diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index fee22109e..0b755d567 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -34768,7 +34768,7 @@
     },
     "packages/build-utils/paima-build-utils": {
       "name": "@paima/build-utils",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "bin": {
         "paima-build-middleware": "scripts/esbuild.sh"
@@ -34906,10 +34906,9 @@
     },
     "packages/node-sdk/paima-db": {
       "name": "@paima/db",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@paima/utils": "2.0.1",
         "@pgtyped/runtime": "2.1.0",
         "pg": "^8.7.3",
         "pg-tx": "^1.0.1"
@@ -34921,11 +34920,10 @@
     },
     "packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend": {
       "name": "@paima/utils-backend",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@paima/db": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/utils": "2.0.1",
+        "@paima/db": "2.1.0",
         "yaml": "^2.3.1"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
@@ -34941,34 +34939,34 @@
     },
     "packages/node-sdk/publish-wrapper": {
       "name": "@paima/node-sdk",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@paima/db": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/utils-backend": "2.0.1"
+        "@paima/db": "2.1.0",
+        "@paima/utils-backend": "2.1.0"
       },
       "devDependencies": {}
     },
     "packages/paima-sdk/paima-concise": {
       "name": "@paima/concise",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "dependencies": {
         "ebnf": "^1.9.0",
         "web3-utils": "1.10.0"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
-        "@paima/utils": "2.0.1",
+        "@paima/utils": "2.1.0",
         "@types/node": "^18.17.1"
       }
     },
     "packages/paima-sdk/paima-crypto": {
       "name": "@paima/crypto",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "dependencies": {
         "@cardano-foundation/cardano-verify-datasignature": "^1.0.11",
-        "@paima/utils": "2.0.1",
+        "@paima/utils": "2.1.0",
         "@polkadot/util": "^10.4.2",
         "@polkadot/util-crypto": "^10.4.2",
         "algosdk": "^2.3.0",
@@ -34981,10 +34979,10 @@
     },
     "packages/paima-sdk/paima-executors": {
       "name": "@paima/executors",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@paima/prando": "2.0.1"
+        "@paima/prando": "2.1.0"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
         "typescript": "^5.3.2"
@@ -34992,14 +34990,14 @@
     },
     "packages/paima-sdk/paima-mw-core": {
       "name": "@paima/mw-core",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "dependencies": {
         "@metamask/providers": "^10.2.1",
-        "@paima/concise": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/prando": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/providers": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/utils": "2.0.1",
+        "@paima/concise": "2.1.0",
+        "@paima/prando": "2.1.0",
+        "@paima/providers": "2.1.0",
+        "@paima/utils": "2.1.0",
         "@perawallet/connect": "^1.2.3",
         "@polkadot/extension-dapp": "^0.44.9",
         "@truffle/hdwallet-provider": "^2.1.15",
@@ -35016,7 +35014,7 @@
     },
     "packages/paima-sdk/paima-prando": {
       "name": "@paima/prando",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "devDependencies": {
         "typescript": "^5.3.2"
@@ -35024,13 +35022,13 @@
     },
     "packages/paima-sdk/paima-providers": {
       "name": "@paima/providers",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "dependencies": {
         "@ethersproject/abstract-signer": "^5.7.0",
         "@metamask/providers": "^10.2.1",
-        "@paima/crypto": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/utils": "2.0.1",
+        "@paima/crypto": "2.1.0",
+        "@paima/utils": "2.1.0",
         "@perawallet/connect": "^1.2.3",
         "@polkadot/extension-dapp": "^0.44.9",
         "@truffle/hdwallet-provider": "^2.1.15",
@@ -35042,22 +35040,22 @@
     },
     "packages/paima-sdk/paima-sdk": {
       "name": "@paima/sdk",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@paima/concise": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/crypto": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/executors": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/mw-core": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/prando": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/providers": "2.0.1",
-        "@paima/utils": "2.0.1"
+        "@paima/concise": "2.1.0",
+        "@paima/crypto": "2.1.0",
+        "@paima/executors": "2.1.0",
+        "@paima/mw-core": "2.1.0",
+        "@paima/prando": "2.1.0",
+        "@paima/providers": "2.1.0",
+        "@paima/utils": "2.1.0"
       },
       "devDependencies": {}
     },
     "packages/paima-sdk/paima-utils": {
       "name": "@paima/utils",
-      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "version": "2.1.0",
       "license": "See license file",
       "dependencies": {
         "@metamask/eth-json-rpc-middleware": "^12.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/batcher/runtime/src/index.ts b/packages/batcher/runtime/src/index.ts
index 7a3be22b5..bb516b69c 100644
--- a/packages/batcher/runtime/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/batcher/runtime/src/index.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,15 @@ import type { ErrorCode, ErrorMessageFxn, GameInputValidatorCore } from '@paima/
 
 import { initializePool } from './pg/pgPool.js';
 import type { BatcherRuntimeInitializer } from './types.js';
+import { setLogger } from '@paima/utils';
+import * as fs from 'fs';
+import { parseSecurityYaml } from '@paima/utils-backend';
+
+setLogger(s => {
+  try {
+    fs.appendFileSync('./logs.log', `${s}\n`);
+  } catch (e) {}
+});
 
 const MINIMUM_INTER_CATCH_PERIOD = 1000;
 let batchedTransactionPosterReference: BatchedTransactionPoster | null = null;
@@ -127,6 +136,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
   if (!checkConfig()) {
     return;
   }
+  await parseSecurityYaml();
 
   const privateKey = ENV.BATCHER_PRIVATE_KEY;
 
diff --git a/packages/batcher/runtime/tsconfig.json b/packages/batcher/runtime/tsconfig.json
index a4088e531..c49e6c877 100644
--- a/packages/batcher/runtime/tsconfig.json
+++ b/packages/batcher/runtime/tsconfig.json
@@ -11,5 +11,7 @@
     { "path": "../utils" },
     { "path": "../batcher-transaction-poster" },
     { "path": "../../paima-sdk/paima-providers/tsconfig.build.json" },
+    { "path": "../../paima-sdk/paima-utils/tsconfig.build.json" },
+    { "path": "../../node-sdk/paima-utils-backend" },
   ]
 }
diff --git a/packages/engine/paima-standalone/src/index.ts b/packages/engine/paima-standalone/src/index.ts
index bfea7e1b8..0934f782c 100644
--- a/packages/engine/paima-standalone/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/paima-standalone/src/index.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { argumentRouter } from './utils/input.js';
 
 import * as fs from 'fs';
 import { setLogger } from '@paima/utils';
+import { parseSecurityYaml } from '@paima/utils-backend';
 
 setLogger(s => {
   try {
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ setLogger(s => {
 config({ path: `${process.cwd()}/.env.${process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development'}` });
 
 async function main(): Promise<void> {
+  await parseSecurityYaml();
   await argumentRouter();
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/engine/paima-standalone/tsconfig.json b/packages/engine/paima-standalone/tsconfig.json
index 5fe708713..e6b436fd7 100644
--- a/packages/engine/paima-standalone/tsconfig.json
+++ b/packages/engine/paima-standalone/tsconfig.json
@@ -13,5 +13,6 @@
     { "path": "../../paima-sdk/paima-utils/tsconfig.build.json" },
     { "path": "../paima-funnel" },
     { "path": "../paima-rest/tsconfig.build.json" },
+    { "path": "../../node-sdk/paima-utils-backend" },
   ]
 }
diff --git a/packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend/src/index.ts b/packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend/src/index.ts
index 3a71f0efb..0bfe68ff8 100644
--- a/packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend/src/index.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import Crypto from 'crypto';
 
+export { parseSecurityYaml } from './security.js';
 export * from './cde-access.js';
 export type * from './types.js';
 
diff --git a/packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend/src/security.ts b/packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend/src/security.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7f3011e28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend/src/security.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import { ENV, parseAndValidateYAML } from '@paima/utils';
+import * as fs from 'fs/promises';
+
+export async function parseSecurityYaml(): Promise<void> {
+  const namespace = ENV.SECURITY_NAMESPACE;
+  if (namespace.endsWith('.yml') || namespace.endsWith('.yaml')) {
+    const content = await fs.readFile(ENV.SECURITY_NAMESPACE, 'utf-8');
+    parseAndValidateYAML(content);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend/tsconfig.json b/packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend/tsconfig.json
index 224b74c9b..f2fdfb4e4 100644
--- a/packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend/tsconfig.json
+++ b/packages/node-sdk/paima-utils-backend/tsconfig.json
@@ -8,5 +8,6 @@
   "include": ["src/**/*"],
   "references": [
     { "path": "../paima-db" },
+    { "path": "../../paima-sdk/paima-utils/tsconfig.build.json" }
   ]
 }
diff --git a/packages/paima-sdk/paima-utils/src/security/parse.ts b/packages/paima-sdk/paima-utils/src/security/parse.ts
index cac41a63d..5956734fa 100644
--- a/packages/paima-sdk/paima-utils/src/security/parse.ts
+++ b/packages/paima-sdk/paima-utils/src/security/parse.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import type { Static } from '@sinclair/typebox';
 import { Type } from '@sinclair/typebox';
 import { Value } from '@sinclair/typebox/value';
 import YAML from 'yaml';
-import * as fs from 'fs/promises';
 import { ENV } from '../config.js';
 
 const BlockSettings = Type.Object({
@@ -21,19 +20,22 @@ const Config = Type.Object({
 /** Cache for file content so we don't have to re-read it from disk constantly */
 let securityNamespaceConfig: undefined | Static<typeof Config>;
 
-async function loadAndValidateYAML(filename: string): Promise<Static<typeof Config>> {
+async function loadAndValidateYAML(): Promise<Static<typeof Config>> {
+  // try checking the cache first
+  // note the cache may be set externally by a direct call to parseAndValidateYAML
   if (securityNamespaceConfig != null) return securityNamespaceConfig;
 
   // this ENV var is used to help with compilation of Paima for browser environments
   // since they can't access fs.readFile,
   //       we instead (at compile time) read the file
   //       and put the file content inside SECURITY_NAMESPACE_ROUTER
-  const fileContent = process.env.SECURITY_NAMESPACE_ROUTER
-    ? (JSON.parse(process.env.SECURITY_NAMESPACE_ROUTER) as string)
-    : await fs.readFile(filename, 'utf-8');
-  return await parseAndValidateYAML(fileContent);
+  if (process.env.SECURITY_NAMESPACE_ROUTER != null) {
+    const fileContent = JSON.parse(process.env.SECURITY_NAMESPACE_ROUTER) as string;
+    return parseAndValidateYAML(fileContent);
+  }
+  throw new Error(`security namespace YAML specified, but wasn't initialized`);
 }
-async function parseAndValidateYAML(fileContent: string): Promise<Static<typeof Config>> {
+export function parseAndValidateYAML(fileContent: string): Static<typeof Config> {
   if (securityNamespaceConfig != null) return securityNamespaceConfig;
   try {
     // Parse the YAML content into an object
@@ -48,18 +50,15 @@ async function parseAndValidateYAML(fileContent: string): Promise<Static<typeof
     }
 
     // If validation passes, cache and return the validated object
-    let securityNamespaceConfig = yamlObject;
+    securityNamespaceConfig = yamlObject;
     return securityNamespaceConfig;
   } catch (error) {
     throw new Error(`Error loading and validating YAML: ${error}`);
   }
 }
 
-async function getEntryFromFile(
-  namespace: string,
-  blockHeight: number
-): Promise<undefined | string[]> {
-  const config = await loadAndValidateYAML(namespace);
+async function getEntryFromFile(blockHeight: number): Promise<undefined | string[]> {
+  const config = await loadAndValidateYAML();
   let highestEntry: Static<typeof BlockSettings> | null = null;
   for (const entry of config.namespace.read) {
     if (
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ export async function getReadNamespaces(blockHeight: number): Promise<string[]>
 
   const entry =
     namespace.endsWith('.yml') || namespace.endsWith('.yaml')
-      ? await getEntryFromFile(namespace, blockHeight)
+      ? await getEntryFromFile(blockHeight)
       : [namespace];
 
   // default if no entry matches
@@ -102,7 +101,7 @@ export async function getWriteNamespace(): Promise<string> {
   const entry =
     namespace.endsWith('.yml') || namespace.endsWith('.yaml')
       ? await (async (): Promise<string> => {
-          const config = await loadAndValidateYAML(namespace);
+          const config = await loadAndValidateYAML();
           return config.namespace.write;
         })()
       : namespace;
diff --git a/packages/paima-sdk/paima-utils/test/security/index.test.ts b/packages/paima-sdk/paima-utils/test/security/index.test.ts
index cf38af004..aaa0a89e1 100644
--- a/packages/paima-sdk/paima-utils/test/security/index.test.ts
+++ b/packages/paima-sdk/paima-utils/test/security/index.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 import { describe, expect, test } from '@jest/globals';
-import { getReadNamespaces, getWriteNamespace } from '../../src/security/parse.js';
+import {
+  getReadNamespaces,
+  getWriteNamespace,
+  parseAndValidateYAML,
+} from '../../src/security/parse.js';
+import * as fs from 'fs/promises';
 
 const CONTRACT_ADDRESS = '0x35390c41200DD56Ac3A679a0c1EeA369444f3b60';
 process.env.CONTRACT_ADDRESS = CONTRACT_ADDRESS;
@@ -9,6 +14,10 @@ describe('Test if parsed', () => {
     inputs.forEach(([namespace, blockHeight, expectedResult]: [string, number, string[]]) => {
       test(`${namespace} at blockHeight=${blockHeight} to be ${expectedResult}`, async () => {
         process.env.SECURITY_NAMESPACE = namespace;
+        if (namespace.endsWith('yml')) {
+          const content = await fs.readFile(process.env.SECURITY_NAMESPACE, 'utf-8');
+          parseAndValidateYAML(content);
+        }
         const result = await getReadNamespaces(blockHeight);
         expect(result).toEqual(expectedResult);
       });