diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4b28c62..97425ae 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -126,6 +126,11 @@ AUTH_BACKENDS=ldap      # mysql | mongodb | ldap | proxmox | notification | mysq
 # LDAP Server Configuration
 LDAP_BASE_DN=dc=company,dc=com
 
+# Security: Require authentication for search operations
+# Default: true (authentication required for security)
+# Set to false only for development/testing if you need anonymous access
+REQUIRE_AUTH_FOR_SEARCH=true
+
 # MySQL configuration (for any MySQL-based system)
 MYSQL_HOST=localhost
 MYSQL_PORT=3306
@@ -143,6 +148,37 @@ LDAP_BIND_PASSWORD=ldap_service_password
 AD_DOMAIN=company.com
 ```
 
+### Security Settings
+
+#### Require Authentication for Search
+
+By default, authentication is required before allowing LDAP search operations:
+
+```ini
+# Authentication required by default (recommended for security)
+REQUIRE_AUTH_FOR_SEARCH=true  # This is the default
+
+# Only disable for development/testing if needed
+# REQUIRE_AUTH_FOR_SEARCH=false
+```
+
+**Behavior:**
+- `true` (default): Clients must authenticate with valid credentials before searching
+- `false`: Allows anonymous searches - only use for development/testing
+
+**Example:**
+```bash
+# Without authentication (fails when REQUIRE_AUTH_FOR_SEARCH=true)
+ldapsearch -H ldaps://localhost:636 -x -b "dc=company,dc=com" "(uid=john)"
+# Result: Insufficient access (error 50)
+
+# With authentication (succeeds)
+ldapsearch -H ldaps://localhost:636 -x -D "uid=john,dc=company,dc=com" -w password -b "dc=company,dc=com" "(uid=john)"
+# Result: Returns user information
+```
+
+**Recommendation:** Set to `true` for all production environments to prevent unauthorized directory enumeration.
+
 ### Start Service
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/npm/src/LdapEngine.js b/npm/src/LdapEngine.js
index fbf7d6d..73664f5 100644
--- a/npm/src/LdapEngine.js
+++ b/npm/src/LdapEngine.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ class LdapEngine extends EventEmitter {
       port: options.port || 389,
       certificate: options.certificate || null,
       key: options.key || null,
+      requireAuthForSearch: options.requireAuthForSearch !== false,
       ...options
     };
     
@@ -156,10 +157,10 @@ class LdapEngine extends EventEmitter {
       res.end();
     });
 
-    // Authenticated bind
+    // Authenticated bind - catch all DNs under our base
     this.server.bind(this.config.baseDn, async (req, res, next) => {
       const { username, password } = this._extractCredentials(req);
-      this.logger.debug("Authenticated bind request", { username });
+      this.logger.debug("Authenticated bind request", { username, dn: req.dn.toString() });
 
       try {
         this.emit('bindRequest', { username, anonymous: false });
@@ -193,7 +194,28 @@ class LdapEngine extends EventEmitter {
    * @private
    */
   _setupSearchHandlers() {
-    this.server.search(this.config.baseDn, async (req, res, next) => {
+    // Authorization middleware (if enabled)
+    const authorizeSearch = (req, res, next) => {
+      if (!this.config.requireAuthForSearch) {
+        return next();
+      }
+
+      // Check if connection has authenticated bindDN (not anonymous)
+      const bindDN = req.connection.ldap.bindDN;
+      const bindDNStr = bindDN ? bindDN.toString() : 'null';
+      const isAnonymous = !bindDN || bindDNStr === 'cn=anonymous';
+      
+      if (isAnonymous) {
+        this.logger.debug(`Anonymous search rejected - authentication required`);
+        return next(new ldap.InsufficientAccessRightsError('Authentication required for search operations'));
+      }
+      
+      this.logger.debug(`Authenticated search allowed for ${bindDNStr}`);
+      return next();
+    };
+
+    // Search handler with authorization middleware
+    this.server.search(this.config.baseDn, authorizeSearch, async (req, res, next) => {
       const filterStr = req.filter.toString();
       this.logger.debug(`LDAP Search - Filter: ${filterStr}, Attributes: ${req.attributes}`);
 
diff --git a/server/.env.example b/server/.env.example
index 9433023..a7e7e9c 100644
--- a/server/.env.example
+++ b/server/.env.example
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ LDAP_COMMON_NAME=localhost
 LDAP_BASE_DN=dc=localhost
 # PORT=636
 
+# Require authentication for search operations
+# Default: true (authentication required)
+# Set to false only for development/testing if you need anonymous access
+# REQUIRE_AUTH_FOR_SEARCH=true
+
 # SSL/TLS Certificate Configuration
 # Option 1: Provide certificate content directly
 # LDAP_CERT_CONTENT="-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----..."
diff --git a/server/config/configurationLoader.js b/server/config/configurationLoader.js
index 6a4def6..eba91cf 100644
--- a/server/config/configurationLoader.js
+++ b/server/config/configurationLoader.js
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ class ConfigurationLoader {
       bindIp: process.env.BIND_IP || '0.0.0.0',
       unencrypted: process.env.LDAP_UNENCRYPTED === 'true' || process.env.LDAP_UNENCRYPTED === '1',
       backendDir: process.env.BACKEND_DIR || null,
+      requireAuthForSearch: process.env.REQUIRE_AUTH_FOR_SEARCH !== 'false',
       // Load certificates - this handles all certificate logic
       ...this._loadCertificates()
     };
diff --git a/server/serverMain.js b/server/serverMain.js
index 0da205e..0de4b85 100644
--- a/server/serverMain.js
+++ b/server/serverMain.js
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ async function startServer(config) {
     key: config.keyContent,
     logger: logger,
     authProviders: selectedBackends,
-    directoryProvider: selectedDirectory
+    directoryProvider: selectedDirectory,
+    requireAuthForSearch: config.requireAuthForSearch
   });
 
   // Set up event listeners for logging and monitoring