diff --git a/apps/emqx/etc/emqx.conf b/apps/emqx/etc/emqx.conf
index 74a29b31d..50ddbfcde 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/etc/emqx.conf
+++ b/apps/emqx/etc/emqx.conf
@@ -88,6 +88,48 @@ broker {
   perf.trie_compaction = true
 }
 
+
+authorization {
+  ## Behaviour after not matching a rule.
+  ##
+  ## @doc authorization.no_match
+  ## ValueType: allow | deny
+  ## Default: allow
+  no_match: allow
+
+  ## The action when authorization check reject current operation
+  ##
+  ## @doc authorization.deny_action
+  ## ValueType: ignore | disconnect
+  ## Default: ignore
+  deny_action: ignore
+
+  ## Whether to enable Authorization cache.
+  ##
+  ## If enabled, Authorization roles for each client will be cached in the memory
+  ##
+  ## @doc authorization.cache.enable
+  ## ValueType: Boolean
+  ## Default: true
+  cache.enable: true
+
+  ## The maximum count of Authorization entries can be cached for a client.
+  ##
+  ## @doc authorization.cache.max_size
+  ## ValueType: Integer
+  ## Range: [0, 1048576]
+  ## Default: 32
+  cache.max_size: 32
+
+  ## The time after which an Authorization cache entry will be deleted
+  ##
+  ## @doc authorization.cache.ttl
+  ## ValueType: Duration
+  ## Default: 1m
+  cache.ttl: 1m
+}
+
+
 ##==================================================================
 ## Zones and Listeners
 ##==================================================================
@@ -114,7 +156,6 @@ broker {
 ##   - `auth.*`
 ##   - `stats.*`
 ##   - `mqtt.*`
-##   - `authorization.*`
 ##   - `flapping_detect.*`
 ##   - `force_shutdown.*`
 ##   - `conn_congestion.*`
@@ -396,47 +437,6 @@ zones.default {
 
   }
 
-  authorization {
-
-    ## Enable Authorization check.
-    ##
-    ## @doc zones.<name>.authorization.enable
-    ## ValueType: Boolean
-    ## Default: true
-    enable = true
-
-    ## The action when authorization check reject current operation
-    ##
-    ## @doc zones.<name>.authorization.deny_action
-    ## ValueType: ignore | disconnect
-    ## Default: ignore
-    deny_action = ignore
-
-    ## Whether to enable Authorization cache.
-    ##
-    ## If enabled, Authorization roles for each client will be cached in the memory
-    ##
-    ## @doc zones.<name>.authorization.cache.enable
-    ## ValueType: Boolean
-    ## Default: true
-    cache.enable = true
-
-    ## The maximum count of Authorization entries can be cached for a client.
-    ##
-    ## @doc zones.<name>.authorization.cache.max_size
-    ## ValueType: Integer
-    ## Range: [0, 1048576]
-    ## Default: 32
-    cache.max_size = 32
-
-    ## The time after which an Authorization cache entry will be deleted
-    ##
-    ## @doc zones.<name>.authorization.cache.ttl
-    ## ValueType: Duration
-    ## Default: 1m
-    cache.ttl = 1m
-  }
-
   flapping_detect {
     ## Enable Flapping Detection.
     ##
@@ -1158,7 +1158,6 @@ zones.default {
 #This is an example zone which has less "strict" settings.
 #It's useful to clients connecting the broker from trusted networks.
 zones.internal {
-  authorization.enable = true
   auth.enable = false
   listeners.mqtt_internal {
     type = tcp
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_access_control.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_access_control.erl
index 111a86112..7d5b009ba 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_access_control.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_access_control.erl
@@ -39,23 +39,24 @@ authenticate(Credential) ->
 %% @doc Check Authorization
 -spec authorize(emqx_types:clientinfo(), emqx_types:pubsub(), emqx_types:topic())
       -> allow | deny.
-authorize(ClientInfo = #{zone := Zone}, PubSub, Topic) ->
-    case emqx_authz_cache:is_enabled(Zone) of
+authorize(ClientInfo, PubSub, Topic) ->
+    case emqx_authz_cache:is_enabled() of
         true  -> check_authorization_cache(ClientInfo, PubSub, Topic);
         false -> do_authorize(ClientInfo, PubSub, Topic)
     end.
 
-check_authorization_cache(ClientInfo = #{zone := Zone}, PubSub, Topic) ->
-    case emqx_authz_cache:get_authz_cache(Zone, PubSub, Topic) of
+check_authorization_cache(ClientInfo, PubSub, Topic) ->
+    case emqx_authz_cache:get_authz_cache(PubSub, Topic) of
         not_found ->
             AuthzResult = do_authorize(ClientInfo, PubSub, Topic),
-            emqx_authz_cache:put_authz_cache(Zone, PubSub, Topic, AuthzResult),
+            emqx_authz_cache:put_authz_cache(PubSub, Topic, AuthzResult),
             AuthzResult;
         AuthzResult -> AuthzResult
     end.
 
 do_authorize(ClientInfo, PubSub, Topic) ->
-    case run_hooks('client.authorize', [ClientInfo, PubSub, Topic], allow) of
+    NoMatch = emqx:get_config([authorization, no_match], allow),
+    case run_hooks('client.authorize', [ClientInfo, PubSub, Topic], NoMatch) of
         allow  -> allow;
         _Other -> deny
     end.
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_authz_cache.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_authz_cache.erl
index a13294da2..10ddbd21c 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_authz_cache.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_authz_cache.erl
@@ -18,15 +18,15 @@
 
 -include("emqx.hrl").
 
--export([ list_authz_cache/1
-        , get_authz_cache/3
-        , put_authz_cache/4
-        , cleanup_authz_cache/1
+-export([ list_authz_cache/0
+        , get_authz_cache/2
+        , put_authz_cache/3
+        , cleanup_authz_cache/0
         , empty_authz_cache/0
         , dump_authz_cache/0
-        , get_cache_max_size/1
-        , get_cache_ttl/1
-        , is_enabled/1
+        , get_cache_max_size/0
+        , get_cache_ttl/0
+        , is_enabled/0
         , drain_cache/0
         ]).
 
@@ -50,45 +50,45 @@ cache_k(PubSub, Topic)-> {PubSub, Topic}.
 cache_v(AuthzResult)-> {AuthzResult, time_now()}.
 drain_k() -> {?MODULE, drain_timestamp}.
 
--spec(is_enabled(atom()) -> boolean()).
-is_enabled(Zone) ->
-    emqx_config:get_zone_conf(Zone, [authorization, cache, enable]).
+-spec(is_enabled() -> boolean()).
+is_enabled() ->
+    emqx:get_config([authorization, cache, enable], false).
 
--spec(get_cache_max_size(atom()) -> integer()).
-get_cache_max_size(Zone) ->
-    emqx_config:get_zone_conf(Zone, [authorization, cache, max_size]).
+-spec(get_cache_max_size() -> integer()).
+get_cache_max_size() ->
+    emqx:get_config([authorization, cache, max_size]).
 
--spec(get_cache_ttl(atom()) -> integer()).
-get_cache_ttl(Zone) ->
-    emqx_config:get_zone_conf(Zone, [authorization, cache, ttl]).
+-spec(get_cache_ttl() -> integer()).
+get_cache_ttl() ->
+    emqx:get_config([authorization, cache, ttl]).
 
--spec(list_authz_cache(atom()) -> [authz_cache_entry()]).
-list_authz_cache(Zone) ->
-    cleanup_authz_cache(Zone),
+-spec(list_authz_cache() -> [authz_cache_entry()]).
+list_authz_cache() ->
+    cleanup_authz_cache(),
     map_authz_cache(fun(Cache) -> Cache end).
 
 %% We'll cleanup the cache before replacing an expired authz.
--spec get_authz_cache(atom(), emqx_types:pubsub(), emqx_topic:topic()) ->
+-spec get_authz_cache(emqx_types:pubsub(), emqx_topic:topic()) ->
     authz_result() | not_found.
-get_authz_cache(Zone, PubSub, Topic) ->
+get_authz_cache(PubSub, Topic) ->
     case erlang:get(cache_k(PubSub, Topic)) of
         undefined -> not_found;
         {AuthzResult, CachedAt} ->
-            if_expired(get_cache_ttl(Zone), CachedAt,
+            if_expired(get_cache_ttl(), CachedAt,
                 fun(false) ->
                       AuthzResult;
                    (true) ->
-                      cleanup_authz_cache(Zone),
+                      cleanup_authz_cache(),
                       not_found
                 end)
     end.
 
 %% If the cache get full, and also the latest one
 %%   is expired, then delete all the cache entries
--spec put_authz_cache(atom(), emqx_types:pubsub(), emqx_topic:topic(), authz_result())
+-spec put_authz_cache(emqx_types:pubsub(), emqx_topic:topic(), authz_result())
     -> ok.
-put_authz_cache(Zone, PubSub, Topic, AuthzResult) ->
-    MaxSize = get_cache_max_size(Zone), true = (MaxSize =/= 0),
+put_authz_cache(PubSub, Topic, AuthzResult) ->
+    MaxSize = get_cache_max_size(), true = (MaxSize =/= 0),
     Size = get_cache_size(),
     case Size < MaxSize of
         true ->
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ put_authz_cache(Zone, PubSub, Topic, AuthzResult) ->
         false ->
             NewestK = get_newest_key(),
             {_AuthzResult, CachedAt} = erlang:get(NewestK),
-            if_expired(get_cache_ttl(Zone), CachedAt,
+            if_expired(get_cache_ttl(), CachedAt,
                 fun(true) ->
                       % all cache expired, cleanup first
                       empty_authz_cache(),
@@ -123,10 +123,10 @@ evict_authz_cache() ->
     decr_cache_size().
 
 %% cleanup all the expired cache entries
--spec(cleanup_authz_cache(atom()) -> ok).
-cleanup_authz_cache(Zone) ->
+-spec(cleanup_authz_cache() -> ok).
+cleanup_authz_cache() ->
     keys_queue_set(
-        cleanup_authz(get_cache_ttl(Zone), keys_queue_get())).
+        cleanup_authz(get_cache_ttl(), keys_queue_get())).
 
 get_oldest_key() ->
     keys_queue_pick(queue_front()).
@@ -143,8 +143,8 @@ dump_authz_cache() ->
     map_authz_cache(fun(Cache) -> Cache end).
 
 map_authz_cache(Fun) ->
-    [Fun(R) || R = {{SubPub, _T}, _Authz} <- get(), SubPub =:= publish
-                                             orelse SubPub =:= subscribe].
+    [Fun(R) || R = {{SubPub, _T}, _Authz} <- erlang:get(),
+               SubPub =:= publish orelse SubPub =:= subscribe].
 foreach_authz_cache(Fun) ->
     _ = map_authz_cache(Fun),
     ok.
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_channel.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_channel.erl
index 5988e03e5..3bfe6bbf0 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_channel.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_channel.erl
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ handle_in(?PUBCOMP_PACKET(PacketId, _ReasonCode), Channel = #channel{session = S
     end;
 
 handle_in(Packet = ?SUBSCRIBE_PACKET(PacketId, Properties, TopicFilters),
-          Channel = #channel{clientinfo = ClientInfo = #{zone := Zone}}) ->
+          Channel = #channel{clientinfo = ClientInfo}) ->
     case emqx_packet:check(Packet) of
         ok ->
             TopicFilters0 = parse_topic_filters(TopicFilters),
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ handle_in(Packet = ?SUBSCRIBE_PACKET(PacketId, Properties, TopicFilters),
             HasAuthzDeny = lists:any(fun({_TopicFilter, ReasonCode}) ->
                     ReasonCode =:= ?RC_NOT_AUTHORIZED
                 end, TupleTopicFilters0),
-            DenyAction = emqx_config:get_zone_conf(Zone, [authorization, deny_action]),
+            DenyAction = emqx:get_config([authorization, deny_action], ignore),
             case DenyAction =:= disconnect andalso HasAuthzDeny of
                 true -> handle_out(disconnect, ?RC_NOT_AUTHORIZED, Channel);
                 false ->
@@ -536,8 +536,7 @@ process_connect(AckProps, Channel = #channel{conninfo = ConnInfo,
 %% Process Publish
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-process_publish(Packet = ?PUBLISH_PACKET(QoS, Topic, PacketId),
-                Channel = #channel{clientinfo = #{zone := Zone}}) ->
+process_publish(Packet = ?PUBLISH_PACKET(QoS, Topic, PacketId), Channel) ->
     case pipeline([fun check_quota_exceeded/2,
                    fun process_alias/2,
                    fun check_pub_alias/2,
@@ -550,7 +549,7 @@ process_publish(Packet = ?PUBLISH_PACKET(QoS, Topic, PacketId),
         {error, Rc = ?RC_NOT_AUTHORIZED, NChannel} ->
             ?LOG(warning, "Cannot publish message to ~s due to ~s.",
                  [Topic, emqx_reason_codes:text(Rc)]),
-            case emqx_config:get_zone_conf(Zone, [authorization, deny_action]) of
+            case emqx:get_config([authorization, deny_action], ignore) of
                 ignore ->
                     case QoS of
                        ?QOS_0 -> {ok, NChannel};
@@ -955,9 +954,8 @@ handle_call({takeover, 'end'}, Channel = #channel{session  = Session,
     AllPendings = lists:append(Delivers, Pendings),
     disconnect_and_shutdown(takeovered, AllPendings, Channel);
 
-handle_call(list_authz_cache, #channel{clientinfo = #{zone := Zone}}
-        = Channel) ->
-    {reply, emqx_authz_cache:list_authz_cache(Zone), Channel};
+handle_call(list_authz_cache, Channel) ->
+    {reply, emqx_authz_cache:list_authz_cache(), Channel};
 
 handle_call({quota, Policy}, Channel) ->
     Zone = info(zone, Channel),
@@ -1420,8 +1418,7 @@ check_pub_alias(_Packet, _Channel) -> ok.
 
 check_pub_authz(#mqtt_packet{variable = #mqtt_packet_publish{topic_name = Topic}},
               #channel{clientinfo = ClientInfo}) ->
-    case is_authz_enabled(ClientInfo) andalso
-         emqx_access_control:authorize(ClientInfo, publish, Topic) of
+    case emqx_access_control:authorize(ClientInfo, publish, Topic) of
         false -> ok;
         allow -> ok;
         deny  -> {error, ?RC_NOT_AUTHORIZED}
@@ -1454,8 +1451,7 @@ check_sub_authzs([], _Channel, Acc) ->
     lists:reverse(Acc).
 
 check_sub_authz(TopicFilter, #channel{clientinfo = ClientInfo}) ->
-    case is_authz_enabled(ClientInfo) andalso
-         emqx_access_control:authorize(ClientInfo, subscribe, TopicFilter) of
+    case emqx_access_control:authorize(ClientInfo, subscribe, TopicFilter) of
         false  -> allow;
         Result -> Result
     end.
@@ -1621,11 +1617,6 @@ maybe_shutdown(Reason, Channel = #channel{conninfo = ConnInfo}) ->
         _ -> shutdown(Reason, Channel)
     end.
 
-%%--------------------------------------------------------------------
-%% Is Authorization enabled?
-is_authz_enabled(#{zone := Zone, is_superuser := IsSuperuser}) ->
-    (not IsSuperuser) andalso emqx_config:get_zone_conf(Zone, [authorization, enable]).
-
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 %% Parse Topic Filters
 
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl
index 820754363..cf18f1256 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
 -export([conf_get/2, conf_get/3, keys/2, filter/1]).
 -export([ssl/1]).
 
-structs() -> ["zones", "listeners", "broker", "plugins", "sysmon", "alarm"].
+structs() -> ["zones", "listeners", "broker", "plugins", "sysmon", "alarm", "authorization"].
 
 fields("stats") ->
     [ {"enable", t(boolean(), undefined, true)}
@@ -80,10 +80,10 @@ fields("auth") ->
     [ {"enable", t(boolean(), undefined, false)}
     ];
 
-fields("authorization_settings") ->
-    [ {"enable", t(boolean(), undefined, true)}
-    , {"cache", ref("authorization_cache")}
+fields("authorization") ->
+    [ {"no_match", t(union(allow, deny), undefined, allow)}
     , {"deny_action", t(union(ignore, disconnect), undefined, ignore)}
+    , {"cache", ref("authorization_cache")}
     ];
 
 fields("authorization_cache") ->
@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@ fields("zones") ->
 
 fields("zone_settings") ->
     [ {"mqtt", ref("mqtt")}
-    , {"authorization", ref("authorization_settings")}
     , {"auth", ref("auth")}
     , {"stats", ref("stats")}
     , {"flapping_detect", ref("flapping_detect")}
diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_authz_cache_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_authz_cache_SUITE.erl
index 849997298..46a4d7d74 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_authz_cache_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_authz_cache_SUITE.erl
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ all() -> emqx_ct:all(?MODULE).
 init_per_suite(Config) ->
     emqx_ct_helpers:boot_modules(all),
     emqx_ct_helpers:start_apps([]),
-    toggle_authz(true),
     Config.
 
 end_per_suite(_Config) ->
@@ -78,6 +77,3 @@ t_drain_authz_cache(_) ->
     {ok, _, _} = emqtt:subscribe(Client, <<"t2">>, 0),
     ?assert(length(gen_server:call(ClientPid, list_authz_cache)) > 0),
     emqtt:stop(Client).
-
-toggle_authz(Bool) when is_boolean(Bool) ->
-    emqx_config:put_zone_conf(default, [authorization, enable], Bool).