I add `xpack.security.enabled: true` and then run the `Elasticsearch-setup-passwords interactive` and just finish !! now I can add user/password to my connection strings to connect to my database in Elasticsearch!

But in a multi node cluster, I added `xpack.security.enabled: true` and when I want to startmy elasticsearch, the error says :

`[1]: Transport SSL must be enabled if security is enabled on a [basic] license. Please set [xpack.security.transport.ssl.enabled] to [true] or disable security by setting [xpack.security.enabled] to [false]`

and so I have to be engaged in security transport SSL, while my all nodes/servers will be internal and not connected to internet and without SSH and other security points.

It is safe to me if I can have a secured cluster just with a password!! and with no SSL/TLS in node communications. I do not know that is it possible or not ??

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**Author:** ![ylasri](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ylasri/32/86120_2.png) [@ylasri](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ylasri)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/securing-elasticsearch-cluster/263509/2 "2021-02-06T22:34:35Z")

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Running multiple nodes means you are in a production mode  
Elasticsearch will force [bootstrap checks](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/bootstrap-checks.html), hence if security enabled then TLS is a must

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**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2021, 11:24pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/securing-elasticsearch-cluster/263509/3 "2021-02-06T23:24:13Z")

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> [@ehsan\_kabiri\_33](#):
>
> It is safe to me if I can have a secured cluster just with a password!!

A password that is sent in plaintext is not secure.

There's no way to do what you want to do sorry.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 11:24pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/securing-elasticsearch-cluster/263509/4 "2021-03-06T23:24:40Z")

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