diff --git a/letta/cli/cli.py b/letta/cli/cli.py
index 1afdba1b..56b79fb1 100644
--- a/letta/cli/cli.py
+++ b/letta/cli/cli.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ def server(
     host: Annotated[Optional[str], typer.Option(help="Host to run the server on (default to localhost)")] = None,
     debug: Annotated[bool, typer.Option(help="Turn debugging output on")] = False,
     ade: Annotated[bool, typer.Option(help="Allows remote access")] = False,
+    secure: Annotated[bool, typer.Option(help="Adds simple security access")] = False,
 ):
     """Launch a Letta server process"""
     if type == ServerChoice.rest_api:
diff --git a/letta/server/rest_api/app.py b/letta/server/rest_api/app.py
index fb4c4049..a2659cf6 100644
--- a/letta/server/rest_api/app.py
+++ b/letta/server/rest_api/app.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ from typing import Optional
 
 import uvicorn
 from fastapi import FastAPI
+from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse
+from starlette.middleware.base import BaseHTTPMiddleware
 from starlette.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
 
 from letta.__init__ import __version__
@@ -94,6 +96,27 @@ def generate_openapi_schema(app: FastAPI):
         Path(f"openapi_{name}.json").write_text(json.dumps(docs, indent=2))
 
 
+# middleware that only allows requests to pass through if user provides a password thats randomly generated and stored in memory
+def generate_password():
+    import secrets
+
+    return secrets.token_urlsafe(16)
+
+
+random_password = generate_password()
+
+
+class CheckPasswordMiddleware(BaseHTTPMiddleware):
+    async def dispatch(self, request, call_next):
+        if request.headers.get("X-BARE-PASSWORD") == f"password {random_password}":
+            return await call_next(request)
+
+        return JSONResponse(
+            content={"detail": "Unauthorized"},
+            status_code=401,
+        )
+
+
 def create_application() -> "FastAPI":
     """the application start routine"""
     # global server
@@ -113,6 +136,10 @@ def create_application() -> "FastAPI":
         settings.cors_origins.append("https://app.letta.com")
         print(f"▶ View using ADE at: https://app.letta.com/local-project/agents")
 
+    if "--secure" in sys.argv:
+        print(f"▶ Using secure mode with password: {random_password}")
+        app.add_middleware(CheckPasswordMiddleware)
+
     app.add_middleware(
         CORSMiddleware,
         allow_origins=settings.cors_origins,