diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ae4abd2e41c..07d1f90da86 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@
     "debug-loader": "^0.0.1",
     "deepmerge": "^4.2.2",
     "express": "4.16.2",
+    "express-rate-limit": "^5.1.3",
     "fast-json-patch": "^2.0.7",
     "file-saver": "^1.3.8",
     "filesize": "^6.1.0",
diff --git a/server.ts b/server.ts
index c640a95ef44..202d5a58bcb 100644
--- a/server.ts
+++ b/server.ts
@@ -28,12 +28,13 @@ import * as compression from 'compression';
 import * as cookieParser from 'cookie-parser';
 import { join } from 'path';
 
-import { enableProdMode, NgModuleFactory, Type } from '@angular/core';
+import { enableProdMode } from '@angular/core';
 
 import { REQUEST, RESPONSE } from '@nguniversal/express-engine/tokens';
 import { environment } from './src/environments/environment';
 import { createProxyMiddleware } from 'http-proxy-middleware';
-import { hasValue, hasNoValue } from './src/app/shared/empty.util';
+import { hasNoValue, hasValue } from './src/app/shared/empty.util';
+import { UIServerConfig } from './src/config/ui-server-config.interface';
 
 /*
  * Set path for the browser application's dist folder
@@ -121,6 +122,19 @@ function cacheControl(req, res, next) {
   next();
 }
 
+/**
+ * Checks if the rateLimiter property is present
+ * When it is present, the rateLimiter will be enabled. When it is undefined, the rateLimiter will be disabled.
+ */
+if (hasValue((environment.ui as UIServerConfig).rateLimiter)) {
+  const RateLimit = require('express-rate-limit');
+  const limiter = new RateLimit({
+    windowMs: (environment.ui as UIServerConfig).rateLimiter.windowMs,
+    max: (environment.ui as UIServerConfig).rateLimiter.max
+  });
+  app.use(limiter);
+}
+
 /*
  * Serve static resources (images, i18n messages, …)
  */
@@ -209,8 +223,9 @@ if (environment.ui.ssl) {
       certificate: certificate
     });
   } else {
+    console.warn('Disabling certificate validation and proceeding with a self-signed certificate. If this is a production server, it is recommended that you configure a valid certificate instead.');
 
-    process.env.NODE_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED = '0';
+    process.env.NODE_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED = '0'; // lgtm[js/disabling-certificate-validation]
 
     pem.createCertificate({
       days: 1,
diff --git a/src/config/global-config.interface.ts b/src/config/global-config.interface.ts
index 07ee4ca4440..0bc3d5eec4b 100644
--- a/src/config/global-config.interface.ts
+++ b/src/config/global-config.interface.ts
@@ -11,9 +11,10 @@ import { ItemPageConfig } from './item-page-config.interface';
 import { CollectionPageConfig } from './collection-page-config.interface';
 import { Theme } from './theme.inferface';
 import {AuthConfig} from './auth-config.interfaces';
+import { UIServerConfig } from './ui-server-config.interface';
 
 export interface GlobalConfig extends Config {
-  ui: ServerConfig;
+  ui: UIServerConfig;
   rest: ServerConfig;
   production: boolean;
   cache: CacheConfig;
diff --git a/src/config/ui-server-config.interface.ts b/src/config/ui-server-config.interface.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..93f90c345cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/ui-server-config.interface.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import { ServerConfig } from './server-config.interface';
+
+/**
+ * Server configuration related to the UI.
+ */
+export class UIServerConfig extends ServerConfig {
+
+  // rateLimiter is used to limit the amount of requests a user is allowed make in an amount of time, in order to prevent overloading the server
+  rateLimiter?: {
+    windowMs: number;
+    max: number;
+  };
+
+}
diff --git a/src/environments/environment.common.ts b/src/environments/environment.common.ts
index 4f733396902..eb961a38eb5 100644
--- a/src/environments/environment.common.ts
+++ b/src/environments/environment.common.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ export const environment: GlobalConfig = {
     port: 4000,
     // NOTE: Space is capitalized because 'namespace' is a reserved string in TypeScript
     nameSpace: '/',
+    // The rateLimiter settings limit each IP to a "max" of 500 requests per "windowMs" (1 minute).
+    rateLimiter: {
+      windowMs: 1 * 60 * 1000,   // 1 minute
+      max: 500 // limit each IP to 500 requests per windowMs
+    }
   },
   // The REST API server settings.
   // NOTE: these must be "synced" with the 'dspace.server.url' setting in your backend's local.cfg.
diff --git a/src/environments/mock-environment.ts b/src/environments/mock-environment.ts
index 6e4d60e2686..b220c460836 100644
--- a/src/environments/mock-environment.ts
+++ b/src/environments/mock-environment.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export const environment: Partial<GlobalConfig> = {
     port: 80,
     // NOTE: Space is capitalized because 'namespace' is a reserved string in TypeScript
     nameSpace: '/angular-dspace',
+    rateLimiter: undefined
   },
     // Caching settings
   cache: {
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index d44182cc519..cb6a29e9f5e 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -4124,6 +4124,11 @@ expand-tilde@^2.0.0, expand-tilde@^2.0.2:
   dependencies:
     homedir-polyfill "^1.0.1"
 
+express-rate-limit@^5.1.3:
+  version "5.1.3"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/express-rate-limit/-/express-rate-limit-5.1.3.tgz#656bacce3f093034976346958a0f0199902c9174"
+  integrity sha512-TINcxve5510pXj4n9/1AMupkj3iWxl3JuZaWhCdYDlZeoCPqweGZrxbrlqTCFb1CT5wli7s8e2SH/Qz2c9GorA==
+
 express@4.16.2:
   version "4.16.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/express/-/express-4.16.2.tgz#e35c6dfe2d64b7dca0a5cd4f21781be3299e076c"