### Getting Started with YugabyteDB’s Security Features YugabyteDB's security features are designed to protect the database from unauthorized access and ensure data integrity. Authentication is enabled by default, but it must be explicitly enabled before use. The authentication process involves creating roles, assigning users to these roles, and configuring permissions. Roles determine what a user can do in the database, with permissions controlling specific operations on database objects. Authorization with role-based access control (RBAC) ensures that only authorized users can perform actions. Encryption is also available using OpenSSL's TLS encryption, which secures internal communication between nodes, application connectivity, and command line shell interactions. A security checklist provides a basic framework for securing the system before deployment.