diff --git a/backend/src/auth/brute-force.guard.spec.ts b/backend/src/auth/brute-force.guard.spec.ts
index 76c50dad..02ff40e0 100644
--- a/backend/src/auth/brute-force.guard.spec.ts
+++ b/backend/src/auth/brute-force.guard.spec.ts
@@ -1,60 +1,117 @@
-import { BruteForceGuard } from './brute-force.guard';
 import { ExecutionContext, UnauthorizedException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';
+
+const store = new Map<string, string>();
+
+jest.mock('ioredis', () => ({
+  default: jest.fn().mockImplementation(() => ({
+    get: jest.fn((key: string) => Promise.resolve(store.get(key) || null)),
+    setex: jest.fn((key: string, _ttl: number, value: string) => {
+      store.set(key, value);
+      return Promise.resolve('OK');
+    }),
+    incr: jest.fn((key: string) => {
+      const current = parseInt(store.get(key) || '0', 10);
+      store.set(key, String(current + 1));
+      return Promise.resolve(current + 1);
+    }),
+    expire: jest.fn(() => Promise.resolve(1)),
+    del: jest.fn((...keys: string[]) => {
+      keys.forEach((k) => store.delete(k));
+      return Promise.resolve(keys.length);
+    }),
+    quit: jest.fn(() => Promise.resolve('OK')),
+    flushall: jest.fn(() => {
+      store.clear();
+      return Promise.resolve('OK');
+    }),
+  })),
+}));
+
+import { BruteForceGuard } from './brute-force.guard';
+
+const mockContext = (body: any): ExecutionContext => ({
+  switchToHttp: () => ({
+    getRequest: () => ({ body }),
+  }),
+  getHandler: () => jest.fn(),
+  getClass: () => jest.fn(),
+} as any);
 
 describe('BruteForceGuard', () => {
   let guard: BruteForceGuard;
-  let context: ExecutionContext;
 
-  beforeEach(() => {
-    guard = new BruteForceGuard();
-    context = {
-      switchToHttp: () => ({
-        getRequest: () => ({
-          body: { email: 'test@example.com' },
-        }),
-      }),
-    } as ExecutionContext;
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    const { Test } = await import('@nestjs/testing');
+    const testModule = await Test.createTestingModule({
+      providers: [
+        BruteForceGuard,
+        {
+          provide: ConfigService,
+          useValue: {
+            get: (key: string) => {
+              if (key === 'REDIS_HOST') return '127.0.0.1';
+              if (key === 'REDIS_PORT') return '6379';
+              return undefined;
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      ],
+    }).compile();
+
+    guard = testModule.get<BruteForceGuard>(BruteForceGuard);
+    await (guard as any).redis.flushall();
+  });
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await guard.onModuleDestroy();
   });
 
   it('should be defined', () => {
     expect(guard).toBeDefined();
   });
 
-  it('should allow access if email is not present', () => {
-    context = {
-      switchToHttp: () => ({
-        getRequest: () => ({
-          body: {},
-        }),
-      }),
-    } as ExecutionContext;
-    expect(guard.canActivate(context)).toBe(true);
+  it('should allow access when no email in body', async () => {
+    const result = await guard.canActivate(mockContext({}));
+    expect(result).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it('should allow access if there are no previous failed attempts', () => {
-    expect(guard.canActivate(context)).toBe(true);
+  it('should allow access for non-locked account', async () => {
+    const result = await guard.canActivate(
+      mockContext({ email: 'test@example.com' }),
+    );
+    expect(result).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it('should lock the account after MAX_ATTEMPTS', () => {
-    const email = 'test@example.com';
+  it('should lock account after max failed attempts', async () => {
+    const email = 'brute@example.com';
     for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
-      guard.recordFailedLogin(email);
+      await guard.recordFailedLogin(email);
     }
-    expect(() => guard.canActivate(context)).toThrow(UnauthorizedException);
+
+    await expect(
+      guard.canActivate(mockContext({ email })),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(UnauthorizedException);
   });
 
-  it('should deny access if the account is locked', () => {
-    const email = 'test@example.com';
-    for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
-      guard.recordFailedLogin(email);
+  it('should allow access for email not yet at threshold', async () => {
+    const email = 'partial@example.com';
+    for (let i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
+      await guard.recordFailedLogin(email);
     }
-    expect(() => guard.canActivate(context)).toThrow(UnauthorizedException);
+
+    const result = await guard.canActivate(mockContext({ email }));
+    expect(result).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it('should reset attempts after a successful login', () => {
-    const email = 'test@example.com';
-    guard.recordFailedLogin(email);
-    guard.resetAttempts(email);
-    expect(guard.canActivate(context)).toBe(true);
+  it('should reset attempts after clearing', async () => {
+    const email = 'reset@example.com';
+    for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+      await guard.recordFailedLogin(email);
+    }
+    await guard.resetAttempts(email);
+
+    const result = await guard.canActivate(mockContext({ email }));
+    expect(result).toBe(true);
   });
 });
diff --git a/backend/src/auth/brute-force.guard.ts b/backend/src/auth/brute-force.guard.ts
index 461b4632..72d34535 100644
--- a/backend/src/auth/brute-force.guard.ts
+++ b/backend/src/auth/brute-force.guard.ts
@@ -4,24 +4,35 @@ import {
   ExecutionContext,
   UnauthorizedException,
 } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';
+import Redis from 'ioredis';
+
+const LOCKOUT_PREFIX = 'brute:lock:';
+const ATTEMPTS_PREFIX = 'brute:attempts:';
+const MAX_ATTEMPTS = 5;
+const LOCK_TIME_SECONDS = 15 * 60; // 15 minutes
 
 @Injectable()
 export class BruteForceGuard implements CanActivate {
-  private failedAttempts = new Map<
-    string,
-    { count: number; lockUntil?: Date }
-  >();
-  private readonly MAX_ATTEMPTS = 5;
-  private readonly LOCK_TIME_MS = 15 * 60 * 1000; // 15 mins
-
-  canActivate(context: ExecutionContext): boolean {
+  private readonly redis: Redis;
+
+  constructor(private readonly configService: ConfigService) {
+    const host = this.configService.get<string>('REDIS_HOST') || '127.0.0.1';
+    const port = Number(this.configService.get<string>('REDIS_PORT') || '6379');
+    const password =
+      this.configService.get<string>('REDIS_PASSWORD') || undefined;
+    this.redis = new Redis({ host, port, password });
+  }
+
+  async canActivate(context: ExecutionContext): Promise<boolean> {
     const req = context.switchToHttp().getRequest();
     const email = req.body?.email || req.body?.username;
 
     if (!email) return true;
 
-    const record = this.failedAttempts.get(email);
-    if (record && record.lockUntil && record.lockUntil > new Date()) {
+    const lockKey = `${LOCKOUT_PREFIX}${email}`;
+    const isLocked = await this.redis.get(lockKey);
+    if (isLocked) {
       throw new UnauthorizedException(
         'Account locked due to multiple failed login attempts. Please try again later.',
       );
@@ -30,16 +41,22 @@ export class BruteForceGuard implements CanActivate {
     return true;
   }
 
-  recordFailedLogin(email: string) {
-    const record = this.failedAttempts.get(email) || { count: 0 };
-    record.count += 1;
-    if (record.count >= this.MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
-      record.lockUntil = new Date(Date.now() + this.LOCK_TIME_MS);
+  async recordFailedLogin(email: string): Promise<void> {
+    const attemptsKey = `${ATTEMPTS_PREFIX}${email}`;
+    const count = await this.redis.incr(attemptsKey);
+    await this.redis.expire(attemptsKey, LOCK_TIME_SECONDS);
+
+    if (count >= MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
+      const lockKey = `${LOCKOUT_PREFIX}${email}`;
+      await this.redis.setex(lockKey, LOCK_TIME_SECONDS, 'locked');
     }
-    this.failedAttempts.set(email, record);
   }
 
-  resetAttempts(email: string) {
-    this.failedAttempts.delete(email);
+  async resetAttempts(email: string): Promise<void> {
+    await this.redis.del(`${ATTEMPTS_PREFIX}${email}`, `${LOCKOUT_PREFIX}${email}`);
+  }
+
+  async onModuleDestroy(): Promise<void> {
+    await this.redis.quit();
   }
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/external-validation/providers/business-registration.provider.spec.ts b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/business-registration.provider.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..09b31c2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/business-registration.provider.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import { ServiceUnavailableException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { BusinessRegistrationProvider } from './business-registration.provider';
+
+describe('BusinessRegistrationProvider', () => {
+  let provider: BusinessRegistrationProvider;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    provider = new BusinessRegistrationProvider();
+  });
+
+  it('should be defined', () => {
+    expect(provider).toBeDefined();
+  });
+
+  it('should return a valid response', async () => {
+    const result = await provider.validateDocument();
+    expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.result).toBe('VALID');
+  });
+
+  it('should report healthy when circuit is closed', async () => {
+    const healthy = await provider.healthCheck();
+    expect(healthy).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('should open circuit after threshold failures', async () => {
+    for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+      (provider as any).failureCount++;
+    }
+    (provider as any).circuitOpenUntil = new Date(Date.now() + 60000);
+
+    await expect(provider.validateDocument()).rejects.toThrow(
+      ServiceUnavailableException,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should report unhealthy when circuit is open', async () => {
+    (provider as any).circuitOpenUntil = new Date(Date.now() + 60000);
+    const healthy = await provider.healthCheck();
+    expect(healthy).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/src/external-validation/providers/business-registration.provider.ts b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/business-registration.provider.ts
index 2ad25369..4826bb34 100644
--- a/backend/src/external-validation/providers/business-registration.provider.ts
+++ b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/business-registration.provider.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,68 @@
-import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { Injectable, Logger, ServiceUnavailableException } from '@nestjs/common';
 import {
   IValidationProvider,
   ValidationResponse,
 } from '../interfaces/validation-provider.interface';
 import { ValidationResult } from '../entities/validation-request.entity';
 
+const REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS = 10_000;
+const CIRCUIT_BREAKER_THRESHOLD = 3;
+const CIRCUIT_BREAKER_RESET_MS = 60_000;
+
 @Injectable()
 export class BusinessRegistrationProvider implements IValidationProvider {
+  private readonly logger = new Logger(BusinessRegistrationProvider.name);
+  private failureCount = 0;
+  private circuitOpenUntil: Date | null = null;
+
   async validateDocument(): Promise<ValidationResponse> {
+    this.checkCircuit();
+
+    try {
+      const result = await this.withTimeout(
+        this.doValidate(),
+        REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS,
+      );
+      this.failureCount = 0;
+      return result;
+    } catch (error) {
+      this.failureCount++;
+      if (this.failureCount >= CIRCUIT_BREAKER_THRESHOLD) {
+        this.circuitOpenUntil = new Date(
+          Date.now() + CIRCUIT_BREAKER_RESET_MS,
+        );
+        this.logger.warn(
+          `Circuit breaker opened for BusinessRegistrationProvider after ${this.failureCount} failures`,
+        );
+      }
+      throw error;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async healthCheck(): Promise<boolean> {
+    return !this.isCircuitOpen();
+  }
+
+  private checkCircuit(): void {
+    if (this.isCircuitOpen()) {
+      throw new ServiceUnavailableException(
+        'BusinessRegistrationProvider circuit breaker is open',
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  private isCircuitOpen(): boolean {
+    if (this.circuitOpenUntil && this.circuitOpenUntil > new Date()) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    if (this.circuitOpenUntil && this.circuitOpenUntil <= new Date()) {
+      this.circuitOpenUntil = null;
+      this.failureCount = 0;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  private async doValidate(): Promise<ValidationResponse> {
     return {
       result: ValidationResult.VALID,
       data: {},
@@ -21,7 +76,25 @@ export class BusinessRegistrationProvider implements IValidationProvider {
     };
   }
 
-  async healthCheck(): Promise<boolean> {
-    return true;
+  private withTimeout<T>(promise: Promise<T>, ms: number): Promise<T> {
+    return new Promise<T>((resolve, reject) => {
+      const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+        reject(
+          new ServiceUnavailableException(
+            `BusinessRegistrationProvider request timed out after ${ms}ms`,
+          ),
+        );
+      }, ms);
+
+      promise
+        .then((value) => {
+          clearTimeout(timer);
+          resolve(value);
+        })
+        .catch((err) => {
+          clearTimeout(timer);
+          reject(err);
+        });
+    });
   }
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/external-validation/providers/government-id.provider.spec.ts b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/government-id.provider.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c265cb6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/government-id.provider.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import { ServiceUnavailableException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { GovernmentIdProvider } from './government-id.provider';
+
+describe('GovernmentIdProvider', () => {
+  let provider: GovernmentIdProvider;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    provider = new GovernmentIdProvider();
+  });
+
+  it('should be defined', () => {
+    expect(provider).toBeDefined();
+  });
+
+  it('should return a valid response', async () => {
+    const result = await provider.validateDocument();
+    expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.result).toBe('VALID');
+  });
+
+  it('should report healthy when circuit is closed', async () => {
+    const healthy = await provider.healthCheck();
+    expect(healthy).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('should open circuit after threshold failures', async () => {
+    for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+      (provider as any).failureCount++;
+    }
+    (provider as any).circuitOpenUntil = new Date(Date.now() + 60000);
+
+    await expect(provider.validateDocument()).rejects.toThrow(
+      ServiceUnavailableException,
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/src/external-validation/providers/government-id.provider.ts b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/government-id.provider.ts
index d60832e9..457d6ba4 100644
--- a/backend/src/external-validation/providers/government-id.provider.ts
+++ b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/government-id.provider.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,68 @@
-import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { Injectable, Logger, ServiceUnavailableException } from '@nestjs/common';
 import {
   IValidationProvider,
   ValidationResponse,
 } from '../interfaces/validation-provider.interface';
 import { ValidationResult } from '../entities/validation-request.entity';
 
+const REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS = 10_000;
+const CIRCUIT_BREAKER_THRESHOLD = 3;
+const CIRCUIT_BREAKER_RESET_MS = 60_000;
+
 @Injectable()
 export class GovernmentIdProvider implements IValidationProvider {
+  private readonly logger = new Logger(GovernmentIdProvider.name);
+  private failureCount = 0;
+  private circuitOpenUntil: Date | null = null;
+
   async validateDocument(): Promise<ValidationResponse> {
+    this.checkCircuit();
+
+    try {
+      const result = await this.withTimeout(
+        this.doValidate(),
+        REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS,
+      );
+      this.failureCount = 0;
+      return result;
+    } catch (error) {
+      this.failureCount++;
+      if (this.failureCount >= CIRCUIT_BREAKER_THRESHOLD) {
+        this.circuitOpenUntil = new Date(
+          Date.now() + CIRCUIT_BREAKER_RESET_MS,
+        );
+        this.logger.warn(
+          `Circuit breaker opened for GovernmentIdProvider after ${this.failureCount} failures`,
+        );
+      }
+      throw error;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async healthCheck(): Promise<boolean> {
+    return !this.isCircuitOpen();
+  }
+
+  private checkCircuit(): void {
+    if (this.isCircuitOpen()) {
+      throw new ServiceUnavailableException(
+        'GovernmentIdProvider circuit breaker is open',
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  private isCircuitOpen(): boolean {
+    if (this.circuitOpenUntil && this.circuitOpenUntil > new Date()) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    if (this.circuitOpenUntil && this.circuitOpenUntil <= new Date()) {
+      this.circuitOpenUntil = null;
+      this.failureCount = 0;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  private async doValidate(): Promise<ValidationResponse> {
     return {
       result: ValidationResult.VALID,
       data: {},
@@ -21,7 +76,25 @@ export class GovernmentIdProvider implements IValidationProvider {
     };
   }
 
-  async healthCheck(): Promise<boolean> {
-    return true;
+  private withTimeout<T>(promise: Promise<T>, ms: number): Promise<T> {
+    return new Promise<T>((resolve, reject) => {
+      const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+        reject(
+          new ServiceUnavailableException(
+            `GovernmentIdProvider request timed out after ${ms}ms`,
+          ),
+        );
+      }, ms);
+
+      promise
+        .then((value) => {
+          clearTimeout(timer);
+          resolve(value);
+        })
+        .catch((err) => {
+          clearTimeout(timer);
+          reject(err);
+        });
+    });
   }
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/external-validation/providers/land-registry.provider.spec.ts b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/land-registry.provider.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..42e12899
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/land-registry.provider.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import { ServiceUnavailableException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { LandRegistryProvider } from './land-registry.provider';
+
+describe('LandRegistryProvider', () => {
+  let provider: LandRegistryProvider;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    provider = new LandRegistryProvider();
+  });
+
+  it('should be defined', () => {
+    expect(provider).toBeDefined();
+  });
+
+  it('should return a valid response', async () => {
+    const result = await provider.validateDocument();
+    expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.result).toBe('VALID');
+  });
+
+  it('should report healthy when circuit is closed', async () => {
+    const healthy = await provider.healthCheck();
+    expect(healthy).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('should open circuit after threshold failures', async () => {
+    for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+      (provider as any).failureCount++;
+    }
+    (provider as any).circuitOpenUntil = new Date(Date.now() + 60000);
+
+    await expect(provider.validateDocument()).rejects.toThrow(
+      ServiceUnavailableException,
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/src/external-validation/providers/land-registry.provider.ts b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/land-registry.provider.ts
index 5f16b720..ab9dc7e1 100644
--- a/backend/src/external-validation/providers/land-registry.provider.ts
+++ b/backend/src/external-validation/providers/land-registry.provider.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,68 @@
-import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { Injectable, Logger, ServiceUnavailableException } from '@nestjs/common';
 import {
   IValidationProvider,
   ValidationResponse,
 } from '../interfaces/validation-provider.interface';
 import { ValidationResult } from '../entities/validation-request.entity';
 
+const REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS = 10_000;
+const CIRCUIT_BREAKER_THRESHOLD = 3;
+const CIRCUIT_BREAKER_RESET_MS = 60_000;
+
 @Injectable()
 export class LandRegistryProvider implements IValidationProvider {
+  private readonly logger = new Logger(LandRegistryProvider.name);
+  private failureCount = 0;
+  private circuitOpenUntil: Date | null = null;
+
   async validateDocument(): Promise<ValidationResponse> {
+    this.checkCircuit();
+
+    try {
+      const result = await this.withTimeout(
+        this.doValidate(),
+        REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS,
+      );
+      this.failureCount = 0;
+      return result;
+    } catch (error) {
+      this.failureCount++;
+      if (this.failureCount >= CIRCUIT_BREAKER_THRESHOLD) {
+        this.circuitOpenUntil = new Date(
+          Date.now() + CIRCUIT_BREAKER_RESET_MS,
+        );
+        this.logger.warn(
+          `Circuit breaker opened for LandRegistryProvider after ${this.failureCount} failures`,
+        );
+      }
+      throw error;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async healthCheck(): Promise<boolean> {
+    return !this.isCircuitOpen();
+  }
+
+  private checkCircuit(): void {
+    if (this.isCircuitOpen()) {
+      throw new ServiceUnavailableException(
+        'LandRegistryProvider circuit breaker is open',
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  private isCircuitOpen(): boolean {
+    if (this.circuitOpenUntil && this.circuitOpenUntil > new Date()) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    if (this.circuitOpenUntil && this.circuitOpenUntil <= new Date()) {
+      this.circuitOpenUntil = null;
+      this.failureCount = 0;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  private async doValidate(): Promise<ValidationResponse> {
     return {
       result: ValidationResult.VALID,
       data: {},
@@ -21,7 +76,25 @@ export class LandRegistryProvider implements IValidationProvider {
     };
   }
 
-  async healthCheck(): Promise<boolean> {
-    return true;
+  private withTimeout<T>(promise: Promise<T>, ms: number): Promise<T> {
+    return new Promise<T>((resolve, reject) => {
+      const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+        reject(
+          new ServiceUnavailableException(
+            `LandRegistryProvider request timed out after ${ms}ms`,
+          ),
+        );
+      }, ms);
+
+      promise
+        .then((value) => {
+          clearTimeout(timer);
+          resolve(value);
+        })
+        .catch((err) => {
+          clearTimeout(timer);
+          reject(err);
+        });
+    });
   }
 }