diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index e754e055..364441b8 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -477,14 +477,87 @@ calico_felix_sha256: 076936b985379fb8221db9b9a798714f6f97429a630da9c46da89bfcb0f
 calico_felix_validate_certs: yes
 
 # OVN Defaults
+neutron_ovn_ssl: True
+ovn_proto: "{{ (neutron_ovn_ssl) | ternary('ssl','tcp') }}"
 neutron_ovn_primary_cluster_node: "{{ groups[neutron_services['neutron-ovn-northd']['group']] | first }}"
 neutron_ovn_northd_service_name: ovn-northd
 neutron_ovn_controller_service_name: ovn-controller
 neutron_ovn_l3_scheduler: leastloaded
-neutron_ovn_nb_connection: "tcp:{{ groups['neutron_ovn_northd'] | map('extract', hostvars, ['ansible_host']) | join(':6641,tcp:') }}:6641"
-neutron_ovn_sb_connection: "tcp:{{ groups['neutron_ovn_northd'] | map('extract', hostvars, ['ansible_host']) | join(':6642,tcp:') }}:6642"
+neutron_ovn_nb_connection: "{{ ovn_proto }}:{{ groups['neutron_ovn_northd'] | map('extract', hostvars, ['ansible_host']) | join(':6641,'+ ovn_proto + ':') }}:6641"
+neutron_ovn_sb_connection: "{{ ovn_proto }}:{{ groups['neutron_ovn_northd'] | map('extract', hostvars, ['ansible_host']) | join(':6642,' + ovn_proto + ':') }}:6642"
 neutron_ovsdb_manager: ptcp:6640:127.0.0.1
 
+# Storage location for SSL certificate authority
+neutron_ovn_pki_dir: "{{ openstack_pki_dir }}"
+# Delegated host for operating the certificate authority
+neutron_ovn_pki_setup_host: "{{ openstack_pki_setup_host | default('localhost') }}"
+# The local address used for the neutron_ovn node
+neutron_ovn_node_address: "{{ management_address | default('127.0.0.1') }}"
+# neutron OVN server certificate
+neutron_ovn_pki_keys_path: "{{ neutron_ovn_pki_dir ~ '/certs/private/' }}"
+neutron_ovn_pki_certs_path: "{{ neutron_ovn_pki_dir ~ '/certs/certs/' }}"
+neutron_ovn_pki_intermediate_cert_name: "{{ openstack_pki_service_intermediate_cert_name }}"
+neutron_ovn_pki_intermediate_chain_path: "{{ neutron_ovn_pki_dir ~ '/roots/' ~ neutron_ovn_pki_intermediate_cert_name ~ '/certs/' ~ neutron_ovn_pki_intermediate_cert_name ~ '-chain.crt' }}"
+neutron_ovn_pki_regen_cert: ""
+neutron_ovn_pki_certificates:
+  - name: "neutron_ovn_{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}"
+    provider: ownca
+    cn: "{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}"
+    san: "{{ 'DNS:' ~ ansible_facts['hostname'] ~ ',IP:' ~ neutron_ovn_node_address }}"
+    signed_by: "{{ neutron_ovn_pki_intermediate_cert_name }}"
+
+# OVN destination files for SSL certificates
+neutron_ovn_ssl_cert: "neutron_ovn.pem"
+neutron_ovn_ssl_key: "neutron_ovn.key"
+neutron_ovn_ssl_ca_cert: "neutron_ovn-ca.pem"
+neutron_ovn_conf_dir: "/etc/openvswitch"
+# Installation details for SSL certificates
+neutron_ovn_pki_install_certificates:
+  - src: "{{ neutron_ovn_user_ssl_cert | default(neutron_ovn_pki_certs_path ~ 'neutron_ovn_' ~ ansible_facts['hostname'] ~ '-chain.crt') }}"
+
+    dest: "{{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_cert] | join('/') }}"
+    owner: "{{ neutron_ovn_system_user_name }}"
+    group: "{{ neutron_ovn_system_user_name }}"
+    mode: "0644"
+    condition: "{{ (neutron_ovn_ssl and neutron_needs_openvswitch and neutron_plugin_type == 'ml2.ovn') }}"
+  - src: "{{ neutron_ovn_user_ssl_key | default(neutron_ovn_pki_keys_path ~ 'neutron_ovn_' ~ ansible_facts['hostname'] ~ '.key.pem') }}"
+    dest: "{{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_key] | join('/') }}"
+    owner: "{{ neutron_ovn_system_user_name }}"
+    group: "{{ neutron_ovn_system_user_name }}"
+    mode: "0600"
+    condition: "{{ (neutron_ovn_ssl and neutron_needs_openvswitch) }}"
+  - src: "{{ neutron_ovn_user_ssl_ca_cert | default(neutron_ovn_pki_intermediate_chain_path) }}"
+    dest: "{{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_ca_cert] | join('/')  }}"
+    owner: "{{ (neutron_services['neutron-server']['group'] in group_names) | ternary( neutron_service_user_name, neutron_ovn_system_user_name) }}"
+    group: "{{ (neutron_services['neutron-server']['group'] in group_names) | ternary( neutron_service_user_name, neutron_ovn_system_user_name) }}"
+    mode: "0644"
+    condition: "{{ (neutron_ovn_ssl and neutron_needs_openvswitch and neutron_plugin_type == 'ml2.ovn') }}"
+  - src: "{{ neutron_ovn_user_ssl_cert | default(neutron_ovn_pki_certs_path ~ 'neutron_ovn_' ~ ansible_facts['hostname'] ~ '-chain.crt') }}"
+    dest: "{{ [neutron_conf_version_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_cert] | join('/') }}"
+    owner: "{{ neutron_service_user_name }}"
+    group: "{{ neutron_service_user_name }}"
+    mode: "0644"
+    condition: "{{ (neutron_ovn_ssl and neutron_plugin_type == 'ml2.ovn' and (filtered_neutron_services |length + uwsgi_neutron_services | length ) > 0) }}"
+  - src: "{{ neutron_ovn_user_ssl_key | default(neutron_ovn_pki_keys_path ~ 'neutron_ovn_' ~ ansible_facts['hostname'] ~ '.key.pem') }}"
+    dest: "{{ [neutron_conf_version_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_key] | join('/') }}"
+    owner: "{{ neutron_service_user_name }}"
+    group: "{{ neutron_service_user_name }}"
+    mode: "0600"
+    condition: "{{ (neutron_ovn_ssl and neutron_plugin_type == 'ml2.ovn' and (filtered_neutron_services |length + uwsgi_neutron_services | length ) > 0) }}"
+  - src: "{{ neutron_ovn_user_ssl_ca_cert | default(neutron_ovn_pki_intermediate_chain_path) }}"
+    dest: "{{ [neutron_conf_version_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_ca_cert] | join('/') }}"
+    owner: "{{ neutron_service_user_name }}"
+    group: "{{ neutron_service_user_name }}"
+    mode: "0644"
+    condition: "{{ (neutron_ovn_ssl and neutron_plugin_type == 'ml2.ovn' and (filtered_neutron_services |length + uwsgi_neutron_services | length ) > 0) }}"
+
+# Define user-provided SSL certificates in:
+# /etc/openstack_deploy/user_variables.yml
+#neutron_ovnnb_user_ssl_cert: <path to cert on ansible deployment host>
+#neutron_ovnnb_user_ssl_key: <path to cert on ansible deployment host>
+#neutron_ovnsb_user_ssl_cert: <path to cert on ansible deployment host>
+#neutron_ovnsb_user_ssl_key: <path to cert on ansible deployment host>
+
 ###
 ### DPDK Configuration
 ###
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/ovn-ssl-e9cb73e0713cf8bc.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/ovn-ssl-e9cb73e0713cf8bc.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ba4e3641
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/ovn-ssl-e9cb73e0713cf8bc.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    OVN is now protected via SSL. you can disable it via `neutron_ovn_ssl`. It
+    is not supported to switch from non-ssl to ssl.
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    OVN is now configured with SSL enabled by default, upgrading existing ovn
+    deployment is not tested. When upgrading it might be wise to set `neutron_ovn_ssl`
+    to `false` and manage the ssl configuration at a later stage.
+
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 1ba18186..fe7f82de 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -123,6 +123,25 @@
   tags:
     - neutron-config
 
+# create the ssl certs before the installation of the services.
+- name: Create and install SSL certificates
+  include_role:
+    name: pki
+    tasks_from: main_certs.yml
+  vars:
+    pki_setup_host: "{{ neutron_ovn_pki_setup_host }}"
+    pki_dir: "{{ neutron_ovn_pki_dir }}"
+    pki_create_certificates: "{{ neutron_ovn_user_ssl_cert is not defined and neutron_ovn_user_ssl_key is not defined }}"
+    pki_regen_cert: "{{ neutron_ovn_pki_regen_cert }}"
+    pki_certificates: "{{ neutron_ovn_pki_certificates }}"
+    pki_install_certificates: "{{ neutron_ovn_pki_install_certificates }}"
+  when:
+    - neutron_ovn_ssl
+    - (neutron_services['neutron-ovn-controller']['group'] in group_names) or (neutron_services['neutron-ovn-northd']['group'] in group_names) or (neutron_services['neutron-server']['group'] in group_names)
+  tags:
+    - neutron_ovn-config
+    - pki
+
 # Include provider specific config(s)
 - include_tasks: "{{ item }}"
   with_first_found:
diff --git a/tasks/neutron_pre_install.yml b/tasks/neutron_pre_install.yml
index 6065b326..f9da30a4 100644
--- a/tasks/neutron_pre_install.yml
+++ b/tasks/neutron_pre_install.yml
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
     - path: "{{ neutron_system_home_folder }}"
       mode: "0755"
     - path: "{{ neutron_system_home_folder }}/ha_confs"
+      state: "{{ (neutron_plugin_type == 'ml2.ovn') | ternary('absent','directory') }}"
 
 - name: Add dependency repos for Neutron
   package:
diff --git a/tasks/providers/ovn_cluster_setup.yml b/tasks/providers/ovn_cluster_setup.yml
index 61c9d012..c94486b4 100644
--- a/tasks/providers/ovn_cluster_setup.yml
+++ b/tasks/providers/ovn_cluster_setup.yml
@@ -45,8 +45,10 @@
   args:
     executable: /bin/bash
   ignore_errors: true
-  delegate_to: "{{ item }}"
+  delegate_to: "{{ container }}"
   with_items: "{{ groups['neutron_ovn_northd'] }}"
+  loop_control:
+    loop_var: container
   run_once: true
   failed_when: false
   register: _find_leader
@@ -56,7 +58,7 @@
 # set leader_node variable
 - name: Set leader_node fact
   set_fact:
-    leader_node: "{{ (_find_leader.results | selectattr('stdout', 'search', 'leader')) | map(attribute='item') | list  }}"
+    leader_node: "{{ (_find_leader.results | selectattr('stdout', 'search', 'leader')) | map(attribute='container') | list  }}"
 
 # This play only run first time to build cluster using primary node.
 - name: Setup ovn cluster using primary node.
@@ -67,9 +69,33 @@
     - "inventory_hostname == neutron_ovn_primary_cluster_node"
     - _check_cluster_db.rc != 0
     - not leader_node
-  notify:
-    - start ovn service
-    - restart ovn service
+  register: ovn_northd_opts
+
+- name: Start ovn service
+  service:
+    name: "{{ neutron_ovn_northd_service_name }}"
+    state: started
+  when:
+    - "inventory_hostname == neutron_ovn_primary_cluster_node"
+    - _check_cluster_db.rc != 0
+    - not leader_node
+    - ovn_northd_opts.changed
+
+- name: set ssl for ovn-nb and ovn-sb
+  command: "{{ cmd }}"
+  with_items:
+    - "ovn-nbctl set-connection pssl:6641"
+    - "ovn-sbctl set-connection pssl:6642"
+  when:
+    - neutron_ovn_ssl
+    - "inventory_hostname == neutron_ovn_primary_cluster_node"
+    - _check_cluster_db.rc != 0
+    - not leader_node
+    - ovn_northd_opts.changed
+  loop_control:
+    loop_var: cmd
+  tags:
+    - neutron_ovn-config
 
 # This play will add nodes in existing cluster using leader_node var.
 - name: Join new nodes to ovn cluster using leader node
diff --git a/tasks/providers/ovn_config.yml b/tasks/providers/ovn_config.yml
index 042e8f8e..b462f3e6 100644
--- a/tasks/providers/ovn_config.yml
+++ b/tasks/providers/ovn_config.yml
@@ -40,6 +40,15 @@
   when:
     - neutron_services['neutron-ovn-controller']['group'] in group_names
 
+- name: Configure ovn-controller
+  template:
+    src: ovn-controller-opts.j2
+    dest: "{{ neutron_ovn_controller_opts_file }}"
+  register: ovn_controller_config
+  when:
+    - neutron_services['neutron-ovn-controller']['group'] in group_names
+    - neutron_ovn_ssl
+
 - name: Ensure ovn-northd service is started and enabled
   systemd:
     name: "{{ neutron_ovn_northd_service_name }}"
@@ -51,7 +60,7 @@
 - name: Ensure ovn-controller service is started and enabled
   systemd:
     name: "{{ neutron_ovn_controller_service_name }}"
-    state: started
+    state: "{{ (ovn_controller_config.changed) | ternary('restarted','started') }}"
     enabled: yes
   when:
     - neutron_services['neutron-ovn-controller']['group'] in group_names
diff --git a/templates/ovn-controller-opts.j2 b/templates/ovn-controller-opts.j2
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..08a6c7ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/ovn-controller-opts.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# {{ ansible_managed }}
+
+# OVN controller parameters
+
+{{ neutron_ovn_controller_opts }}="--ovn-controller-ssl-key={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_key] | join('/') }} \
+  --ovn-controller-ssl-cert={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_cert] | join('/') }} \
+  --ovn-controller-ssl-ca-cert={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_ca_cert] | join('/') }} \
+"
+
diff --git a/templates/ovn-northd-opts.j2 b/templates/ovn-northd-opts.j2
index c83bb7a5..bc2e26fe 100644
--- a/templates/ovn-northd-opts.j2
+++ b/templates/ovn-northd-opts.j2
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 # OVN cluster parameters
 {{ neutron_ovn_northd_opts }}=" \
-  --db-nb-create-insecure-remote=yes \
-  --db-sb-create-insecure-remote=yes \
+  --db-nb-create-insecure-remote={{ (neutron_ovn_ssl) | ternary('no','yes') }} \
+  --db-sb-create-insecure-remote={{ (neutron_ovn_ssl) | ternary('no','yes') }} \
   --db-nb-addr={{ ansible_host }} \
   --db-sb-addr={{ ansible_host }} \
   --db-nb-cluster-local-addr={{ ansible_host }} \
@@ -12,6 +12,21 @@
   --db-nb-cluster-remote-addr={% for item in leader_node %}{{ item }} {% endfor %} \
   --db-sb-cluster-remote-addr={% for item in leader_node %}{{ item }} {% endfor %} \
   {% endif %}
-  --ovn-northd-nb-db=tcp:{{ groups['neutron_ovn_northd'] | map('extract', hostvars, ['ansible_host']) | join(':6641,tcp:') }}:6641 \
-  --ovn-northd-sb-db=tcp:{{ groups['neutron_ovn_northd'] | map('extract', hostvars, ['ansible_host']) | join(':6642,tcp:') }}:6642 \
+  --ovn-northd-nb-db={{ neutron_ovn_nb_connection }} \
+  --ovn-northd-sb-db={{ neutron_ovn_sb_connection }} \
+  {% if neutron_ovn_ssl %}
+  --db-nb-cluster-remote-proto=ssl \
+  --db-sb-cluster-remote-proto=ssl \
+  --db-nb-cluster-local-proto=ssl \
+  --db-sb-cluster-local-proto=ssl \
+  --ovn-northd-ssl-key={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_key] | join('/') }} \
+  --ovn-northd-ssl-cert={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_cert] | join('/') }} \
+  --ovn-northd-ssl-ca-cert={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_ca_cert] | join('/') }} \
+  --ovn-nb-db-ssl-key={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_key] | join('/') }} \
+  --ovn-nb-db-ssl-cert={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_cert] | join('/') }} \
+  --ovn-nb-db-ssl-ca-cert={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_ca_cert] | join('/') }} \
+  --ovn-sb-db-ssl-key={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_key] | join('/') }} \
+  --ovn-sb-db-ssl-cert={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_cert] | join('/') }} \
+  --ovn-sb-db-ssl-ca-cert={{ [neutron_ovn_conf_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_ca_cert] | join('/') }} \
+  {% endif %}
 "
diff --git a/templates/plugins/ml2/ml2_conf.ini.j2 b/templates/plugins/ml2/ml2_conf.ini.j2
index dc15b64d..5f0c29ec 100644
--- a/templates/plugins/ml2/ml2_conf.ini.j2
+++ b/templates/plugins/ml2/ml2_conf.ini.j2
@@ -44,17 +44,24 @@ max_header_size = 38
 
 {% endif %}
 
-{% if neutron_plugin_type == 'ml2.ovn' and (neutron_services['neutron-server']['group'] or neutron_services['neutron-ovn-controller']['group'] in group_names) %}
-
+{% if neutron_plugin_type == 'ml2.ovn' %}
+{%   if (neutron_services['neutron-server']['group'] in group_names or neutron_services['neutron-ovn-controller']['group'] in group_names) %}
 [ovn]
 ovn_native_dhcp = True
 ovn_nb_connection = {{ neutron_ovn_nb_connection }}
 ovn_sb_connection = {{ neutron_ovn_sb_connection }}
 ovn_l3_scheduler = {{ neutron_ovn_l3_scheduler }}
 ovn_metadata_enabled = True
-
+{%   endif %}
+{%   if neutron_ovn_ssl and (neutron_services['neutron-server']['group'] in group_names or neutron_services['neutron-ovn-controller']['group'] in group_names) %}
+ovn_sb_ca_cert={{ [neutron_conf_version_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_ca_cert] | join('/') }}
+ovn_sb_certificate={{ [neutron_conf_version_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_cert] | join('/') }}
+ovn_sb_private_key={{ [neutron_conf_version_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_key] | join('/') }}
+ovn_nb_ca_cert={{ [neutron_conf_version_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_ca_cert] | join('/') }}
+ovn_nb_certificate={{ [neutron_conf_version_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_cert] | join('/') }}
+ovn_nb_private_key={{ [neutron_conf_version_dir, neutron_ovn_ssl_key] | join('/') }}
+{%   endif %}
 {% endif %}
-
 # Security groups
 [securitygroup]
 enable_security_group = True
diff --git a/vars/debian.yml b/vars/debian.yml
index ab62da14..a908f5b6 100644
--- a/vars/debian.yml
+++ b/vars/debian.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ neutron_ovn_northd_opts: "OVN_CTL_OPTS"
 
 neutron_ovn_northd_opts_file: "/etc/default/ovn-central"
 
+neutron_ovn_controller_opts: "OVN_CTL_OPTS"
+
+neutron_ovn_controller_opts_file: "/etc/default/ovn-host"
+
+neutron_ovn_system_user_name: root
+
 neutron_ovs_dpdk_required_packages:
   - openvswitch-common
   - openvswitch-switch-dpdk
diff --git a/vars/redhat.yml b/vars/redhat.yml
index e8fa7091..070d7a44 100644
--- a/vars/redhat.yml
+++ b/vars/redhat.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ neutron_ovn_northd_opts: "OVN_NORTHD_OPTS"
 
 neutron_ovn_northd_opts_file: "/etc/sysconfig/ovn-northd"
 
+neutron_ovn_controller_opts: "OVN_CONTROLLER_OPTS"
+
+neutron_ovn_controller_opts_file: "/etc/sysconfig/ovn-controller"
+
+neutron_ovn_system_user_name: openvswitch
+
 neutron_distro_packages:
   - conntrack-tools
   - dnsmasq