# Deep Dive into SASL PLAIN and SCRAM in Kafka: Login Modules and Config Hot-Reload

DevFeed: [Deep Dive into SASL PLAIN and SCRAM in Kafka: Login Modules and Config Hot-Reload](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/deep-dive-into-sasl-plain-and-scram-in-kafka-login-modules-and-config-hot-reload-11553.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.confluent.io/blog/kafka-authentication-sasl-plain-scram-config-hot-reload/>)

Author: Pratul Yadav

Published: 2026-07-06T09:43:40Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Confluent: Data in motion](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/confluent-data-in-motion.md>)

Topics: [Kafka](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/kafka.md>), [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/configuration.md>), [Authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/authentication.md>), [passwords](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/passwords.md>), [TLS (Transport Layer Security)](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/tls.md>)

Tags: [authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/authentication.md>), [config](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/config.md>), [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/configuration.md>), [confluent-platform](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/confluent-platform.md>), [credential-theft](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/credential-theft.md>), [cryptographic](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cryptographic.md>), [deep-dive](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/deep-dive.md>), [kafka](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/kafka.md>), [operational](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/operational.md>), [password](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/password.md>), [production](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/production.md>), [tls](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/tls.md>)

## AI overview

This article explains Kafka authentication with SASL PLAIN and SASL SCRAM, focusing on login modules, credential storage, and configuration hot-reload. It compares their security and operational characteristics and describes how hot-reload enables credential changes without restarting brokers.

## Source excerpt

Deep Dive into SASL PLAIN and SCRAM in Kafka: Login Modules and Config Hot-Reload