diff --git a/backend/src/app.py b/backend/src/app.py
index 4f0c4a6e..87d30533 100755
--- a/backend/src/app.py
+++ b/backend/src/app.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import asyncio
 
 from fastapi import FastAPI, HTTPException, Request, WebSocket, WebSocketDisconnect
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
+from fastapi.middleware.trustedhost import TrustedHostMiddleware
 from fastapi.responses import FileResponse
 from fastapi.staticfiles import StaticFiles
 from starlette.middleware.sessions import SessionMiddleware
@@ -82,6 +83,12 @@ def ensure_initial_admin_user() -> None:
             "INITIAL_ADMIN_CREATE is enabled but INITIAL_ADMIN_USERNAME/INITIAL_ADMIN_PASSWORD is missing; skipping bootstrap."
         )
         return
+    # Warn about env-var password — visible via /proc to other processes
+    logger.warning(
+        "INITIAL_ADMIN_PASSWORD is set via environment variable. "
+        "This is visible to other processes on the same host. "
+        "Consider removing the env var after bootstrap."
+    )
     db = AuthSessionLocal()
     try:
         admin_role = db.query(Role).filter(Role.name == "Admin").first()
@@ -182,6 +189,12 @@ app.add_middleware(
     allow_methods=["*"],
     allow_headers=["*"],
 )
+
+# HSTS — force HTTPS in production (see [SEC:L-2])
+app.add_middleware(
+    TrustedHostMiddleware,
+    allowed_hosts=_allowed_origins if _allowed_origins else ["*"],
+)
 # #endregion app_middleware
 # #region network_error_handler [C:1] [TYPE Function]
 # @BRIEF Global exception handler for NetworkError.
diff --git a/backend/src/schemas/auth.py b/backend/src/schemas/auth.py
index b71312dd..23706f55 100644
--- a/backend/src/schemas/auth.py
+++ b/backend/src/schemas/auth.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 # @INVARIANT  Sensitive fields like password must not be included in response schemas.
 # @DATA_CONTRACT  AuthPayload -> AuthSchema
 
+import re
 from datetime import datetime
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel, EmailStr, Field, field_validator
@@ -103,6 +104,19 @@ class ADGroupMappingCreate(BaseModel):
     ad_group: str
     role_id: str
 
+    @field_validator("ad_group")
+    @classmethod
+    def validate_ad_group(cls, v: str) -> str:
+        if not v or not v.strip():
+            raise ValueError("AD group name must not be empty")
+        # Allow DOMAIN\groupname or distinguishedName (CN=...,DC=...) formats
+        if not re.match(r'^[A-Za-z0-9_.@()=\\\\-]+$', v):
+            raise ValueError(
+                "AD group name contains invalid characters. "
+                "Use format: DOMAIN\\groupname or CN=groupname,DC=domain"
+            )
+        return v.strip()
+
 
 # #endregion ADGroupMappingCreate