diff --git a/docs/configuration/security.md b/docs/configuration/security.md
index 45d5bed3f3..15702f6490 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/security.md
+++ b/docs/configuration/security.md
@@ -159,9 +159,12 @@ Note that enabling this setting causes NetBox to update a user's session in the
 
 ## LOGIN_REQUIRED
 
-Default: False
+Default: True
+
+When enabled, only authenticated users are permitted to access any part of NetBox. Disabling this will allow unauthenticated users to access most areas of NetBox (but not make any changes).
 
-Setting this to True will permit only authenticated users to access any part of NetBox. By default, anonymous users are permitted to access most data in NetBox but not make any changes.
+!!! info "Changed in NetBox v4.0.2"
+    Prior to NetBox v4.0.2, this setting was disabled by default.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/netbox/netbox/configuration_example.py b/netbox/netbox/configuration_example.py
index b22fd7b2fc..84ead53390 100644
--- a/netbox/netbox/configuration_example.py
+++ b/netbox/netbox/configuration_example.py
@@ -157,9 +157,8 @@
 # authenticated to NetBox indefinitely.
 LOGIN_PERSISTENCE = False
 
-# Setting this to True will permit only authenticated users to access any part of NetBox. By default, anonymous users
-# are permitted to access most data in NetBox but not make any changes.
-LOGIN_REQUIRED = False
+# Setting this to False will permit unauthenticated users to access most areas of NetBox (but not make any changes).
+LOGIN_REQUIRED = True
 
 # The length of time (in seconds) for which a user will remain logged into the web UI before being prompted to
 # re-authenticate. (Default: 1209600 [14 days])
diff --git a/netbox/netbox/settings.py b/netbox/netbox/settings.py
index b991c50293..f86760b53f 100644
--- a/netbox/netbox/settings.py
+++ b/netbox/netbox/settings.py
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
 LANGUAGE_COOKIE_PATH = CSRF_COOKIE_PATH
 LOGGING = getattr(configuration, 'LOGGING', {})
 LOGIN_PERSISTENCE = getattr(configuration, 'LOGIN_PERSISTENCE', False)
-LOGIN_REQUIRED = getattr(configuration, 'LOGIN_REQUIRED', False)
+LOGIN_REQUIRED = getattr(configuration, 'LOGIN_REQUIRED', True)
 LOGIN_TIMEOUT = getattr(configuration, 'LOGIN_TIMEOUT', None)
 LOGOUT_REDIRECT_URL = getattr(configuration, 'LOGOUT_REDIRECT_URL', 'home')
 MEDIA_ROOT = getattr(configuration, 'MEDIA_ROOT', os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'media')).rstrip('/')
diff --git a/netbox/netbox/tests/test_plugins.py b/netbox/netbox/tests/test_plugins.py
index 24bc530059..9ce20e204c 100644
--- a/netbox/netbox/tests/test_plugins.py
+++ b/netbox/netbox/tests/test_plugins.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ def test_admin(self):
         url = reverse('admin:dummy_plugin_dummymodel_add')
         self.assertEqual(url, '/admin/dummy_plugin/dummymodel/add/')
 
+    @override_settings(LOGIN_REQUIRED=False)
     def test_views(self):
 
         # Test URL resolution
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ def test_views(self):
         response = client.get(url)
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
 
-    @override_settings(EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS=['*'])
+    @override_settings(EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS=['*'], LOGIN_REQUIRED=False)
     def test_api_views(self):
 
         # Test URL resolution
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ def test_api_views(self):
         response = client.get(url)
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
 
+    @override_settings(LOGIN_REQUIRED=False)
     def test_registered_views(self):
 
         # Test URL resolution
diff --git a/netbox/utilities/testing/api.py b/netbox/utilities/testing/api.py
index 563bd84b57..019d6e6ca2 100644
--- a/netbox/utilities/testing/api.py
+++ b/netbox/utilities/testing/api.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class APIViewTestCases:
 
     class GetObjectViewTestCase(APITestCase):
 
-        @override_settings(EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS=['*'])
+        @override_settings(EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS=['*'], LOGIN_REQUIRED=False)
         def test_get_object_anonymous(self):
             """
             GET a single object as an unauthenticated user.
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ def test_options_object(self):
     class ListObjectsViewTestCase(APITestCase):
         brief_fields = []
 
-        @override_settings(EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS=['*'])
+        @override_settings(EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS=['*'], LOGIN_REQUIRED=False)
         def test_list_objects_anonymous(self):
             """
             GET a list of objects as an unauthenticated user.
diff --git a/netbox/utilities/testing/views.py b/netbox/utilities/testing/views.py
index e3b12b4c3c..6d4ca00df5 100644
--- a/netbox/utilities/testing/views.py
+++ b/netbox/utilities/testing/views.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class GetObjectViewTestCase(ModelViewTestCase):
         """
         Retrieve a single instance.
         """
-        @override_settings(EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS=['*'])
+        @override_settings(EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS=['*'], LOGIN_REQUIRED=False)
         def test_get_object_anonymous(self):
             # Make the request as an unauthenticated user
             self.client.logout()
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ class ListObjectsViewTestCase(ModelViewTestCase):
         """
         Retrieve multiple instances.
         """
-        @override_settings(EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS=['*'])
+        @override_settings(EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS=['*'], LOGIN_REQUIRED=False)
         def test_list_objects_anonymous(self):
             # Make the request as an unauthenticated user
             self.client.logout()