# Authority and data boundaries

Know who is calling, which data they can access, and what they can do.

Source: https://docs.minds.sh/docs/concepts/security



Minds has more than one security boundary. A signed-in user manages an organization. An application connects to an instance. A capability limits what a request may do within a namespace. Some engine controls require separate operator authority.

## Match the credential to the interface [#match-the-credential-to-the-interface]

| Credential or authority    | Intended boundary                             |
| -------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| Browser session            | Signed-in Minds platform workflow             |
| Platform authorization     | Account and organization management           |
| Signed instance capability | Namespace and action authority inside Akasha  |
| Operator credential        | Restricted engine administration              |
| Optional legacy JWT        | Additional deployment-specific authentication |

Use the [platform authentication](/docs/api/platform/authentication) and [instance authentication](/docs/api/instance/authentication) pages for the exact transport requirements. A key generated by a demo wizard is not an issued credential.

## Isolation has several layers [#isolation-has-several-layers]

Dedicated Firecracker VMs are the required runtime boundary for Free and Pro. Namespace authority restricts data access within an instance. Learning isolation controls acceptance of information. These layers complement each other; none replaces the others.

## Verify secondary transports [#verify-secondary-transports]

The source audit found missing or incomplete authority enforcement around gRPC and Arrow Flight. Keep these listeners private unless the deployed transport and network controls have been verified. The HTTP reference's capability contract does not automatically apply to another protocol.

[Protocol boundaries](/docs/api/instance/protocols) · [Current compatibility](/docs/operations/compatibility)