---
layout: docs
page_title: Consul security architecture
description: >-
  Consul includes built-in security features and options to integrate exisiting security features to secure communication between users, agents in the control plane, and services in the data plane. 
---

# Consul security architecture

This page introduces the parts of Consul's architecture that secure communication between users, Consul agents in the control plane, and communication between services in your application's data plane.

## Control plane

@include 'tables/compare/architecture/security/control-plane.mdx'

## Data plane

@include 'tables/compare/architecture/security/data-plane.mdx'

## Best practices

@include 'text/best-practice/architecture/security.mdx'