diff --git a/backend/src/app.module.ts b/backend/src/app.module.ts
index 433e6a0..7915b79 100644
--- a/backend/src/app.module.ts
+++ b/backend/src/app.module.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { ConfigModule } from '@nestjs/config';
+import { APP_GUARD } from '@nestjs/core';
 import { AppController } from './app.controller';
 import { AppService } from './app.service';
 import { DatabaseModule } from './database/database.module';
@@ -8,6 +9,7 @@ import { ProjectsModule } from './modules/projects/projects.module';
 import { AuthModule } from './modules/auth/auth.module';
 import { GroupsModule } from './modules/groups/groups.module';
 import { TagsModule } from './modules/tags/tags.module';
+import { JwtAuthGuard } from './modules/auth/guards/jwt-auth.guard';
 
 @Module({
   imports: [
@@ -23,6 +25,12 @@ import { TagsModule } from './modules/tags/tags.module';
     TagsModule,
   ],
   controllers: [AppController],
-  providers: [AppService],
+  providers: [
+    AppService,
+    {
+      provide: APP_GUARD,
+      useClass: JwtAuthGuard,
+    },
+  ],
 })
 export class AppModule {}
diff --git a/backend/src/modules/auth/controllers/auth.controller.ts b/backend/src/modules/auth/controllers/auth.controller.ts
index c18138d..3088212 100644
--- a/backend/src/modules/auth/controllers/auth.controller.ts
+++ b/backend/src/modules/auth/controllers/auth.controller.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { GithubAuthGuard } from '../guards/github-auth.guard';
 import { JwtAuthGuard } from '../guards/jwt-auth.guard';
 import { JwtRefreshGuard } from '../guards/jwt-refresh.guard';
 import { GetUser } from '../decorators/get-user.decorator';
+import { Public } from '../decorators/public.decorator';
 
 @Controller('auth')
 export class AuthController {
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ export class AuthController {
   /**
    * Initiate GitHub OAuth flow
    */
+  @Public()
   @Get('github')
   @UseGuards(GithubAuthGuard)
   githubAuth() {
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ export class AuthController {
   /**
    * Handle GitHub OAuth callback
    */
+  @Public()
   @Get('github/callback')
   @UseGuards(GithubAuthGuard)
   async githubAuthCallback(@Req() req: Request, @Res() res: Response) {
@@ -61,6 +64,7 @@ export class AuthController {
   /**
    * Refresh tokens
    */
+  @Public()
   @Post('refresh')
   @UseGuards(JwtRefreshGuard)
   async refreshTokens(@GetUser() user) {
diff --git a/backend/src/modules/auth/decorators/public.decorator.ts b/backend/src/modules/auth/decorators/public.decorator.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee683d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/modules/auth/decorators/public.decorator.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import { SetMetadata } from '@nestjs/common';
+
+/**
+ * Key for the public metadata
+ */
+export const IS_PUBLIC_KEY = 'isPublic';
+
+/**
+ * Decorator to mark a route as public (not requiring authentication)
+ * 
+ * Usage:
+ * - @Public() - Mark a route as public
+ */
+export const Public = () => SetMetadata(IS_PUBLIC_KEY, true);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/src/modules/auth/guards/jwt-auth.guard.ts b/backend/src/modules/auth/guards/jwt-auth.guard.ts
index 4df3ddd..1051b17 100644
--- a/backend/src/modules/auth/guards/jwt-auth.guard.ts
+++ b/backend/src/modules/auth/guards/jwt-auth.guard.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,33 @@
-import { Injectable, UnauthorizedException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { Injectable, UnauthorizedException, ExecutionContext } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { AuthGuard } from '@nestjs/passport';
+import { Reflector } from '@nestjs/core';
+import { IS_PUBLIC_KEY } from '../decorators/public.decorator';
 
 /**
  * Guard for JWT authentication
  */
 @Injectable()
 export class JwtAuthGuard extends AuthGuard('jwt') {
+  constructor(private reflector: Reflector) {
+    super();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Check if the route is public or requires authentication
+   */
+  canActivate(context: ExecutionContext) {
+    const isPublic = this.reflector.getAllAndOverride<boolean>(IS_PUBLIC_KEY, [
+      context.getHandler(),
+      context.getClass(),
+    ]);
+
+    if (isPublic) {
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    return super.canActivate(context);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Handle unauthorized errors
    */
@@ -15,4 +37,4 @@ export class JwtAuthGuard extends AuthGuard('jwt') {
     }
     return user;
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}