diff --git a/docs/user-guide/nginx-configuration/annotations.md b/docs/user-guide/nginx-configuration/annotations.md
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 0be636124f..830ab4f77f
--- a/docs/user-guide/nginx-configuration/annotations.md
+++ b/docs/user-guide/nginx-configuration/annotations.md
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ You can add these Kubernetes annotations to specific Ingress objects to customiz
 |[nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/auth-tls-pass-certificate-to-upstream](#client-certificate-authentication)|"true" or "false"|
 |[nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/auth-url](#external-authentication)|string|
 |[nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/auth-snippet](#external-authentication)|string|
+|[nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/enable-global-auth](#external-authentication)|"true" or "false"|
 |[nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/backend-protocol](#backend-protocol)|string|HTTP,HTTPS,GRPC,GRPCS,AJP|
 |[nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/canary](#canary)|"true" or "false"|
 |[nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/canary-by-header](#canary)|string|
@@ -389,6 +390,14 @@ nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/auth-snippet: |
 !!! example
     Please check the [external-auth](../../examples/auth/external-auth/README.md) example.
 
+#### Global External Authentication
+
+By default the controller redirects all requests to an existing service that provides authentication if `global-auth-url` is set in the NGINX ConfigMap. If you want to disable this behavior for that ingress, you can use `enable-global-auth: "false"` in the NGINX ConfigMap.
+`nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/enable-global-auth`:
+   indicates if GlobalExternalAuth configuration should be applied or not to this Ingress rule. Default values is set to `"true"`.
+
+!!! note For more information please see [global-auth-url](./configmap.md#global-auth-url).
+
 ### Rate limiting
 
 These annotations define a limit on the connections that can be opened by a single client IP address.
diff --git a/docs/user-guide/nginx-configuration/configmap.md b/docs/user-guide/nginx-configuration/configmap.md
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index d13d49149c..37974a67c7
--- a/docs/user-guide/nginx-configuration/configmap.md
+++ b/docs/user-guide/nginx-configuration/configmap.md
@@ -152,6 +152,12 @@ The following table shows a configuration option's name, type, and the default v
 |[limit-req-status-code](#limit-req-status-code)|int|503|
 |[limit-conn-status-code](#limit-conn-status-code)|int|503|
 |[no-tls-redirect-locations](#no-tls-redirect-locations)|string|"/.well-known/acme-challenge"|
+|[global-auth-url](#global-auth-url)|string|""|
+|[global-auth-method](#global-auth-method)|string|""|
+|[global-auth-signin](#global-auth-signin)|string|""|
+|[global-auth-response-headers](#global-auth-response-headers)|string|""|
+|[global-auth-request-redirect](#global-auth-request-redirect)|string|""|
+|[global-auth-snippet](#global-auth-snippet)|string|""|
 |[no-auth-locations](#no-auth-locations)|string|"/.well-known/acme-challenge"|
 |[block-cidrs](#block-cidrs)|[]string|""|
 |[block-user-agents](#block-user-agents)|[]string|""|
@@ -864,6 +870,45 @@ Sets the [status code to return in response to rejected connections](http://ngin
 A comma-separated list of locations on which http requests will never get redirected to their https counterpart.
 _**default:**_ "/.well-known/acme-challenge"
 
+## global-auth-url
+
+A url to an existing service that provides authentication for all the locations.
+Similar to the Ingress rule annotation `nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/auth-url`.
+Locations that should not get authenticated can be listed using `no-auth-locations` See [no-auth-locations](#no-auth-locations). In addition, each service can be excluded from authentication via annotation `enable-global-auth` set to "false".
+_**default:**_ ""
+
+_References:_ [https://github.com/kubernetes/ingress-nginx/blob/master/docs/user-guide/nginx-configuration/annotations.md#external-authentication](https://github.com/kubernetes/ingress-nginx/blob/master/docs/user-guide/nginx-configuration/annotations.md#external-authentication)
+
+## global-auth-method
+
+A HTTP method to use for an existing service that provides authentication for all the locations.
+Similar to the Ingress rule annotation `nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/auth-method`.
+_**default:**_ ""
+
+## global-auth-signin
+
+Sets the location of the error page for an existing service that provides authentication for all the locations.
+Similar to the Ingress rule annotation `nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/auth-signin`.
+_**default:**_ ""
+
+## global-auth-response-headers
+
+Sets the headers to pass to backend once authentication request completes. Applied to all the locations.
+Similar to the Ingress rule annotation `nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/auth-response-headers`.
+_**default:**_ ""
+
+## global-auth-request-redirect
+
+Sets the X-Auth-Request-Redirect header value. Applied to all the locations.
+Similar to the Ingress rule annotation `nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/auth-request-redirect`.
+_**default:**_ ""
+
+## global-auth-snippet
+
+Sets a custom snippet to use with external authentication. Applied to all the locations.
+Similar to the Ingress rule annotation `nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/auth-request-redirect`.
+_**default:**_ ""
+
 ## no-auth-locations
 
 A comma-separated list of locations that should not get authenticated.
diff --git a/internal/ingress/annotations/annotations.go b/internal/ingress/annotations/annotations.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index b803ebedc9..32ebe6c05c
--- a/internal/ingress/annotations/annotations.go
+++ b/internal/ingress/annotations/annotations.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/annotations/alias"
 	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/annotations/auth"
 	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/annotations/authreq"
+	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/annotations/authreqglobal"
 	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/annotations/authtls"
 	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/annotations/backendprotocol"
 	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/annotations/clientbodybuffersize"
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ type Ingress struct {
 	//TODO: Change this back into an error when https://github.com/imdario/mergo/issues/100 is resolved
 	Denied             *string
 	ExternalAuth       authreq.Config
+	EnableGlobalAuth   bool
 	HTTP2PushPreload   bool
 	Proxy              proxy.Config
 	RateLimit          ratelimit.Config
@@ -127,6 +129,7 @@ func NewAnnotationExtractor(cfg resolver.Resolver) Extractor {
 			"CustomHTTPErrors":     customhttperrors.NewParser(cfg),
 			"DefaultBackend":       defaultbackend.NewParser(cfg),
 			"ExternalAuth":         authreq.NewParser(cfg),
+			"EnableGlobalAuth":     authreqglobal.NewParser(cfg),
 			"HTTP2PushPreload":     http2pushpreload.NewParser(cfg),
 			"Proxy":                proxy.NewParser(cfg),
 			"RateLimit":            ratelimit.NewParser(cfg),
diff --git a/internal/ingress/annotations/authreq/main.go b/internal/ingress/annotations/authreq/main.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 93666d1aaf..4721c8d5ee
--- a/internal/ingress/annotations/authreq/main.go
+++ b/internal/ingress/annotations/authreq/main.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package authreq
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"net/url"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
@@ -84,7 +85,8 @@ var (
 	headerRegexp = regexp.MustCompile(`^[a-zA-Z\d\-_]+$`)
 )
 
-func validMethod(method string) bool {
+// ValidMethod checks is the provided string a valid HTTP method
+func ValidMethod(method string) bool {
 	if len(method) == 0 {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -97,7 +99,8 @@ func validMethod(method string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func validHeader(header string) bool {
+// ValidHeader checks is the provided string satisfies the header's name regex
+func ValidHeader(header string) bool {
 	return headerRegexp.Match([]byte(header))
 }
 
@@ -119,22 +122,13 @@ func (a authReq) Parse(ing *extensions.Ingress) (interface{}, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	authURL, err := url.Parse(urlString)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if authURL.Scheme == "" {
-		return nil, ing_errors.NewLocationDenied("url scheme is empty")
-	}
-	if authURL.Host == "" {
-		return nil, ing_errors.NewLocationDenied("url host is empty")
-	}
-	if strings.Contains(authURL.Host, "..") {
-		return nil, ing_errors.NewLocationDenied("invalid url host")
+	authURL, message := ParseStringToURL(urlString)
+	if authURL == nil {
+		return nil, ing_errors.NewLocationDenied(message)
 	}
 
 	authMethod, _ := parser.GetStringAnnotation("auth-method", ing)
-	if len(authMethod) != 0 && !validMethod(authMethod) {
+	if len(authMethod) != 0 && !ValidMethod(authMethod) {
 		return nil, ing_errors.NewLocationDenied("invalid HTTP method")
 	}
 
@@ -156,7 +150,7 @@ func (a authReq) Parse(ing *extensions.Ingress) (interface{}, error) {
 		for _, header := range harr {
 			header = strings.TrimSpace(header)
 			if len(header) > 0 {
-				if !validHeader(header) {
+				if !ValidHeader(header) {
 					return nil, ing_errors.NewLocationDenied("invalid headers list")
 				}
 				responseHeaders = append(responseHeaders, header)
@@ -176,3 +170,22 @@ func (a authReq) Parse(ing *extensions.Ingress) (interface{}, error) {
 		AuthSnippet:     authSnippet,
 	}, nil
 }
+
+// ParseStringToURL parses the provided string into URL and returns error
+// message in case of failure
+func ParseStringToURL(input string) (*url.URL, string) {
+
+	parsedURL, err := url.Parse(input)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Sprintf("%v is not a valid URL: %v", input, err)
+	}
+	if parsedURL.Scheme == "" {
+		return nil, "url scheme is empty."
+	} else if parsedURL.Host == "" {
+		return nil, "url host is empty."
+	} else if strings.Contains(parsedURL.Host, "..") {
+		return nil, "invalid url host."
+	}
+	return parsedURL, ""
+
+}
diff --git a/internal/ingress/annotations/authreq/main_test.go b/internal/ingress/annotations/authreq/main_test.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index c9aebc6784..767ae53fc4
--- a/internal/ingress/annotations/authreq/main_test.go
+++ b/internal/ingress/annotations/authreq/main_test.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package authreq
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -178,3 +179,38 @@ func TestHeaderAnnotations(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestParseStringToURL(t *testing.T) {
+	validURL := "http://bar.foo.com/external-auth"
+	validParsedURL, _ := url.Parse(validURL)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		title   string
+		url     string
+		message string
+		parsed  *url.URL
+		expErr  bool
+	}{
+		{"empty", "", "url scheme is empty.", nil, true},
+		{"no scheme", "bar", "url scheme is empty.", nil, true},
+		{"invalid host", "http://", "url host is empty.", nil, true},
+		{"invalid host (multiple dots)", "http://foo..bar.com", "invalid url host.", nil, true},
+		{"valid URL", validURL, "", validParsedURL, false},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+
+		i, err := ParseStringToURL(test.url)
+		if test.expErr {
+			if err != test.message {
+				t.Errorf("%v: expected error \"%v\" but \"%v\" was returned", test.title, test.message, err)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if i.String() != test.parsed.String() {
+			t.Errorf("%v: expected \"%v\" but \"%v\" was returned", test.title, test.parsed, i)
+		}
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/internal/ingress/annotations/authreqglobal/main.go b/internal/ingress/annotations/authreqglobal/main.go
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..e8c976f3cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/ingress/annotations/authreqglobal/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2015 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package authreqglobal
+
+import (
+	extensions "k8s.io/api/extensions/v1beta1"
+
+	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/annotations/parser"
+	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/resolver"
+)
+
+type authReqGlobal struct {
+	r resolver.Resolver
+}
+
+// NewParser creates a new authentication request annotation parser
+func NewParser(r resolver.Resolver) parser.IngressAnnotation {
+	return authReqGlobal{r}
+}
+
+// ParseAnnotations parses the annotations contained in the ingress
+// rule used to enable or disable global external authentication
+func (a authReqGlobal) Parse(ing *extensions.Ingress) (interface{}, error) {
+
+	enableGlobalAuth, err := parser.GetBoolAnnotation("enable-global-auth", ing)
+	if err != nil {
+		enableGlobalAuth = true
+	}
+
+	return enableGlobalAuth, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/ingress/annotations/authreqglobal/main_test.go b/internal/ingress/annotations/authreqglobal/main_test.go
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..4f686c05a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/ingress/annotations/authreqglobal/main_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2015 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package authreqglobal
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	api "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	extensions "k8s.io/api/extensions/v1beta1"
+	meta_v1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/annotations/parser"
+	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/resolver"
+
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/intstr"
+)
+
+func buildIngress() *extensions.Ingress {
+	defaultBackend := extensions.IngressBackend{
+		ServiceName: "default-backend",
+		ServicePort: intstr.FromInt(80),
+	}
+
+	return &extensions.Ingress{
+		ObjectMeta: meta_v1.ObjectMeta{
+			Name:      "foo",
+			Namespace: api.NamespaceDefault,
+		},
+		Spec: extensions.IngressSpec{
+			Backend: &extensions.IngressBackend{
+				ServiceName: "default-backend",
+				ServicePort: intstr.FromInt(80),
+			},
+			Rules: []extensions.IngressRule{
+				{
+					Host: "foo.bar.com",
+					IngressRuleValue: extensions.IngressRuleValue{
+						HTTP: &extensions.HTTPIngressRuleValue{
+							Paths: []extensions.HTTPIngressPath{
+								{
+									Path:    "/foo",
+									Backend: defaultBackend,
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAnnotation(t *testing.T) {
+	ing := buildIngress()
+
+	data := map[string]string{}
+	data[parser.GetAnnotationWithPrefix("auth-url")] = "http://foo.com/external-auth"
+	data[parser.GetAnnotationWithPrefix("enable-global-auth")] = "false"
+	ing.SetAnnotations(data)
+
+	i, _ := NewParser(&resolver.Mock{}).Parse(ing)
+	u, ok := i.(bool)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Errorf("expected a Config type")
+	}
+	if u {
+		t.Errorf("Expected false but returned true")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/ingress/controller/config/config.go b/internal/ingress/controller/config/config.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 961c862bba..f068564068
--- a/internal/ingress/controller/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/ingress/controller/config/config.go
@@ -563,6 +563,11 @@ type Configuration struct {
 	// should not get authenticated
 	NoAuthLocations string `json:"no-auth-locations"`
 
+	// GlobalExternalAuth indicates the access to all locations requires
+	// authentication using an external provider
+	// +optional
+	GlobalExternalAuth GlobalExternalAuth `json:"global-external-auth"`
+
 	// DisableLuaRestyWAF disables lua-resty-waf globally regardless
 	// of whether there's an ingress that has enabled the WAF using annotation
 	DisableLuaRestyWAF bool `json:"disable-lua-resty-waf"`
@@ -592,11 +597,13 @@ func NewDefault() Configuration {
 	defBlockEntity := make([]string, 0)
 	defNginxStatusIpv4Whitelist := make([]string, 0)
 	defNginxStatusIpv6Whitelist := make([]string, 0)
+	defResponseHeaders := make([]string, 0)
 
 	defIPCIDR = append(defIPCIDR, "0.0.0.0/0")
 	defNginxStatusIpv4Whitelist = append(defNginxStatusIpv4Whitelist, "127.0.0.1")
 	defNginxStatusIpv6Whitelist = append(defNginxStatusIpv6Whitelist, "::1")
 	defProxyDeadlineDuration := time.Duration(5) * time.Second
+	defGlobalExternalAuth := GlobalExternalAuth{"", "", "", "", append(defResponseHeaders, ""), "", ""}
 
 	cfg := Configuration{
 		AllowBackendServerHeader:         false,
@@ -715,6 +722,7 @@ func NewDefault() Configuration {
 		SyslogPort:                   514,
 		NoTLSRedirectLocations:       "/.well-known/acme-challenge",
 		NoAuthLocations:              "/.well-known/acme-challenge",
+		GlobalExternalAuth:           defGlobalExternalAuth,
 	}
 
 	if klog.V(5) {
@@ -772,3 +780,16 @@ type ListenPorts struct {
 	Default  int
 	SSLProxy int
 }
+
+// GlobalExternalAuth describe external authentication configuration for the
+// NGINX Ingress controller
+type GlobalExternalAuth struct {
+	URL string `json:"url"`
+	// Host contains the hostname defined in the URL
+	Host            string   `json:"host"`
+	SigninURL       string   `json:"signinUrl"`
+	Method          string   `json:"method"`
+	ResponseHeaders []string `json:"responseHeaders,omitempty"`
+	RequestRedirect string   `json:"requestRedirect"`
+	AuthSnippet     string   `json:"authSnippet"`
+}
diff --git a/internal/ingress/controller/controller.go b/internal/ingress/controller/controller.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index f0fc95d839..4af63c17f1
--- a/internal/ingress/controller/controller.go
+++ b/internal/ingress/controller/controller.go
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ type Configuration struct {
 	ValidationWebhook         string
 	ValidationWebhookCertPath string
 	ValidationWebhookKeyPath  string
+
+	GlobalExternalAuth *ngx_config.GlobalExternalAuth
 }
 
 // GetPublishService returns the Service used to set the load-balancer status of Ingresses.
@@ -1151,6 +1153,7 @@ func locationApplyAnnotations(loc *ingress.Location, anns *annotations.Ingress)
 	loc.ConfigurationSnippet = anns.ConfigurationSnippet
 	loc.CorsConfig = anns.CorsConfig
 	loc.ExternalAuth = anns.ExternalAuth
+	loc.EnableGlobalAuth = anns.EnableGlobalAuth
 	loc.HTTP2PushPreload = anns.HTTP2PushPreload
 	loc.Proxy = anns.Proxy
 	loc.RateLimit = anns.RateLimit
diff --git a/internal/ingress/controller/nginx.go b/internal/ingress/controller/nginx.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
diff --git a/internal/ingress/controller/store/store.go b/internal/ingress/controller/store/store.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
diff --git a/internal/ingress/controller/store/store_test.go b/internal/ingress/controller/store/store_test.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
diff --git a/internal/ingress/controller/template/configmap.go b/internal/ingress/controller/template/configmap.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 0d09548497..6eaafc42cc
--- a/internal/ingress/controller/template/configmap.go
+++ b/internal/ingress/controller/template/configmap.go
@@ -29,27 +29,34 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mitchellh/mapstructure"
 
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
+	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/annotations/authreq"
 	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/ingress/controller/config"
 	ing_net "k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/net"
 	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/internal/runtime"
 )
 
 const (
-	customHTTPErrors         = "custom-http-errors"
-	skipAccessLogUrls        = "skip-access-log-urls"
-	whitelistSourceRange     = "whitelist-source-range"
-	proxyRealIPCIDR          = "proxy-real-ip-cidr"
-	bindAddress              = "bind-address"
-	httpRedirectCode         = "http-redirect-code"
-	blockCIDRs               = "block-cidrs"
-	blockUserAgents          = "block-user-agents"
-	blockReferers            = "block-referers"
-	proxyStreamResponses     = "proxy-stream-responses"
-	hideHeaders              = "hide-headers"
-	nginxStatusIpv4Whitelist = "nginx-status-ipv4-whitelist"
-	nginxStatusIpv6Whitelist = "nginx-status-ipv6-whitelist"
-	proxyHeaderTimeout       = "proxy-protocol-header-timeout"
-	workerProcesses          = "worker-processes"
+	customHTTPErrors          = "custom-http-errors"
+	skipAccessLogUrls         = "skip-access-log-urls"
+	whitelistSourceRange      = "whitelist-source-range"
+	proxyRealIPCIDR           = "proxy-real-ip-cidr"
+	bindAddress               = "bind-address"
+	httpRedirectCode          = "http-redirect-code"
+	blockCIDRs                = "block-cidrs"
+	blockUserAgents           = "block-user-agents"
+	blockReferers             = "block-referers"
+	proxyStreamResponses      = "proxy-stream-responses"
+	hideHeaders               = "hide-headers"
+	nginxStatusIpv4Whitelist  = "nginx-status-ipv4-whitelist"
+	nginxStatusIpv6Whitelist  = "nginx-status-ipv6-whitelist"
+	proxyHeaderTimeout        = "proxy-protocol-header-timeout"
+	workerProcesses           = "worker-processes"
+	globalAuthURL             = "global-auth-url"
+	globalAuthMethod          = "global-auth-method"
+	globalAuthSignin          = "global-auth-signin"
+	globalAuthResponseHeaders = "global-auth-response-headers"
+	globalAuthRequestRedirect = "global-auth-request-redirect"
+	globalAuthSnippet         = "global-auth-snippet"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -77,6 +84,7 @@ func ReadConfig(src map[string]string) config.Configuration {
 	blockCIDRList := make([]string, 0)
 	blockUserAgentList := make([]string, 0)
 	blockRefererList := make([]string, 0)
+	responseHeaders := make([]string, 0)
 
 	if val, ok := conf[customHTTPErrors]; ok {
 		delete(conf, customHTTPErrors)
@@ -150,6 +158,74 @@ func ReadConfig(src map[string]string) config.Configuration {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Verify that the configured global external authorization URL is parsable as URL. if not, set the default value
+	if val, ok := conf[globalAuthURL]; ok {
+		delete(conf, globalAuthURL)
+
+		authURL, message := authreq.ParseStringToURL(val)
+		if authURL == nil {
+			klog.Warningf("Global auth location denied - %v.", message)
+		} else {
+			to.GlobalExternalAuth.URL = val
+			to.GlobalExternalAuth.Host = authURL.Hostname()
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Verify that the configured global external authorization method is a valid HTTP method. if not, set the default value
+	if val, ok := conf[globalAuthMethod]; ok {
+		delete(conf, globalAuthMethod)
+
+		if len(val) != 0 && !authreq.ValidMethod(val) {
+			klog.Warningf("Global auth location denied - %v.", "invalid HTTP method")
+		} else {
+			to.GlobalExternalAuth.Method = val
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Verify that the configured global external authorization error page is set and valid. if not, set the default value
+	if val, ok := conf[globalAuthSignin]; ok {
+		delete(conf, globalAuthSignin)
+
+		signinURL, _ := authreq.ParseStringToURL(val)
+		if signinURL == nil {
+			klog.Warningf("Global auth location denied - %v.", "global-auth-signin setting is undefined and will not be set")
+		} else {
+			to.GlobalExternalAuth.SigninURL = val
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Verify that the configured global external authorization response headers are valid. if not, set the default value
+	if val, ok := conf[globalAuthResponseHeaders]; ok {
+		delete(conf, globalAuthResponseHeaders)
+
+		if len(val) != 0 {
+			harr := strings.Split(val, ",")
+			for _, header := range harr {
+				header = strings.TrimSpace(header)
+				if len(header) > 0 {
+					if !authreq.ValidHeader(header) {
+						klog.Warningf("Global auth location denied - %v.", "invalid headers list")
+					} else {
+						responseHeaders = append(responseHeaders, header)
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		to.GlobalExternalAuth.ResponseHeaders = responseHeaders
+	}
+
+	if val, ok := conf[globalAuthRequestRedirect]; ok {
+		delete(conf, globalAuthRequestRedirect)
+
+		to.GlobalExternalAuth.RequestRedirect = val
+	}
+
+	if val, ok := conf[globalAuthSnippet]; ok {
+		delete(conf, globalAuthSnippet)
+
+		to.GlobalExternalAuth.AuthSnippet = val
+	}
+
 	// Verify that the configured timeout is parsable as a duration. if not, set the default value
 	if val, ok := conf[proxyHeaderTimeout]; ok {
 		delete(conf, proxyHeaderTimeout)
diff --git a/internal/ingress/controller/template/configmap_test.go b/internal/ingress/controller/template/configmap_test.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 328169bdcf..0c1bc8e584
--- a/internal/ingress/controller/template/configmap_test.go
+++ b/internal/ingress/controller/template/configmap_test.go
@@ -153,3 +153,121 @@ func TestMergeConfigMapToStruct(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected diff: (-got +want)\n%s", diff)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestGlobalExternalAuthURLParsing(t *testing.T) {
+	errorURL := ""
+	validURL := "http://bar.foo.com/external-auth"
+
+	testCases := map[string]struct {
+		url    string
+		expect string
+	}{
+		"no scheme":                    {"bar", errorURL},
+		"invalid host":                 {"http://", errorURL},
+		"invalid host (multiple dots)": {"http://foo..bar.com", errorURL},
+		"valid URL":                    {validURL, validURL},
+	}
+
+	for n, tc := range testCases {
+		cfg := ReadConfig(map[string]string{"global-auth-url": tc.url})
+		if cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.URL != tc.expect {
+			t.Errorf("Testing %v. Expected \"%v\" but \"%v\" was returned", n, tc.expect, cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.URL)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGlobalExternalAuthMethodParsing(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := map[string]struct {
+		method string
+		expect string
+	}{
+		"invalid method": {"FOO", ""},
+		"valid method":   {"POST", "POST"},
+	}
+
+	for n, tc := range testCases {
+		cfg := ReadConfig(map[string]string{"global-auth-method": tc.method})
+		if cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.Method != tc.expect {
+			t.Errorf("Testing %v. Expected \"%v\" but \"%v\" was returned", n, tc.expect, cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.Method)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGlobalExternalAuthSigninParsing(t *testing.T) {
+	errorURL := ""
+	validURL := "http://bar.foo.com/auth-error-page"
+
+	testCases := map[string]struct {
+		signin string
+		expect string
+	}{
+		"no scheme":                    {"bar", errorURL},
+		"invalid host":                 {"http://", errorURL},
+		"invalid host (multiple dots)": {"http://foo..bar.com", errorURL},
+		"valid URL":                    {validURL, validURL},
+	}
+
+	for n, tc := range testCases {
+		cfg := ReadConfig(map[string]string{"global-auth-signin": tc.signin})
+		if cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.SigninURL != tc.expect {
+			t.Errorf("Testing %v. Expected \"%v\" but \"%v\" was returned", n, tc.expect, cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.SigninURL)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGlobalExternalAuthResponseHeadersParsing(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := map[string]struct {
+		headers string
+		expect  []string
+	}{
+		"single header":                 {"h1", []string{"h1"}},
+		"nothing":                       {"", []string{}},
+		"spaces":                        {"  ", []string{}},
+		"two headers":                   {"1,2", []string{"1", "2"}},
+		"two headers and empty entries": {",1,,2,", []string{"1", "2"}},
+		"header with spaces":            {"1 2", []string{}},
+		"header with other bad symbols": {"1+2", []string{}},
+	}
+
+	for n, tc := range testCases {
+		cfg := ReadConfig(map[string]string{"global-auth-response-headers": tc.headers})
+
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.ResponseHeaders, tc.expect) {
+			t.Errorf("Testing %v. Expected \"%v\" but \"%v\" was returned", n, tc.expect, cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.ResponseHeaders)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGlobalExternalAuthRequestRedirectParsing(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := map[string]struct {
+		requestRedirect string
+		expect          string
+	}{
+		"empty":                  {"", ""},
+		"valid request redirect": {"http://foo.com/redirect-me", "http://foo.com/redirect-me"},
+	}
+
+	for n, tc := range testCases {
+		cfg := ReadConfig(map[string]string{"global-auth-request-redirect": tc.requestRedirect})
+		if cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.RequestRedirect != tc.expect {
+			t.Errorf("Testing %v. Expected \"%v\" but \"%v\" was returned", n, tc.expect, cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.RequestRedirect)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGlobalExternalAuthSnippetParsing(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := map[string]struct {
+		authSnippet string
+		expect      string
+	}{
+		"empty":        {"", ""},
+		"auth snippet": {"proxy_set_header My-Custom-Header 42;", "proxy_set_header My-Custom-Header 42;"},
+	}
+
+	for n, tc := range testCases {
+		cfg := ReadConfig(map[string]string{"global-auth-snippet": tc.authSnippet})
+		if cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.AuthSnippet != tc.expect {
+			t.Errorf("Testing %v. Expected \"%v\" but \"%v\" was returned", n, tc.expect, cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.AuthSnippet)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/ingress/controller/template/template.go b/internal/ingress/controller/template/template.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 2183715c15..ae750d2e6d
--- a/internal/ingress/controller/template/template.go
+++ b/internal/ingress/controller/template/template.go
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ var (
 		"buildLuaSharedDictionaries": buildLuaSharedDictionaries,
 		"buildLocation":              buildLocation,
 		"buildAuthLocation":          buildAuthLocation,
+		"shouldApplyGlobalAuth":      shouldApplyGlobalAuth,
 		"buildAuthResponseHeaders":   buildAuthResponseHeaders,
 		"buildProxyPass":             buildProxyPass,
 		"filterRateLimits":           filterRateLimits,
@@ -397,14 +398,14 @@ func buildLocation(input interface{}, enforceRegex bool) string {
 	return path
 }
 
-func buildAuthLocation(input interface{}) string {
+func buildAuthLocation(input interface{}, globalExternalAuthURL string) string {
 	location, ok := input.(*ingress.Location)
 	if !ok {
 		klog.Errorf("expected an '*ingress.Location' type but %T was returned", input)
 		return ""
 	}
 
-	if location.ExternalAuth.URL == "" {
+	if (location.ExternalAuth.URL == "") && (!shouldApplyGlobalAuth(input, globalExternalAuthURL)) {
 		return ""
 	}
 
@@ -414,19 +415,29 @@ func buildAuthLocation(input interface{}) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("/_external-auth-%v", str)
 }
 
-func buildAuthResponseHeaders(input interface{}) []string {
+// shouldApplyGlobalAuth returns true only in case when ExternalAuth.URL is not set and
+// GlobalExternalAuth is set and enabled
+func shouldApplyGlobalAuth(input interface{}, globalExternalAuthURL string) bool {
 	location, ok := input.(*ingress.Location)
-	res := []string{}
 	if !ok {
 		klog.Errorf("expected an '*ingress.Location' type but %T was returned", input)
-		return res
 	}
 
-	if len(location.ExternalAuth.ResponseHeaders) == 0 {
+	if (location.ExternalAuth.URL == "") && (globalExternalAuthURL != "") && (location.EnableGlobalAuth) {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
+func buildAuthResponseHeaders(headers []string) []string {
+	res := []string{}
+
+	if len(headers) == 0 {
 		return res
 	}
 
-	for i, h := range location.ExternalAuth.ResponseHeaders {
+	for i, h := range headers {
 		hvar := strings.ToLower(h)
 		hvar = strings.NewReplacer("-", "_").Replace(hvar)
 		res = append(res, fmt.Sprintf("auth_request_set $authHeader%v $upstream_http_%v;", i, hvar))
diff --git a/internal/ingress/controller/template/template_test.go b/internal/ingress/controller/template/template_test.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index e5fa6c5c11..5ddc0eef1a
--- a/internal/ingress/controller/template/template_test.go
+++ b/internal/ingress/controller/template/template_test.go
@@ -283,51 +283,106 @@ func TestBuildProxyPass(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBuildAuthLocation(t *testing.T) {
 	invalidType := &ingress.Ingress{}
 	expected := ""
-	actual := buildAuthLocation(invalidType)
+	actual := buildAuthLocation(invalidType, "")
 
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(expected, actual) {
 		t.Errorf("Expected '%v' but returned '%v'", expected, actual)
 	}
 
 	authURL := "foo.com/auth"
+	globalAuthURL := "foo.com/global-auth"
 
 	loc := &ingress.Location{
 		ExternalAuth: authreq.Config{
 			URL: authURL,
 		},
-		Path: "/cat",
+		Path:             "/cat",
+		EnableGlobalAuth: true,
 	}
 
-	str := buildAuthLocation(loc)
-
 	encodedAuthURL := strings.Replace(base64.URLEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(loc.Path)), "=", "", -1)
-	expected = fmt.Sprintf("/_external-auth-%v", encodedAuthURL)
+	externalAuthPath := fmt.Sprintf("/_external-auth-%v", encodedAuthURL)
 
-	if str != expected {
-		t.Errorf("Expected \n'%v'\nbut returned \n'%v'", expected, str)
+	testCases := []struct {
+		title                    string
+		authURL                  string
+		globalAuthURL            string
+		enableglobalExternalAuth bool
+		expected                 string
+	}{
+		{"authURL, globalAuthURL and enabled", authURL, globalAuthURL, true, externalAuthPath},
+		{"authURL, globalAuthURL and disabled", authURL, globalAuthURL, false, externalAuthPath},
+		{"authURL, empty globalAuthURL and enabled", authURL, "", true, externalAuthPath},
+		{"authURL, empty globalAuthURL and disabled", authURL, "", false, externalAuthPath},
+		{"globalAuthURL and enabled", "", globalAuthURL, true, externalAuthPath},
+		{"globalAuthURL and disabled", "", globalAuthURL, false, ""},
+		{"all empty and enabled", "", "", true, ""},
+		{"all empty and disabled", "", "", false, ""},
 	}
-}
 
-func TestBuildAuthResponseHeaders(t *testing.T) {
-	invalidType := &ingress.Ingress{}
-	expected := []string{}
-	actual := buildAuthResponseHeaders(invalidType)
+	for _, testCase := range testCases {
+		loc.ExternalAuth.URL = testCase.authURL
+		loc.EnableGlobalAuth = testCase.enableglobalExternalAuth
 
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(expected, actual) {
-		t.Errorf("Expected '%v' but returned '%v'", expected, actual)
+		str := buildAuthLocation(loc, testCase.globalAuthURL)
+		if str != testCase.expected {
+			t.Errorf("%v: expected '%v' but returned '%v'", testCase.title, testCase.expected, str)
+		}
 	}
+}
+
+func TestShouldApplyGlobalAuth(t *testing.T) {
+
+	authURL := "foo.com/auth"
+	globalAuthURL := "foo.com/global-auth"
 
 	loc := &ingress.Location{
-		ExternalAuth: authreq.Config{ResponseHeaders: []string{"h1", "H-With-Caps-And-Dashes"}},
+		ExternalAuth: authreq.Config{
+			URL: authURL,
+		},
+		Path:             "/cat",
+		EnableGlobalAuth: true,
+	}
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		title                    string
+		authURL                  string
+		globalAuthURL            string
+		enableglobalExternalAuth bool
+		expected                 bool
+	}{
+		{"authURL, globalAuthURL and enabled", authURL, globalAuthURL, true, false},
+		{"authURL, globalAuthURL and disabled", authURL, globalAuthURL, false, false},
+		{"authURL, empty globalAuthURL and enabled", authURL, "", true, false},
+		{"authURL, empty globalAuthURL and disabled", authURL, "", false, false},
+		{"globalAuthURL and enabled", "", globalAuthURL, true, true},
+		{"globalAuthURL and disabled", "", globalAuthURL, false, false},
+		{"all empty and enabled", "", "", true, false},
+		{"all empty and disabled", "", "", false, false},
+	}
+
+	for _, testCase := range testCases {
+		loc.ExternalAuth.URL = testCase.authURL
+		loc.EnableGlobalAuth = testCase.enableglobalExternalAuth
+
+		result := shouldApplyGlobalAuth(loc, testCase.globalAuthURL)
+		if result != testCase.expected {
+			t.Errorf("%v: expected '%v' but returned '%v'", testCase.title, testCase.expected, result)
+		}
 	}
-	headers := buildAuthResponseHeaders(loc)
-	expected = []string{
+}
+
+func TestBuildAuthResponseHeaders(t *testing.T) {
+	externalAuthResponseHeaders := []string{"h1", "H-With-Caps-And-Dashes"}
+	expected := []string{
 		"auth_request_set $authHeader0 $upstream_http_h1;",
 		"proxy_set_header 'h1' $authHeader0;",
 		"auth_request_set $authHeader1 $upstream_http_h_with_caps_and_dashes;",
 		"proxy_set_header 'H-With-Caps-And-Dashes' $authHeader1;",
 	}
 
+	headers := buildAuthResponseHeaders(externalAuthResponseHeaders)
+
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(expected, headers) {
 		t.Errorf("Expected \n'%v'\nbut returned \n'%v'", expected, headers)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/ingress/types.go b/internal/ingress/types.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 5483914f28..54afa9a180
--- a/internal/ingress/types.go
+++ b/internal/ingress/types.go
@@ -246,6 +246,9 @@ type Location struct {
 	// authentication using an external provider
 	// +optional
 	ExternalAuth authreq.Config `json:"externalAuth,omitempty"`
+	// EnableGlobalAuth indicates if the access to this location requires
+	// authentication using an external provider defined in controller's config
+	EnableGlobalAuth bool `json:"enableGlobalAuth"`
 	// HTTP2PushPreload allows to configure the HTTP2 Push Preload from backend
 	// original location.
 	// +optional
diff --git a/internal/ingress/types_equals.go b/internal/ingress/types_equals.go
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index f838bb0aa0..d3ec2b2aba
--- a/internal/ingress/types_equals.go
+++ b/internal/ingress/types_equals.go
@@ -352,6 +352,9 @@ func (l1 *Location) Equal(l2 *Location) bool {
 	if !(&l1.ExternalAuth).Equal(&l2.ExternalAuth) {
 		return false
 	}
+	if l1.EnableGlobalAuth != l2.EnableGlobalAuth {
+		return false
+	}
 	if l1.HTTP2PushPreload != l2.HTTP2PushPreload {
 		return false
 	}
diff --git a/rootfs/etc/nginx/template/nginx.tmpl b/rootfs/etc/nginx/template/nginx.tmpl
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 2f7b66e4b3..4125d7ae4a
--- a/rootfs/etc/nginx/template/nginx.tmpl
+++ b/rootfs/etc/nginx/template/nginx.tmpl
@@ -894,7 +894,13 @@ stream {
         {{ range $location := $server.Locations }}
         {{ $path := buildLocation $location $enforceRegex }}
         {{ $proxySetHeader := proxySetHeader $location }}
-        {{ $authPath := buildAuthLocation $location }}
+        {{ $authPath := buildAuthLocation $location $all.Cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.URL }}
+        {{ $applyGlobalAuth := shouldApplyGlobalAuth $location $all.Cfg.GlobalExternalAuth.URL }}
+
+        {{ $externalAuth := $location.ExternalAuth }}
+        {{ if eq $applyGlobalAuth true }}
+        {{ $externalAuth = $all.Cfg.GlobalExternalAuth }}
+        {{ end }}
 
         {{ if not (empty $location.Rewrite.AppRoot)}}
         if ($uri = /) {
@@ -915,13 +921,13 @@ stream {
             proxy_set_header            Content-Length "";
             proxy_set_header            X-Forwarded-Proto "";
 
-            {{ if $location.ExternalAuth.Method }}
-            proxy_method                {{ $location.ExternalAuth.Method }};
+            {{ if $externalAuth.Method }}
+            proxy_method                {{ $externalAuth.Method }};
             proxy_set_header            X-Original-URI          $request_uri;
             proxy_set_header            X-Scheme                $pass_access_scheme;
             {{ end }}
 
-            proxy_set_header            Host                    {{ $location.ExternalAuth.Host }};
+            proxy_set_header            Host                    {{ $externalAuth.Host }};
             proxy_set_header            X-Original-URL          $scheme://$http_host$request_uri;
             proxy_set_header            X-Original-Method       $request_method;
             proxy_set_header            X-Sent-From             "nginx-ingress-controller";
@@ -932,8 +938,8 @@ stream {
             proxy_set_header            X-Forwarded-For        $the_real_ip;
             {{ end }}
 
-            {{ if $location.ExternalAuth.RequestRedirect }}
-            proxy_set_header            X-Auth-Request-Redirect {{ $location.ExternalAuth.RequestRedirect }};
+            {{ if $externalAuth.RequestRedirect }}
+            proxy_set_header            X-Auth-Request-Redirect {{ $externalAuth.RequestRedirect }};
             {{ else }}
             proxy_set_header            X-Auth-Request-Redirect $request_uri;
             {{ end }}
@@ -963,15 +969,16 @@ stream {
             proxy_set_header ssl-client-issuer-dn   $ssl_client_i_dn;
             {{ end }}
 
-            {{ if not (empty $location.ExternalAuth.AuthSnippet) }}
-            {{ $location.ExternalAuth.AuthSnippet }}
+            {{ if not (empty $externalAuth.AuthSnippet) }}
+            {{ $externalAuth.AuthSnippet }}
             {{ end }}
 
-            set $target {{ $location.ExternalAuth.URL }};
+            set $target {{ $externalAuth.URL }};
             proxy_pass $target;
         }
         {{ end }}
 
+
         location {{ $path }} {
             {{ $ing := (getIngressInformation $location.Ingress $server.Hostname $location.Path) }}
             set $namespace      "{{ $ing.Namespace }}";
@@ -1125,14 +1132,14 @@ stream {
             auth_request        {{ $authPath }};
             auth_request_set    $auth_cookie $upstream_http_set_cookie;
             add_header          Set-Cookie $auth_cookie;
-            {{- range $line := buildAuthResponseHeaders $location }}
+            {{- range $line := buildAuthResponseHeaders $externalAuth.ResponseHeaders }}
             {{ $line }}
             {{- end }}
             {{ end }}
 
-            {{ if $location.ExternalAuth.SigninURL }}
+            {{ if $externalAuth.SigninURL }}
             set_escape_uri $escaped_request_uri $request_uri;
-            error_page 401 = {{ buildAuthSignURL $location.ExternalAuth.SigninURL }};
+            error_page 401 = {{ buildAuthSignURL $externalAuth.SigninURL }};
             {{ end }}
 
             {{ if $location.BasicDigestAuth.Secured }}
diff --git a/test/e2e/settings/global_external_auth.go b/test/e2e/settings/global_external_auth.go
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..c3916e869c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/e2e/settings/global_external_auth.go
@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package settings
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+	"github.com/parnurzeal/gorequest"
+
+	"k8s.io/ingress-nginx/test/e2e/framework"
+)
+
+var _ = framework.IngressNginxDescribe("Global External Auth", func() {
+	f := framework.NewDefaultFramework("global-external-auth")
+
+	host := "global-external-auth"
+
+	echoServiceName := "http-svc"
+
+	globalExternalAuthURLSetting := "global-auth-url"
+
+	fooPath := "/foo"
+	barPath := "/bar"
+
+	noAuthSetting := "no-auth-locations"
+	noAuthLocations := barPath
+
+	enableGlobalExternalAuthAnnotation := "nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/enable-global-auth"
+
+	BeforeEach(func() {
+		f.NewEchoDeployment()
+		f.NewHttpbinDeployment()
+	})
+
+	AfterEach(func() {
+	})
+
+	Context("when global external authentication is configured", func() {
+
+		BeforeEach(func() {
+			globalExternalAuthURL := fmt.Sprintf("http://httpbin.%s.svc.cluster.local:80/status/401", f.Namespace)
+
+			By("Adding an ingress rule for /foo")
+			fooIng := framework.NewSingleIngress("foo-ingress", fooPath, host, f.Namespace, echoServiceName, 80, nil)
+			f.EnsureIngress(fooIng)
+			f.WaitForNginxServer(host,
+				func(server string) bool {
+					return Expect(server).Should(ContainSubstring("location /foo"))
+				})
+
+			By("Adding an ingress rule for /bar")
+			barIng := framework.NewSingleIngress("bar-ingress", barPath, host, f.Namespace, echoServiceName, 80, nil)
+			f.EnsureIngress(barIng)
+			f.WaitForNginxServer(host,
+				func(server string) bool {
+					return Expect(server).Should(ContainSubstring("location /bar"))
+				})
+
+			By("Adding a global-auth-url to configMap")
+			f.UpdateNginxConfigMapData(globalExternalAuthURLSetting, globalExternalAuthURL)
+			f.WaitForNginxServer(host,
+				func(server string) bool {
+					return Expect(server).Should(ContainSubstring(globalExternalAuthURL))
+				})
+		})
+
+		It("should return status code 401 when request any protected service", func() {
+
+			By("Sending a request to protected service /foo")
+			fooResp, _, _ := gorequest.New().
+				Get(f.GetURL(framework.HTTP)+fooPath).
+				Set("Host", host).
+				End()
+			Expect(fooResp.StatusCode).Should(Equal(http.StatusUnauthorized))
+
+			By("Sending a request to protected service /bar")
+			barResp, _, _ := gorequest.New().
+				Get(f.GetURL(framework.HTTP)+barPath).
+				Set("Host", host).
+				End()
+			Expect(barResp.StatusCode).Should(Equal(http.StatusUnauthorized))
+		})
+
+		It("should return status code 200 when request whitelisted (via no-auth-locations) service and 401 when request protected service", func() {
+
+			By("Adding a no-auth-locations for /bar to configMap")
+			f.UpdateNginxConfigMapData(noAuthSetting, noAuthLocations)
+
+			By("Sending a request to protected service /foo")
+			fooResp, _, _ := gorequest.New().
+				Get(f.GetURL(framework.HTTP)+fooPath).
+				Set("Host", host).
+				End()
+			Expect(fooResp.StatusCode).Should(Equal(http.StatusUnauthorized))
+
+			By("Sending a request to whitelisted service /bar")
+			barResp, _, _ := gorequest.New().
+				Get(f.GetURL(framework.HTTP)+barPath).
+				Set("Host", host).
+				End()
+			Expect(barResp.StatusCode).Should(Equal(http.StatusOK))
+		})
+
+		It("should return status code 200 when request whitelisted (via ingress annotation) service and 401 when request protected service", func() {
+
+			By("Adding an ingress rule for /bar with annotation enable-global-auth = false")
+			annotations := map[string]string{
+				enableGlobalExternalAuthAnnotation: "false",
+			}
+			barIng := framework.NewSingleIngress("bar-ingress", barPath, host, f.Namespace, echoServiceName, 80, &annotations)
+			f.EnsureIngress(barIng)
+			f.WaitForNginxServer(host,
+				func(server string) bool {
+					return Expect(server).Should(ContainSubstring("location /bar"))
+				})
+
+			By("Sending a request to protected service /foo")
+			fooResp, _, _ := gorequest.New().
+				Get(f.GetURL(framework.HTTP)+fooPath).
+				Set("Host", host).
+				End()
+			Expect(fooResp.StatusCode).Should(Equal(http.StatusUnauthorized))
+
+			By("Sending a request to whitelisted service /bar")
+			barResp, _, _ := gorequest.New().
+				Get(f.GetURL(framework.HTTP)+barPath).
+				Set("Host", host).
+				End()
+			Expect(barResp.StatusCode).Should(Equal(http.StatusOK))
+		})
+
+		It(`should proxy_method method when global-auth-method is configured`, func() {
+
+			globalExternalAuthMethodSetting := "global-auth-method"
+			globalExternalAuthMethod := "GET"
+
+			By("Adding a global-auth-method to configMap")
+			f.UpdateNginxConfigMapData(globalExternalAuthMethodSetting, globalExternalAuthMethod)
+			f.WaitForNginxServer(host,
+				func(server string) bool {
+					return Expect(server).Should(ContainSubstring("proxy_method"))
+				})
+		})
+
+		It(`should add custom error page when global-auth-signin url is configured`, func() {
+
+			globalExternalAuthSigninSetting := "global-auth-signin"
+			globalExternalAuthSignin := "http://foo.com/global-error-page"
+
+			By("Adding a global-auth-signin to configMap")
+			f.UpdateNginxConfigMapData(globalExternalAuthSigninSetting, globalExternalAuthSignin)
+			f.WaitForNginxServer(host,
+				func(server string) bool {
+					return Expect(server).Should(ContainSubstring("error_page 401 = "))
+				})
+		})
+
+		It(`should add auth headers when global-auth-response-headers is configured`, func() {
+
+			globalExternalAuthResponseHeadersSetting := "global-auth-response-headers"
+			globalExternalAuthResponseHeaders := "Foo, Bar"
+
+			By("Adding a global-auth-response-headers to configMap")
+			f.UpdateNginxConfigMapData(globalExternalAuthResponseHeadersSetting, globalExternalAuthResponseHeaders)
+			f.WaitForNginxServer(host,
+				func(server string) bool {
+					return Expect(server).Should(ContainSubstring("auth_request_set $authHeader0 $upstream_http_foo;")) &&
+						Expect(server).Should(ContainSubstring("auth_request_set $authHeader1 $upstream_http_bar;"))
+				})
+		})
+
+		It(`should set request-redirect when global-auth-request-redirect is configured`, func() {
+
+			globalExternalAuthRequestRedirectSetting := "global-auth-request-redirect"
+			globalExternalAuthRequestRedirect := "Foo-Redirect"
+
+			By("Adding a global-auth-request-redirect to configMap")
+			f.UpdateNginxConfigMapData(globalExternalAuthRequestRedirectSetting, globalExternalAuthRequestRedirect)
+			f.WaitForNginxServer(host,
+				func(server string) bool {
+					return Expect(server).Should(ContainSubstring(globalExternalAuthRequestRedirect))
+				})
+		})
+
+		It(`should set snippet when global external auth is configured`, func() {
+
+			globalExternalAuthSnippetSetting := "global-auth-snippet"
+			globalExternalAuthSnippet := "proxy_set_header My-Custom-Header 42;"
+
+			By("Adding a global-auth-snippet to configMap")
+			f.UpdateNginxConfigMapData(globalExternalAuthSnippetSetting, globalExternalAuthSnippet)
+			f.WaitForNginxServer(host,
+				func(server string) bool {
+					return Expect(server).Should(ContainSubstring(globalExternalAuthSnippet))
+				})
+		})
+
+	})
+
+})