diff --git a/pkg/cli/server.go b/pkg/cli/server.go
index f7dcc5ca0..a0505480c 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/server.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/server.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Run Terrascan as an API server that inspects incoming IaC (Infrastructure-as-Cod
 }
 
 func server(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	httpserver.Start(port, ConfigFile, certFile, privateKeyFile)
+	httpserver.Start(port, certFile, privateKeyFile)
 }
 
 func init() {
diff --git a/pkg/config/global.go b/pkg/config/global.go
index 14e590c92..f82f75b69 100644
--- a/pkg/config/global.go
+++ b/pkg/config/global.go
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ var (
 // in configFile will get default values
 func LoadGlobalConfig(configFile string) error {
 	// Start with the defaults
+	global = &TerrascanConfig{}
+
 	global.Policy = Policy{
 		BasePath: defaultBasePolicyPath,
 		RepoPath: defaultPolicyRepoPath,
@@ -120,50 +122,80 @@ func LoadGlobalConfig(configFile string) error {
 
 // GetPolicyBasePath returns the configured policy base path
 func GetPolicyBasePath() string {
+	if global == nil {
+		return defaultBasePolicyPath
+	}
 	return global.Policy.BasePath
 }
 
 // GetPolicyRepoPath return the configured path to the policies repo locally downloaded
 func GetPolicyRepoPath() string {
+	if global == nil {
+		return defaultPolicyRepoPath
+	}
 	return global.Policy.RepoPath
 }
 
 // GetPolicyRepoURL returns the configured policy repo url
 func GetPolicyRepoURL() string {
+	if global == nil {
+		return defaultPolicyRepoURL
+	}
 	return global.Policy.RepoURL
 }
 
 // GetPolicyBranch returns the configured policy repo url
 func GetPolicyBranch() string {
+	if global == nil {
+		return defaultPolicyBranch
+	}
 	return global.Policy.Branch
 }
 
 // GetScanRules returns the configured scan rules
 func GetScanRules() []string {
+	if global == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return global.Rules.ScanRules
 }
 
 // GetSkipRules returns the configured skips rules
 func GetSkipRules() []string {
+	if global == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return global.Rules.SkipRules
 }
 
 // GetSeverityLevel returns the configured severity level
 func GetSeverityLevel() string {
+	if global == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
 	return global.Severity.Level
 }
 
 // GetCategoryList returns the configured list of category of violations
 func GetCategoryList() []string {
+	if global == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return global.Category.List
 }
 
 // GetNotifications returns the configured notifier map
 func GetNotifications() map[string]Notifier {
+	if global == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return global.Notifications
 }
 
 // GetK8sAdmissionControl returns kubernetes admission control configuration
 func GetK8sAdmissionControl() K8sAdmissionControl {
+	if global == nil {
+		return K8sAdmissionControl{}
+	}
 	return global.K8sAdmissionControl
 }
diff --git a/pkg/config/types.go b/pkg/config/types.go
index fa56bfaba..c5853a6f8 100644
--- a/pkg/config/types.go
+++ b/pkg/config/types.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 package config
 
 // Global initalizes GlobalConfig struct
-var global *TerrascanConfig = &TerrascanConfig{}
+var global *TerrascanConfig
 
 // TerrascanConfig struct defines global variables/configurations across terrascan
 type TerrascanConfig struct {
diff --git a/pkg/http-server/handler.go b/pkg/http-server/handler.go
index 41fc52691..eb86e5a90 100644
--- a/pkg/http-server/handler.go
+++ b/pkg/http-server/handler.go
@@ -18,13 +18,10 @@ package httpserver
 
 // APIHandler struct for http api server
 type APIHandler struct {
-	test       bool
-	configFile string
+	test bool
 }
 
 // NewAPIHandler returns a new APIHandler{}
-func NewAPIHandler(configFile string) *APIHandler {
-	return &APIHandler{
-		configFile: configFile,
-	}
+func NewAPIHandler() *APIHandler {
+	return &APIHandler{}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/http-server/handler_test.go b/pkg/http-server/handler_test.go
index dd394336b..15c926eb1 100644
--- a/pkg/http-server/handler_test.go
+++ b/pkg/http-server/handler_test.go
@@ -8,10 +8,8 @@ import (
 func TestNewAPIHandler(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("new API gateway", func(t *testing.T) {
 		var (
-			want = APIHandler{
-				configFile: "",
-			}
-			got = NewAPIHandler("")
+			want = APIHandler{}
+			got  = NewAPIHandler()
 		)
 		if !reflect.DeepEqual(*got, want) {
 			t.Errorf("got: '%v', want: '%v'", *got, want)
diff --git a/pkg/http-server/health_test.go b/pkg/http-server/health_test.go
index 2a447ea47..08b92f8a8 100644
--- a/pkg/http-server/health_test.go
+++ b/pkg/http-server/health_test.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestHealth(t *testing.T) {
 
-	handler := NewAPIHandler("")
+	handler := NewAPIHandler()
 
 	t.Run("test health api", func(t *testing.T) {
 		var (
diff --git a/pkg/http-server/k8s_testdata/config-dashboard-true.toml b/pkg/http-server/k8s_testdata/config-dashboard-true.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..82c3356fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/http-server/k8s_testdata/config-dashboard-true.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[k8s-admission-control]
+  dashboard = true
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pkg/http-server/k8s_testdata/config-with-dashboard-deny-categories.toml b/pkg/http-server/k8s_testdata/config-with-dashboard-deny-categories.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d29e631a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/http-server/k8s_testdata/config-with-dashboard-deny-categories.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[k8s-admission-control]
+  dashboard = true
+  denied-categories = [
+      "Identity and Access Management",
+      "Network Security",
+  ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pkg/http-server/routes.go b/pkg/http-server/routes.go
index ae63054bd..88791c452 100644
--- a/pkg/http-server/routes.go
+++ b/pkg/http-server/routes.go
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ type Route struct {
 
 // Routes returns a slice of routes of API endpoints to be registered with
 // http server
-func (g *APIServer) Routes(configFile string) []*Route {
-	h := NewAPIHandler(configFile)
+func (g *APIServer) Routes() []*Route {
+	h := NewAPIHandler()
 	routes := []*Route{
 		{verb: "GET", path: "/health", fn: h.Health},
 		{verb: "POST", path: versionedPath("/{iac}/{iacVersion}/{cloud}/local/file/scan"), fn: h.scanFile},
diff --git a/pkg/http-server/routes_test.go b/pkg/http-server/routes_test.go
index 3e2058828..06d3dadab 100644
--- a/pkg/http-server/routes_test.go
+++ b/pkg/http-server/routes_test.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ func TestRoutes(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("health route check", func(t *testing.T) {
 		var (
 			server = NewAPIServer()
-			got    = server.Routes("")
+			got    = server.Routes()
 			passed = false
 		)
 
diff --git a/pkg/http-server/start.go b/pkg/http-server/start.go
index bf9199ade..93e16863b 100644
--- a/pkg/http-server/start.go
+++ b/pkg/http-server/start.go
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ import (
 )
 
 // Start initializes api routes and starts http server
-func Start(port, configFile, certFile, privateKeyFile string) {
+func Start(port, certFile, privateKeyFile string) {
 
 	// create a new API server
 	server := NewAPIServer()
 
 	// get all routes
-	routes := server.Routes(configFile)
+	routes := server.Routes()
 
 	// get port
 	if port == GatewayDefaultPort && os.Getenv(TerrascanServerPort) != "" {
diff --git a/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan-logs.go b/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan-logs.go
index d4733aefd..7e8d4e833 100644
--- a/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan-logs.go
+++ b/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan-logs.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func (g *APIHandler) getLogs(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	)
 
 	// Validate if authorized (API key is specified and matched the server one (saved in an environment variable)
-	validatingWebhook := admissionWebhook.NewValidatingWebhook(g.configFile, []byte(""))
+	validatingWebhook := admissionWebhook.NewValidatingWebhook([]byte(""))
 	if err := validatingWebhook.Authorize(apiKey); err != nil {
 		switch err {
 		case admissionWebhook.ErrAPIKeyMissing:
diff --git a/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan.go b/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan.go
index ff88b7fc1..b210b9054 100644
--- a/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan.go
+++ b/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (g *APIHandler) validateK8SWebhook(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request)
 	}
 	zap.S().Debugf("scanning configuration webhook request: %+v", string(body))
 
-	validatingWebhook := admissionWebhook.NewValidatingWebhook(g.configFile, body)
+	validatingWebhook := admissionWebhook.NewValidatingWebhook(body)
 	// Validate if authorized (API key is specified and matched the server one (saved in an environment variable)
 	if err := validatingWebhook.Authorize(apiKey); err != nil {
 		switch err {
diff --git a/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan_test.go b/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan_test.go
index 0864c9379..6229f5816 100644
--- a/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan_test.go
+++ b/pkg/http-server/webhook-scan_test.go
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ import (
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/accurics/terrascan/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/accurics/terrascan/pkg/k8s/dblogs"
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
 	v1 "k8s.io/api/admission/v1"
@@ -34,6 +36,7 @@ func TestUWebhooks(t *testing.T) {
 		allowed            bool
 		statusCode         int32
 		statusMessage      bool
+		dashboardCheck     bool
 	}{
 		{
 			name:               "missing api key",
@@ -59,14 +62,6 @@ func TestUWebhooks(t *testing.T) {
 			wantStatus:         http.StatusUnauthorized,
 			configFile:         testConfigFile,
 		},
-		{
-			name:               "invalid api key",
-			contentRequestPath: testFilePath,
-			apiKey:             testAPIKey,
-			envAPIKey:          "Invalid API KEY",
-			wantStatus:         http.StatusUnauthorized,
-			configFile:         testConfigFile,
-		},
 		{
 			name:               "invalid request json content",
 			contentRequestPath: filepath.Join(k8sTestData, "invalid.json"),
@@ -167,10 +162,39 @@ func TestUWebhooks(t *testing.T) {
 			allowed:            true,
 			wantStatus:         http.StatusOK,
 		},
+		{
+			name:               "risky request object with dashboard true",
+			contentRequestPath: filepath.Join(k8sTestData, "risky_testconfig.json"),
+			apiKey:             testAPIKey,
+			envAPIKey:          testEnvAPIKey,
+			configFile:         filepath.Join(k8sTestData, "config-dashboard-true.toml"),
+			warnings:           true,
+			allowed:            true,
+			wantStatus:         http.StatusOK,
+			dashboardCheck:     true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:               "risky request object with denied categories and dashboard true",
+			contentRequestPath: filepath.Join(k8sTestData, "risky_testconfig.json"),
+			apiKey:             testAPIKey,
+			envAPIKey:          testEnvAPIKey,
+			configFile:         filepath.Join(k8sTestData, "config-with-dashboard-deny-categories.toml"),
+			warnings:           false,
+			allowed:            false,
+			statusCode:         403,
+			statusMessage:      true,
+			wantStatus:         http.StatusOK,
+			dashboardCheck:     true,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := config.LoadGlobalConfig(tt.configFile)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("error while loading the config file '%s', error: %v", tt.configFile, err)
+			}
+
 			os.Setenv("K8S_WEBHOOK_API_KEY", tt.envAPIKey)
 
 			// test file to upload
@@ -206,7 +230,7 @@ func TestUWebhooks(t *testing.T) {
 			})
 			res := httptest.NewRecorder()
 			// new api handler
-			h := &APIHandler{test: true, configFile: tt.configFile}
+			h := &APIHandler{test: true}
 			h.validateK8SWebhook(res, req)
 
 			if res.Code != tt.wantStatus {
@@ -229,11 +253,7 @@ func TestUWebhooks(t *testing.T) {
 					t.Errorf("mismatch Status code Got: %v, expected: %v", response.Response.Result.Code, tt.statusCode)
 				}
 
-				// TODO: this needs to improved and more tests added after the config file changes
-				// commenting the log message check for now, it can be fixed later
-				// making the blind mode default has changed the log message output
-
-				/*
+				if tt.dashboardCheck {
 					if tt.warnings || tt.statusMessage {
 						var logPath string
 						if tt.warnings {
@@ -249,7 +269,7 @@ func TestUWebhooks(t *testing.T) {
 							t.Errorf("mismatch Log path. Got: %v, expected: %v", logPath, expectedLogPath)
 						}
 					}
-				*/
+				}
 			}
 		})
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/k8s/admission-webhook/validating-webhook.go b/pkg/k8s/admission-webhook/validating-webhook.go
index 3658b278e..4572fbc43 100644
--- a/pkg/k8s/admission-webhook/validating-webhook.go
+++ b/pkg/k8s/admission-webhook/validating-webhook.go
@@ -42,15 +42,13 @@ import (
 // the kubernetes API server and decides whether the admission request from
 // the kubernetes client should be allowed or not
 type ValidatingWebhook struct {
-	configFile  string
 	requestBody []byte
 	dblogger    *dblogs.WebhookScanLogger
 }
 
 // NewValidatingWebhook returns a new, empty ValidatingWebhook struct
-func NewValidatingWebhook(configFile string, body []byte) AdmissionWebhook {
+func NewValidatingWebhook(body []byte) AdmissionWebhook {
 	return ValidatingWebhook{
-		configFile:  configFile,
 		dblogger:    dblogs.NewWebhookScanLogger(),
 		requestBody: body,
 	}
@@ -162,7 +160,7 @@ func (w ValidatingWebhook) ProcessWebhook(review admissionv1.AdmissionReview, se
 		return w.createResponseAdmissionReview(review, allowed, output, logMsg), fmt.Errorf(errMsg, msg, err)
 	}
 
-	// Calculate if there are anydeny violations
+	// Calculate if there are any deny violations
 	denyViolations, err = w.getDenyViolations(output)
 	if err != nil {
 		msg := "failed to figure out denied violations"
@@ -215,13 +213,7 @@ func (w ValidatingWebhook) scanK8sFile(filePath string) (runtime.Output, error)
 func (w ValidatingWebhook) getDenyViolations(output runtime.Output) ([]results.Violation, error) {
 
 	// Calcualte the deny violations according to the configuration specified in the config file
-	configReader, err := config.NewTerrascanConfigReader(w.configFile)
-	if err != nil {
-		zap.S().Errorf("error loading config file: '%v'", err)
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	denyViolations := w.getDeniedViolations(*output.Violations.ViolationStore, configReader.GetK8sAdmissionControl())
+	denyViolations := w.getDeniedViolations(*output.Violations.ViolationStore, config.GetK8sAdmissionControl())
 
 	return denyViolations, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/notifications/notifiers_test.go b/pkg/notifications/notifiers_test.go
index 0ba6602c2..95d5d5893 100644
--- a/pkg/notifications/notifiers_test.go
+++ b/pkg/notifications/notifiers_test.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func TestNewNotifiers(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			name:    "no config file specified",
-			wantErr: nil,
+			wantErr: ErrNotificationNotPresent,
 		},
 	}