diff --git a/audit_logger/main.py b/audit_logger/main.py
index 283bab8..3fe9480 100644
--- a/audit_logger/main.py
+++ b/audit_logger/main.py
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
 from typing import Any, AsyncGenerator, Dict, List, Optional, cast
 
-from fastapi import Body, FastAPI, HTTPException
+from fastapi import Body, Depends, FastAPI, HTTPException
 from fastapi.exceptions import RequestValidationError
 from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse
+from fastapi.security import APIKeyHeader
 
 from audit_logger.config_manager import ConfigManager
 from audit_logger.custom_logger import get_logger
@@ -63,12 +64,20 @@ async def lifespan(_: Any) -> AsyncGenerator[None, None]:
     lifespan=lifespan,
 )
 
+api_key_header = APIKeyHeader(name="X-API-Key")
+
 app.add_exception_handler(RequestValidationError, validation_exception_handler)
 
 add_middleware(app, app_config)
 
 
-@app.post("/create")
+async def verify_api_key(api_key: str = Depends(api_key_header)):
+    if api_key != app_config.authentication.api_key:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Invalid API-Key")
+    return api_key
+
+
+@app.post("/create", dependencies=[Depends(verify_api_key)])
 async def create_audit_log_entry(
     audit_log: AuditLogEntry = Body(...),
 ) -> GenericResponse:
@@ -92,7 +101,7 @@ async def create_audit_log_entry(
     )
 
 
-@app.post("/create-bulk")
+@app.post("/create-bulk", dependencies=[Depends(verify_api_key)])
 async def create_bulk_audit_log_entries(
     audit_logs: List[AuditLogEntry] = Body(...),
 ) -> GenericResponse:
@@ -119,7 +128,7 @@ async def create_bulk_audit_log_entries(
     )
 
 
-@app.post("/create/create-bulk-auto")
+@app.post("/create/create-bulk-auto", dependencies=[Depends(verify_api_key)])
 async def create_fake_audit_log_entries(
     options: BulkAuditLogOptions,
 ) -> GenericResponse:
@@ -139,7 +148,7 @@ async def create_fake_audit_log_entries(
     )
 
 
-@app.post("/search")
+@app.post("/search", dependencies=[Depends(verify_api_key)])
 def search_audit_log_entries(
     params: Optional[SearchParamsV2] = Body(default=None),
 ) -> SearchResults:
diff --git a/audit_logger/models/config.py b/audit_logger/models/config.py
index 6087e59..6d31837 100644
--- a/audit_logger/models/config.py
+++ b/audit_logger/models/config.py
@@ -28,7 +28,14 @@ class APIMiddlewares(CustomBaseModel):
     cors: CORSSettings = Field(description="CORS middleware settings")
 
 
+class Authentication(CustomBaseModel):
+    api_key: str = Field(description="X-API Key")
+
+
 class AppConfig(CustomBaseModel):
     middlewares: Optional[APIMiddlewares] = Field(
-        description="API Middlewares settings",
+        description="API middlewares settings",
+    )
+    authentication: Authentication = Field(
+        description="API authentication settings",
     )
diff --git a/audit_logger/models/custom_base.py b/audit_logger/models/custom_base.py
index 9a972cc..18768c8 100644
--- a/audit_logger/models/custom_base.py
+++ b/audit_logger/models/custom_base.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from typing import Any
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Extra
+from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 
 class CustomBaseModel(BaseModel):
@@ -9,4 +9,4 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
 
     # Forbid extra fields and raise an exception if any are found.
     class Config:
-        extra = Extra.forbid
+        extra = "forbid"
diff --git a/config-sample.yaml b/config-sample.yaml
index 1097f84..8c4247c 100644
--- a/config-sample.yaml
+++ b/config-sample.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+authentication:
+  api_key: "change-me-plz"
 middlewares:
   cors:
     allow_origins: