diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/actions/README.md b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/actions/README.md
index 150cc4c0472b77..2eec667ce95c41 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/actions/README.md
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/actions/README.md
@@ -19,10 +19,9 @@ action types.
 
 ## Usage
 
-1. Enable the actions plugin in the `kibana.yml` by setting `xpack.actions.enabled: true`.
-2. Develop and register an action type (see action types -> example).
-3. Create an action by using the RESTful API (see actions -> create action).
-4. Use alerts to execute actions or execute manually (see firing actions).
+1. Develop and register an action type (see action types -> example).
+2. Create an action by using the RESTful API (see actions -> create action).
+3. Use alerts to execute actions or execute manually (see firing actions).
 
 ## Kibana Actions Configuration
 Implemented under the [Actions Config](./server/actions_config.ts).
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/actions/index.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/actions/index.ts
index a58c936c637492..98d4d9f84a7296 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/actions/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/actions/index.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export function actions(kibana: any) {
     config(Joi: Root) {
       return Joi.object()
         .keys({
-          enabled: Joi.boolean().default(false),
+          enabled: Joi.boolean().default(true),
           whitelistedHosts: Joi.array()
             .items(
               Joi.string()
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/alerting/README.md b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/alerting/README.md
index 40f61d11e9ace0..85dbd75e141743 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/alerting/README.md
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/alerting/README.md
@@ -23,9 +23,8 @@ A Kibana alert detects a condition and executes one or more actions when that co
 
 ## Usage
 
-1. Enable the alerting plugin in the `kibana.yml` by setting `xpack.alerting.enabled: true`.
-2. Develop and register an alert type (see alert types -> example).
-3. Create an alert using the RESTful API (see alerts -> create).
+1. Develop and register an alert type (see alert types -> example).
+2. Create an alert using the RESTful API (see alerts -> create).
 
 ## Limitations
 
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/alerting/index.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/alerting/index.ts
index b3e33f782688c2..5baec07fa1182a 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/alerting/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/alerting/index.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export function alerting(kibana: any) {
     config(Joi: Root) {
       return Joi.object()
         .keys({
-          enabled: Joi.boolean().default(false),
+          enabled: Joi.boolean().default(true),
         })
         .default();
     },
diff --git a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/features/features/features.ts b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/features/features/features.ts
index ef0f0451ee058c..db08fc24a474af 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/features/features/features.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/features/features/features.ts
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ export default function({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
             'maps',
             'uptime',
             'siem',
+            'alerting',
+            'actions',
           ].sort()
         );
       });
diff --git a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/security/privileges.ts b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/security/privileges.ts
index d4c8a3e68c50ed..d6ad1608f36883 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/security/privileges.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/security/privileges.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ export default function({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
               uptime: ['all', 'read'],
               apm: ['all', 'read'],
               siem: ['all', 'read'],
+              actions: ['all', 'read'],
+              alerting: ['all', 'read'],
             },
             global: ['all', 'read'],
             space: ['all', 'read'],