# With Elasticsearch v6.6, Do we still need Subscription to use XPACK security features?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/with-elasticsearch-v6-6-do-we-still-need-subscription-to-use-xpack-security-features/190683>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Tags:** elastic-stack-security\
**Created:** [July 16, 2019, 8:40am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/with-elasticsearch-v6-6-do-we-still-need-subscription-to-use-xpack-security-features/190683 "2019-07-16T08:40:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![prashantsonawane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@prashantsonawane](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/prashantsonawane)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 8:40am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/with-elasticsearch-v6-6-do-we-still-need-subscription-to-use-xpack-security-features/190683/1 "2019-07-16T08:40:48Z")

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X-pack is opened with ES v6.3 onwards. What does it really mean? Customers still need to have Subscription (Gold, Platinum) to legally use security related features (encryption on communication, encryption at rest)?

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**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 8:41am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/with-elasticsearch-v6-6-do-we-still-need-subscription-to-use-xpack-security-features/190683/2 "2019-07-16T08:41:40Z")

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While the code for X-Pack is available in a public repository, [we do not claim that it is "Open Source"](https://www.elastic.co/products/x-pack/open). See [Subscriptions](https://www.elastic.co/subscriptions) about the different features available.

The default distribution of Elasticsearch includes all of X-Pack, but the default license is "basic".

You can activate a free trial of the commercial features via Kibana (Management -\> License) or via [the API](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elastic-stack-overview/6.8/license-management.html).

Note that some part of security is only available from 6.8.

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**Author:** ![prashantsonawane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@prashantsonawane](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/prashantsonawane)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 5:36am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/with-elasticsearch-v6-6-do-we-still-need-subscription-to-use-xpack-security-features/190683/3 "2019-07-25T05:36:38Z")

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Thank you..

What was the default license for v6.2? Did it include current Basic subscription?

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**Author:** ![Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/christian_dahlqvist/32/4617_2.png) [@Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Christian_Dahlqvist)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 5:42am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/with-elasticsearch-v6-6-do-we-still-need-subscription-to-use-xpack-security-features/190683/4 "2019-07-25T05:42:46Z")

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The default license for 6.2 is basic. Security features are only included in the basic license from 6.8/7.1 onwards.

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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:** [August 22, 2019, 5:42am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/with-elasticsearch-v6-6-do-we-still-need-subscription-to-use-xpack-security-features/190683/5 "2019-08-22T05:42:48Z")

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