diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 9225b7a..fa319ba 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -91,33 +91,6 @@ jobs:
         name: codecov-umbrella
         fail_ci_if_error: false
 
-  security:
-    name: Security Scan
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-    - name: Set up Python
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-      with:
-        python-version: "3.12"
-
-    - name: Install dependencies
-      run: |
-        python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-        pip install -e ".[dev]"
-
-    - name: Run Bandit security scan
-      run: |
-        bandit -r meshcore_mqtt/ -f json -o bandit-report.json || true
-        bandit -r meshcore_mqtt/
-
-    # - name: Run Safety check
-    #   run: |
-    #     safety check --json --output safety-report.json || true
-    #     safety check
-
   build-test:
     name: Build Test
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 40e7eed..c137990 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 [![Docker Build and Push](https://github.com/ipnet-mesh/meshcore-mqtt/actions/workflows/docker-build.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/ipnet-mesh/meshcore-mqtt/actions/workflows/docker-build.yml)
 [![Code style: black](https://img.shields.io/badge/Code%20style-black-000000.svg)](https://github.com/psf/black)
 [![Typing: mypy](https://img.shields.io/badge/Typing-mypy-blue.svg)](https://mypy.readthedocs.io/)
-[![Security: bandit](https://img.shields.io/badge/Security-bandit-yellow.svg)](https://github.com/PyCQA/bandit)
 
 A robust bridge service that connects MeshCore devices to MQTT brokers, enabling seamless integration with IoT platforms and message processing systems.
 
diff --git a/meshcore_mqtt/config.py b/meshcore_mqtt/config.py
index adfa3ab..a633b53 100644
--- a/meshcore_mqtt/config.py
+++ b/meshcore_mqtt/config.py
@@ -111,6 +111,18 @@ class MeshCoreConfig(BaseModel):
         default=True,
         description="Reset routing path after max retries and try once more",
     )
+    message_initial_delay: float = Field(
+        default=5.0,
+        ge=0.0,
+        le=60.0,
+        description="Initial delay in seconds before sending the first message",
+    )
+    message_send_delay: float = Field(
+        default=10.0,
+        ge=0.0,
+        le=60.0,
+        description="Delay in seconds between consecutive message sends",
+    )
 
     @field_validator("port")
     @classmethod
@@ -260,6 +272,10 @@ class Config(BaseModel):
                 "MESHCORE_RESET_PATH_ON_FAILURE", "true"
             ).lower()
             == "true",
+            message_initial_delay=float(
+                os.getenv("MESHCORE_MESSAGE_INITIAL_DELAY", "5.0")
+            ),
+            message_send_delay=float(os.getenv("MESHCORE_MESSAGE_SEND_DELAY", "10.0")),
         )
 
         return cls(
diff --git a/meshcore_mqtt/main.py b/meshcore_mqtt/main.py
index 718ae79..30a92a4 100644
--- a/meshcore_mqtt/main.py
+++ b/meshcore_mqtt/main.py
@@ -163,6 +163,18 @@ def setup_logging(level: str) -> None:
     default=True,
     help="Reset routing path after max retries and try once more (default: enabled)",
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--meshcore-message-initial-delay",
+    type=click.FloatRange(0.0, 60.0),
+    default=5.0,
+    help="Initial delay in seconds before sending the first message (default: 5.0)",
+)
+@click.option(
+    "--meshcore-message-send-delay",
+    type=click.FloatRange(0.0, 60.0),
+    default=10.0,
+    help="Delay in seconds between consecutive message sends (default: 10.0)",
+)
 @click.option(
     "--log-level",
     type=click.Choice(["DEBUG", "INFO", "WARNING", "ERROR", "CRITICAL"]),
@@ -198,6 +210,8 @@ def main(
     meshcore_message_retry_count: int,
     meshcore_message_retry_delay: float,
     meshcore_reset_path_on_failure: bool,
+    meshcore_message_initial_delay: float,
+    meshcore_message_send_delay: float,
     log_level: str,
     env: bool,
 ) -> None:
@@ -264,6 +278,8 @@ def main(
                 message_retry_count=meshcore_message_retry_count,
                 message_retry_delay=meshcore_message_retry_delay,
                 reset_path_on_failure=meshcore_reset_path_on_failure,
+                message_initial_delay=meshcore_message_initial_delay,
+                message_send_delay=meshcore_message_send_delay,
             )
 
             config = Config(
diff --git a/meshcore_mqtt/meshcore_worker.py b/meshcore_mqtt/meshcore_worker.py
index f6b3eda..735912e 100644
--- a/meshcore_mqtt/meshcore_worker.py
+++ b/meshcore_mqtt/meshcore_worker.py
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ class MeshCoreWorker:
         self._startup_time = time.time()
         self._startup_grace_period = 5.0  # 5 seconds to ignore commands during startup
 
+        # Message rate limiting
+        self._message_queue: asyncio.Queue[dict] = asyncio.Queue()
+        self._last_message_time: Optional[float] = None
+        self._rate_limit_task: Optional[asyncio.Task[None]] = None
+
     async def start(self) -> None:
         """Start the MeshCore worker."""
         if self._running:
@@ -109,6 +114,9 @@ class MeshCoreWorker:
                 asyncio.create_task(
                     self._auto_fetch_monitor(), name="meshcore_autofetch"
                 ),
+                asyncio.create_task(
+                    self._message_rate_limiter(), name="meshcore_rate_limiter"
+                ),
             ]
             self._tasks.extend(tasks)
 
@@ -339,7 +347,9 @@ class MeshCoreWorker:
                         "send_msg requires 'destination' and 'message' fields"
                     )
                     return
-                result = await self._send_msg_with_retry(destination, msg_text)
+                result = await self._queue_rate_limited_command(
+                    command_type, command_data
+                )
 
             elif command_type == "device_query":
                 result = await self.meshcore.commands.send_device_query()
@@ -362,7 +372,9 @@ class MeshCoreWorker:
                         "send_chan_msg requires 'channel' and 'message' fields"
                     )
                     return
-                result = await self._send_chan_msg_with_retry(channel, msg_text)
+                result = await self._queue_rate_limited_command(
+                    command_type, command_data
+                )
 
             elif command_type == "send_advert":
                 flood = command_data.get("flood", False)
@@ -570,6 +582,147 @@ class MeshCoreWorker:
                 self.logger.error(f"Error in auto-fetch monitor: {e}")
                 await asyncio.sleep(60)
 
+    async def _message_rate_limiter(self) -> None:
+        """Rate-limited message processor to prevent network flooding."""
+        self.logger.info("Starting message rate limiter")
+
+        while self._running:
+            try:
+                # Get next message from the queue (with timeout to allow shutdown)
+                try:
+                    message_data = await asyncio.wait_for(
+                        self._message_queue.get(), timeout=1.0
+                    )
+                except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+                    continue
+
+                # Apply rate limiting delays
+                current_time = time.time()
+
+                # Apply initial delay for the first message
+                if self._last_message_time is None:
+                    if self.config.meshcore.message_initial_delay > 0:
+                        self.logger.debug(
+                            f"Applying initial delay of "
+                            f"{self.config.meshcore.message_initial_delay}s "
+                            f"before first message"
+                        )
+                        await asyncio.sleep(self.config.meshcore.message_initial_delay)
+                else:
+                    # Apply delay between consecutive messages
+                    time_since_last = current_time - self._last_message_time
+                    required_delay = self.config.meshcore.message_send_delay
+
+                    if time_since_last < required_delay:
+                        sleep_time = required_delay - time_since_last
+                        self.logger.debug(
+                            f"Rate limiting: waiting {sleep_time:.1f}s "
+                            f"before next message"
+                        )
+                        await asyncio.sleep(sleep_time)
+
+                # Send the message
+                await self._execute_rate_limited_message(message_data)
+                self._last_message_time = time.time()
+
+            except Exception as e:
+                self.logger.error(f"Error in message rate limiter: {e}")
+                await asyncio.sleep(1)
+
+    async def _queue_rate_limited_command(
+        self, command_type: str, command_data: dict
+    ) -> Any:
+        """Queue a command for rate-limited execution."""
+        self.logger.info(f"Queueing rate-limited command: {command_type}")
+
+        # Create a future to track the result
+        future: asyncio.Future[Any] = asyncio.Future()
+
+        # Prepare message data for the queue
+        message_data = {
+            "command_type": command_type,
+            "future": future,
+            **command_data,  # Include all command data
+        }
+
+        # Add to the rate-limiting queue
+        await self._message_queue.put(message_data)
+
+        # Wait for the result
+        try:
+            result = await future
+            return result
+        except Exception as e:
+            self.logger.error(f"Rate-limited command '{command_type}' failed: {e}")
+            raise
+
+    async def _execute_rate_limited_message(self, message_data: dict) -> None:
+        """Execute a rate-limited message send operation."""
+        command_type = message_data.get("command_type")
+        future: Optional[asyncio.Future[Any]] = message_data.get("future")
+
+        try:
+            result = None
+
+            if not self.meshcore:
+                raise RuntimeError("MeshCore not initialized")
+
+            if command_type == "send_msg":
+                destination = message_data.get("destination")
+                msg_text = message_data.get("message", "")
+                if not isinstance(destination, str) or not isinstance(msg_text, str):
+                    raise ValueError("Invalid destination or message type")
+                result = await self._send_msg_with_retry(destination, msg_text)
+
+            elif command_type == "send_chan_msg":
+                channel = message_data.get("channel")
+                msg_text = message_data.get("message", "")
+                if not isinstance(channel, int) or not isinstance(msg_text, str):
+                    raise ValueError("Invalid channel or message type")
+                result = await self._send_chan_msg_with_retry(channel, msg_text)
+
+            elif command_type == "device_query":
+                result = await self.meshcore.commands.send_device_query()
+
+            elif command_type == "get_battery":
+                result = await self.meshcore.commands.get_bat()
+
+            elif command_type == "set_name":
+                name = message_data.get("name", "")
+                if not isinstance(name, str):
+                    raise ValueError("Invalid name type")
+                result = await self.meshcore.commands.set_name(name)
+
+            elif command_type == "send_advert":
+                flood = message_data.get("flood", False)
+                result = await self.meshcore.commands.send_advert(flood=flood)
+
+            elif command_type == "send_trace":
+                auth_code = message_data.get("auth_code", 0)
+                tag = message_data.get("tag")
+                flags = message_data.get("flags", 0)
+                path = message_data.get("path")
+                result = await self.meshcore.commands.send_trace(
+                    auth_code=auth_code, tag=tag, flags=flags, path=path
+                )
+
+            elif command_type == "send_telemetry_req":
+                destination = message_data.get("destination")
+                if not isinstance(destination, str):
+                    raise ValueError("Invalid destination type")
+                result = await self.meshcore.commands.send_telemetry_req(destination)
+
+            # Set the result on the future
+            if future and not future.done():
+                future.set_result(result)
+
+        except Exception as e:
+            self.logger.error(
+                f"Error executing rate-limited command '{command_type}': {e}"
+            )
+            if future and not future.done():
+                future.set_exception(e)
+
     async def _recover_connection(self) -> None:
         """Recover MeshCore connection."""
         if self._reconnect_attempts >= self._max_reconnect_attempts:
diff --git a/tests/test_rate_limiting.py b/tests/test_rate_limiting.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d5fa6f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_rate_limiting.py
@@ -0,0 +1,372 @@
+"""Tests for MeshCore worker rate limiting functionality."""
+
+import asyncio
+import time
+from typing import Any
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from meshcore_mqtt.config import Config, ConnectionType, MeshCoreConfig, MQTTConfig
+from meshcore_mqtt.meshcore_worker import MeshCoreWorker
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def test_config() -> Config:
+    """Create a test configuration with rate limiting settings."""
+    return Config(
+        mqtt=MQTTConfig(broker="localhost"),
+        meshcore=MeshCoreConfig(
+            connection_type=ConnectionType.TCP,
+            address="127.0.0.1",
+            port=12345,
+            message_initial_delay=0.1,  # 100ms for faster tests
+            message_send_delay=0.2,     # 200ms for faster tests
+        ),
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def test_config_zero_delays() -> Config:
+    """Create a test configuration with zero delays."""
+    return Config(
+        mqtt=MQTTConfig(broker="localhost"),
+        meshcore=MeshCoreConfig(
+            connection_type=ConnectionType.TCP,
+            address="127.0.0.1",
+            port=12345,
+            message_initial_delay=0.0,
+            message_send_delay=0.0,
+        ),
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_meshcore_worker(test_config: Config) -> MeshCoreWorker:
+    """Create a MeshCore worker with mocked MeshCore instance."""
+    worker = MeshCoreWorker(test_config)
+
+    # Mock the MeshCore instance
+    mock_meshcore = MagicMock()
+    mock_meshcore.commands = MagicMock()
+    mock_meshcore.commands.send_msg = AsyncMock(return_value=MagicMock())
+    mock_meshcore.commands.send_chan_msg = AsyncMock(return_value=MagicMock())
+    mock_meshcore.commands.send_device_query = AsyncMock(return_value=MagicMock())
+    worker.meshcore = mock_meshcore
+
+    return worker
+
+
+class TestRateLimiting:
+    """Test message rate limiting functionality."""
+
+    async def test_message_initial_delay(self, mock_meshcore_worker: MeshCoreWorker) -> None:
+        """Test that initial delay is applied before the first message."""
+        start_time = time.time()
+
+        # Set worker to running state
+        mock_meshcore_worker._running = True
+
+        # Queue a message
+        command_data = {"destination": "test", "message": "test"}
+        future = asyncio.Future()
+        message_data = {
+            "command_type": "send_msg",
+            "future": future,
+            **command_data
+        }
+
+        await mock_meshcore_worker._message_queue.put(message_data)
+
+        # Start the rate limiter
+        rate_limiter_task = asyncio.create_task(mock_meshcore_worker._message_rate_limiter())
+
+        # Wait for the message to be processed
+        try:
+            await asyncio.wait_for(future, timeout=1.0)
+        except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+            pass
+        finally:
+            mock_meshcore_worker._running = False  # Stop the rate limiter
+            rate_limiter_task.cancel()
+            try:
+                await rate_limiter_task
+            except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                pass
+
+        elapsed_time = time.time() - start_time
+
+        # Should take at least the initial delay time
+        assert elapsed_time >= mock_meshcore_worker.config.meshcore.message_initial_delay
+
+    async def test_message_send_delay(self, mock_meshcore_worker: MeshCoreWorker) -> None:
+        """Test that delay is applied between consecutive messages."""
+        # Set worker to running state
+        mock_meshcore_worker._running = True
+
+        # Set the last message time to simulate a previous message
+        mock_meshcore_worker._last_message_time = time.time()
+
+        start_time = time.time()
+
+        # Queue a message
+        command_data = {"destination": "test", "message": "test"}
+        future = asyncio.Future()
+        message_data = {
+            "command_type": "send_msg",
+            "future": future,
+            **command_data
+        }
+
+        await mock_meshcore_worker._message_queue.put(message_data)
+
+        # Start the rate limiter
+        rate_limiter_task = asyncio.create_task(mock_meshcore_worker._message_rate_limiter())
+
+        # Wait for the message to be processed
+        try:
+            await asyncio.wait_for(future, timeout=1.0)
+        except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+            pass
+        finally:
+            mock_meshcore_worker._running = False  # Stop the rate limiter
+            rate_limiter_task.cancel()
+            try:
+                await rate_limiter_task
+            except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                pass
+
+        elapsed_time = time.time() - start_time
+
+        # Should take at least the send delay time
+        assert elapsed_time >= mock_meshcore_worker.config.meshcore.message_send_delay
+
+    async def test_no_delay_with_zero_config(self, test_config_zero_delays: Config) -> None:
+        """Test that no delays are applied when configured to zero."""
+        worker = MeshCoreWorker(test_config_zero_delays)
+
+        # Mock the MeshCore instance
+        mock_meshcore = MagicMock()
+        mock_meshcore.commands = MagicMock()
+        mock_meshcore.commands.send_msg = AsyncMock(return_value=MagicMock())
+        worker.meshcore = mock_meshcore
+
+        # Set worker to running state
+        worker._running = True
+
+        start_time = time.time()
+
+        # Queue a message
+        command_data = {"destination": "test", "message": "test"}
+        future = asyncio.Future()
+        message_data = {
+            "command_type": "send_msg",
+            "future": future,
+            **command_data
+        }
+
+        await worker._message_queue.put(message_data)
+
+        # Start the rate limiter
+        rate_limiter_task = asyncio.create_task(worker._message_rate_limiter())
+
+        # Wait for the message to be processed
+        try:
+            await asyncio.wait_for(future, timeout=0.5)
+        except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+            pass
+        finally:
+            worker._running = False  # Stop the rate limiter
+            rate_limiter_task.cancel()
+            try:
+                await rate_limiter_task
+            except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                pass
+
+        elapsed_time = time.time() - start_time
+
+        # Should complete quickly with no delays
+        assert elapsed_time < 0.1
+
+    async def test_rate_limited_command_execution(self, mock_meshcore_worker: MeshCoreWorker) -> None:
+        """Test that rate-limited commands are executed correctly."""
+        # Test send_msg command
+        result = await mock_meshcore_worker._execute_rate_limited_message({
+            "command_type": "send_msg",
+            "destination": "test_user",
+            "message": "Hello",
+            "future": None
+        })
+
+        # Verify the command was called
+        mock_meshcore_worker.meshcore.commands.send_msg.assert_called_once_with("test_user", "Hello")
+
+        # Test send_chan_msg command
+        await mock_meshcore_worker._execute_rate_limited_message({
+            "command_type": "send_chan_msg",
+            "channel": 0,
+            "message": "Hello channel",
+            "future": None
+        })
+
+        # Verify the command was called
+        mock_meshcore_worker.meshcore.commands.send_chan_msg.assert_called_once_with(0, "Hello channel")
+
+    async def test_queue_rate_limited_command(self, mock_meshcore_worker: MeshCoreWorker) -> None:
+        """Test queuing and execution of rate-limited commands."""
+        # Set worker to running state
+        mock_meshcore_worker._running = True
+
+        # Start the rate limiter in the background
+        rate_limiter_task = asyncio.create_task(mock_meshcore_worker._message_rate_limiter())
+
+        try:
+            # Queue a command
+            command_data = {"destination": "test_user", "message": "Hello"}
+            result_task = asyncio.create_task(
+                mock_meshcore_worker._queue_rate_limited_command("send_msg", command_data)
+            )
+
+            # Wait for completion
+            result = await asyncio.wait_for(result_task, timeout=2.0)
+
+            # Verify the command was executed
+            mock_meshcore_worker.meshcore.commands.send_msg.assert_called_once_with("test_user", "Hello")
+
+        finally:
+            mock_meshcore_worker._running = False  # Stop the rate limiter
+            rate_limiter_task.cancel()
+            try:
+                await rate_limiter_task
+            except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                pass
+
+    async def test_multiple_messages_rate_limiting(self, mock_meshcore_worker: MeshCoreWorker) -> None:
+        """Test that multiple messages are properly rate limited."""
+        # Set worker to running state
+        mock_meshcore_worker._running = True
+
+        # Start the rate limiter
+        rate_limiter_task = asyncio.create_task(mock_meshcore_worker._message_rate_limiter())
+
+        try:
+            start_time = time.time()
+
+            # Queue multiple messages
+            tasks = []
+            for i in range(3):
+                command_data = {"destination": f"user{i}", "message": f"Message {i}"}
+                task = asyncio.create_task(
+                    mock_meshcore_worker._queue_rate_limited_command("send_msg", command_data)
+                )
+                tasks.append(task)
+
+            # Wait for all messages to complete
+            await asyncio.gather(*tasks)
+
+            elapsed_time = time.time() - start_time
+
+            # Should take at least initial_delay + 2 * send_delay for 3 messages
+            expected_min_time = (
+                mock_meshcore_worker.config.meshcore.message_initial_delay +
+                2 * mock_meshcore_worker.config.meshcore.message_send_delay
+            )
+            assert elapsed_time >= expected_min_time
+
+            # Verify all commands were executed
+            assert mock_meshcore_worker.meshcore.commands.send_msg.call_count == 3
+
+        finally:
+            mock_meshcore_worker._running = False  # Stop the rate limiter
+            rate_limiter_task.cancel()
+            try:
+                await rate_limiter_task
+            except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                pass
+
+    async def test_rate_limiter_error_handling(self, mock_meshcore_worker: MeshCoreWorker) -> None:
+        """Test error handling in rate-limited message execution."""
+        # Set worker to running state
+        mock_meshcore_worker._running = True
+
+        # Make the mock command raise an exception - but we need to bypass the retry logic
+        # So we'll make it raise an exception in _execute_rate_limited_message directly
+        original_execute = mock_meshcore_worker._execute_rate_limited_message
+
+        async def mock_execute(message_data):
+            future = message_data.get("future")
+            if future and not future.done():
+                future.set_exception(Exception("Test error"))
+
+        mock_meshcore_worker._execute_rate_limited_message = mock_execute
+
+        # Start the rate limiter
+        rate_limiter_task = asyncio.create_task(mock_meshcore_worker._message_rate_limiter())
+
+        try:
+            # Queue a command that will fail
+            command_data = {"destination": "test_user", "message": "Hello"}
+
+            with pytest.raises(Exception, match="Test error"):
+                await asyncio.wait_for(
+                    mock_meshcore_worker._queue_rate_limited_command("send_msg", command_data),
+                    timeout=2.0
+                )
+
+        finally:
+            mock_meshcore_worker._running = False  # Stop the rate limiter
+            mock_meshcore_worker._execute_rate_limited_message = original_execute  # Restore original
+            rate_limiter_task.cancel()
+            try:
+                await rate_limiter_task
+            except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                pass
+
+    async def test_configuration_validation(self) -> None:
+        """Test that rate limiting configuration is properly validated."""
+        # Test valid configuration
+        config = Config(
+            mqtt=MQTTConfig(broker="localhost"),
+            meshcore=MeshCoreConfig(
+                connection_type=ConnectionType.TCP,
+                address="127.0.0.1",
+                message_initial_delay=5.0,
+                message_send_delay=10.0,
+            ),
+        )
+        assert config.meshcore.message_initial_delay == 5.0
+        assert config.meshcore.message_send_delay == 10.0
+
+        # Test that values are within valid range
+        config = Config(
+            mqtt=MQTTConfig(broker="localhost"),
+            meshcore=MeshCoreConfig(
+                connection_type=ConnectionType.TCP,
+                address="127.0.0.1",
+                message_initial_delay=0.0,  # Minimum
+                message_send_delay=60.0,    # Maximum
+            ),
+        )
+        assert config.meshcore.message_initial_delay == 0.0
+        assert config.meshcore.message_send_delay == 60.0
+
+        # Test that invalid values raise validation errors
+        with pytest.raises(Exception):
+            Config(
+                mqtt=MQTTConfig(broker="localhost"),
+                meshcore=MeshCoreConfig(
+                    connection_type=ConnectionType.TCP,
+                    address="127.0.0.1",
+                    message_initial_delay=-1.0,  # Invalid: negative
+                ),
+            )
+
+        with pytest.raises(Exception):
+            Config(
+                mqtt=MQTTConfig(broker="localhost"),
+                meshcore=MeshCoreConfig(
+                    connection_type=ConnectionType.TCP,
+                    address="127.0.0.1",
+                    message_send_delay=61.0,  # Invalid: too large
+                ),
+            )
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