diff --git a/backend/pkg/api/api.go b/backend/pkg/api/api.go
index 97cacbd1d..df9936e38 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/api/api.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/api/api.go
@@ -14,27 +14,20 @@
 package api
 
 import (
-	"context"
-	"errors"
 	"io/fs"
 	"math"
 
-	connect_go "connectrpc.com/connect"
-	"connectrpc.com/grpcreflect"
-	"github.com/bufbuild/protovalidate-go"
 	"github.com/cloudhut/common/logging"
 	"github.com/cloudhut/common/rest"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 	"golang.org/x/net/http2"
 	"golang.org/x/net/http2/h2c"
-	"google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
 
 	"github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/connect"
 	"github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/console"
 	"github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/embed"
 	"github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/git"
-	"github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/consolev1alphaconnect"
 	"github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/redpanda"
 	"github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/version"
 )
@@ -129,27 +122,6 @@ func (api *API) Start() {
 
 	mux := api.routes()
 
-	v, err := protovalidate.New()
-	if err != nil {
-		api.Logger.Fatal("failed to create proto validator", zap.Error(err))
-	}
-
-	interceptors := []connect_go.Interceptor{}
-
-	// we want the actual request validation after all authorization and permission checks
-	interceptors = append(interceptors, NewRequestValidationInterceptor(api.Logger, v))
-
-	// Connect service(s)
-	mux.Mount(consolev1alphaconnect.NewConsoleServiceHandler(
-		api,
-		connect_go.WithInterceptors(interceptors...),
-	))
-
-	// Connect reflection
-	reflector := grpcreflect.NewStaticReflector(consolev1alphaconnect.ConsoleServiceName)
-	mux.Mount(grpcreflect.NewHandlerV1(reflector))
-	mux.Mount(grpcreflect.NewHandlerV1Alpha(reflector))
-
 	// Server
 	api.server, err = rest.NewServer(&api.Cfg.REST.Config, api.Logger, mux)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -164,26 +136,3 @@ func (api *API) Start() {
 		api.Logger.Fatal("REST Server returned an error", zap.Error(err))
 	}
 }
-
-func NewRequestValidationInterceptor(logger *zap.Logger, validator *protovalidate.Validator) connect_go.UnaryInterceptorFunc {
-	interceptor := func(next connect_go.UnaryFunc) connect_go.UnaryFunc {
-		return connect_go.UnaryFunc(func(
-			ctx context.Context,
-			req connect_go.AnyRequest,
-		) (connect_go.AnyResponse, error) {
-			msg, ok := req.Any().(protoreflect.ProtoMessage)
-			if !ok {
-				return nil, connect_go.NewError(connect_go.CodeInvalidArgument, errors.New("request is not a protocol buffer message"))
-			}
-
-			err := validator.Validate(msg)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, err
-			}
-
-			return next(ctx, req)
-		})
-	}
-
-	return connect_go.UnaryInterceptorFunc(interceptor)
-}
diff --git a/backend/pkg/api/routes.go b/backend/pkg/api/routes.go
index 82c84a77c..16036f692 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/api/routes.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/api/routes.go
@@ -10,8 +10,13 @@
 package api
 
 import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"net/http"
 
+	connect_go "connectrpc.com/connect"
+	"connectrpc.com/grpcreflect"
+	"github.com/bufbuild/protovalidate-go"
 	"github.com/cloudhut/common/middleware"
 	"github.com/cloudhut/common/rest"
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
@@ -19,7 +24,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-chi/cors"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus/promhttp"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
+	"google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
 
+	"github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/consolev1alphaconnect"
 	"github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/version"
 )
 
@@ -157,6 +164,28 @@ func (api *API) routes() *chi.Mux {
 			api.Hooks.Route.ConfigAPIRouterPostRegistration(r)
 		})
 
+		// Connect RPC
+		v, err := protovalidate.New()
+		if err != nil {
+			api.Logger.Fatal("failed to create proto validator", zap.Error(err))
+		}
+
+		interceptors := []connect_go.Interceptor{}
+
+		// we want the actual request validation after all authorization and permission checks
+		interceptors = append(interceptors, NewRequestValidationInterceptor(api.Logger, v))
+
+		// Connect service(s)
+		router.Mount(consolev1alphaconnect.NewConsoleServiceHandler(
+			api,
+			connect_go.WithInterceptors(interceptors...),
+		))
+
+		// Connect reflection
+		reflector := grpcreflect.NewStaticReflector(consolev1alphaconnect.ConsoleServiceName)
+		router.Mount(grpcreflect.NewHandlerV1(reflector))
+		router.Mount(grpcreflect.NewHandlerV1Alpha(reflector))
+
 		if api.Cfg.ServeFrontend {
 			// SPA Files
 			router.Group(func(r chi.Router) {
@@ -176,3 +205,26 @@ func (api *API) routes() *chi.Mux {
 
 	return baseRouter
 }
+
+func NewRequestValidationInterceptor(logger *zap.Logger, validator *protovalidate.Validator) connect_go.UnaryInterceptorFunc {
+	interceptor := func(next connect_go.UnaryFunc) connect_go.UnaryFunc {
+		return connect_go.UnaryFunc(func(
+			ctx context.Context,
+			req connect_go.AnyRequest,
+		) (connect_go.AnyResponse, error) {
+			msg, ok := req.Any().(protoreflect.ProtoMessage)
+			if !ok {
+				return nil, connect_go.NewError(connect_go.CodeInvalidArgument, errors.New("request is not a protocol buffer message"))
+			}
+
+			err := validator.Validate(msg)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+
+			return next(ctx, req)
+		})
+	}
+
+	return connect_go.UnaryInterceptorFunc(interceptor)
+}
diff --git a/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/index/v1/data.pb.go b/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/index/v1/data.pb.go
index 1445c0a46..ad7b8b853 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/index/v1/data.pb.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/index/v1/data.pb.go
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@
 package v1
 
 import (
-	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
-	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 	reflect "reflect"
 	sync "sync"
+
+	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
+	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v1/order.pb.go b/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v1/order.pb.go
index 69c2085f3..29b694a4e 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v1/order.pb.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v1/order.pb.go
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
 package v1
 
 import (
+	reflect "reflect"
+	sync "sync"
+
 	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
 	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 	timestamppb "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/timestamppb"
-	reflect "reflect"
-	sync "sync"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/address.pb.go b/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/address.pb.go
index aae209b49..26cca53c7 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/address.pb.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/address.pb.go
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
 package v2
 
 import (
+	reflect "reflect"
+	sync "sync"
+
 	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
 	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 	timestamppb "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/timestamppb"
-	reflect "reflect"
-	sync "sync"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/customer.pb.go b/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/customer.pb.go
index 006fc5e9f..2d88889c0 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/customer.pb.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/customer.pb.go
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@
 package v2
 
 import (
-	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
-	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 	reflect "reflect"
 	sync "sync"
+
+	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
+	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/order.pb.go b/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/order.pb.go
index b1f8f8333..f5e47b3f7 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/order.pb.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/kafka/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/order.pb.go
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
 package v2
 
 import (
+	reflect "reflect"
+	sync "sync"
+
 	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
 	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 	timestamppb "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/timestamppb"
-	reflect "reflect"
-	sync "sync"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/consolev1alphaconnect/list_messages.connect.go b/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/consolev1alphaconnect/list_messages.connect.go
index 0d2deddad..a80da5103 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/consolev1alphaconnect/list_messages.connect.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/consolev1alphaconnect/list_messages.connect.go
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@
 package consolev1alphaconnect
 
 import (
-	connect "connectrpc.com/connect"
 	context "context"
 	errors "errors"
-	v1alpha "github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha"
 	http "net/http"
 	strings "strings"
+
+	connect "connectrpc.com/connect"
+
+	v1alpha "github.com/redpanda-data/console/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha"
 )
 
 // This is a compile-time assertion to ensure that this generated file and the connect package are
diff --git a/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages.pb.go b/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages.pb.go
index ed7f8fb10..60df267e7 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages.pb.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages.pb.go
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
 package consolev1alpha
 
 import (
+	reflect "reflect"
+	sync "sync"
+
 	_ "buf.build/gen/go/bufbuild/protovalidate/protocolbuffers/go/buf/validate"
 	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
 	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
-	reflect "reflect"
-	sync "sync"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/index/v1/data.pb.go b/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/index/v1/data.pb.go
index 3945d1e8a..40a967963 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/index/v1/data.pb.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/index/v1/data.pb.go
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@
 package v1
 
 import (
-	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
-	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 	reflect "reflect"
 	sync "sync"
+
+	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
+	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v1/order.pb.go b/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v1/order.pb.go
index 0e520a202..0d5fbd080 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v1/order.pb.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v1/order.pb.go
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
 package v1
 
 import (
+	reflect "reflect"
+	sync "sync"
+
 	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
 	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 	timestamppb "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/timestamppb"
-	reflect "reflect"
-	sync "sync"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/address.pb.go b/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/address.pb.go
index 50402f225..bda1e88f6 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/address.pb.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/address.pb.go
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
 package v2
 
 import (
+	reflect "reflect"
+	sync "sync"
+
 	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
 	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 	timestamppb "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/timestamppb"
-	reflect "reflect"
-	sync "sync"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/customer.pb.go b/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/customer.pb.go
index 56f6b030f..f3eacc7a1 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/customer.pb.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/customer.pb.go
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@
 package v2
 
 import (
-	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
-	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 	reflect "reflect"
 	sync "sync"
+
+	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
+	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/order.pb.go b/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/order.pb.go
index a4ae4e423..d4ab02b02 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/order.pb.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/serde/testdata/proto/gen/shop/v2/order.pb.go
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
 package v2
 
 import (
+	reflect "reflect"
+	sync "sync"
+
 	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
 	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 	timestamppb "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/timestamppb"
-	reflect "reflect"
-	sync "sync"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/buf.gen.yaml b/buf.gen.yaml
index 370778d67..951993fe5 100644
--- a/buf.gen.yaml
+++ b/buf.gen.yaml
@@ -12,20 +12,20 @@ plugins:
     opt: paths=source_relative
     out: backend/pkg/protogen
 
-  - plugin: buf.build/connectrpc/go
+  - plugin: connect-go
     opt:
       - paths=source_relative
       - require_unimplemented_servers=false
     out: backend/pkg/protogen
 
   # Typescript plugins
-  - plugin: buf.build/bufbuild/connect-es
+  - plugin: buf.build/bufbuild/es
     opt:
       - target=ts
       - import_extension=
     out: frontend/src/protogen
 
-  - plugin: buf.build/bufbuild/es
+  - plugin: buf.build/connectrpc/es
     opt:
       - target=ts
       - import_extension=
diff --git a/frontend/src/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages_connect.ts b/frontend/src/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages_connect.ts
index 98b302ac3..4dfbdad7a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages_connect.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/protogen/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages_connect.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// @generated by protoc-gen-connect-es v0.13.0 with parameter "target=ts,import_extension="
+// @generated by protoc-gen-connect-es v0.13.2 with parameter "target=ts,import_extension="
 // @generated from file redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages.proto (package redpanda.api.console.v1alpha, syntax proto3)
 /* eslint-disable */
 // @ts-nocheck
diff --git a/proto/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages.proto b/proto/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages.proto
index 4b5a5a627..857bf0728 100644
--- a/proto/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages.proto
+++ b/proto/redpanda/api/console/v1alpha/list_messages.proto
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ message KafkaRecordPayload {
   bytes normalized_payload = 2; // Normilized user friendly representation of the payload.
   PayloadEncoding encoding = 3; // Payload encoding if we have been able to detect.
   int32 schema_id = 4; // Optionally, the schema ID used to deserialized the message.
-  int32 payload_size = 5;  // Payload size in bytes.
+  int32 payload_size = 5; // Payload size in bytes.
   bool is_payload_too_large = 6; // If payload is too large for deserialization.
   repeated TroubleshootReport troubleshoot_report = 7; // Troubleshooting data for debugging.
 }
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ message TroubleshootReport {
 // KafkaRecordHeader is the record header.
 message KafkaRecordHeader {
   string key = 1; // Header key.
-  bytes value = 2;  // Header value.
+  bytes value = 2; // Header value.
 }
 
 enum CompressionType {
diff --git a/taskfiles/backend.yaml b/taskfiles/backend.yaml
index 816fd07cf..df5cd47c0 100644
--- a/taskfiles/backend.yaml
+++ b/taskfiles/backend.yaml
@@ -72,21 +72,6 @@ tasks:
     status:
       - "[ -f '{{ .BUILD_ROOT }}/bin/go' ] || command -v {{ .BUILD_ROOT }}/bin/go/ifacemaker >/dev/null 2>&1"
 
-  install-buf:
-    desc: install buf
-    vars:
-      BUF_VERSION: 1.25.0
-      BUF_URL: https://github.com/bufbuild/buf/releases/download/v{{.BUF_VERSION}}/buf-{{OS}}-{{ARCH}}
-    cmds:
-      - mkdir -p {{.BUILD_ROOT}}/bin
-      - platforms: [arm64]
-        cmd: curl -sSLf --retry 3 --retry-connrefused --retry-delay 2 https://github.com/bufbuild/buf/releases/download/v{{.BUF_VERSION}}/buf-{{OS}}-arm64 -o '{{.BUILD_ROOT}}/bin/buf'
-      - platforms: [386]
-        cmd: curl -sSLf --retry 3 --retry-connrefused --retry-delay 2 https://github.com/bufbuild/buf/releases/download/v{{.BUF_VERSION}}/buf-{{OS}}-x86_64 -o '{{.BUILD_ROOT}}/bin/buf'
-      - chmod +x '{{.BUILD_ROOT}}/bin/buf'
-    status:
-      - "[[ $({{ .BUILD_ROOT }}/bin/buf --version) == '{{.BUF_VERSION}}' ]]"
-
   fmt:
     desc: Format Go code
     deps:
diff --git a/taskfiles/proto.yaml b/taskfiles/proto.yaml
index 89bd841b6..a8cb0430d 100644
--- a/taskfiles/proto.yaml
+++ b/taskfiles/proto.yaml
@@ -49,12 +49,13 @@ tasks:
   install-buf:
     desc: install buf
     vars:
-      BUF_VERSION: 1.25.0
-      BUF_URL: https://github.com/bufbuild/buf/releases/download/v{{.BUF_VERSION}}/buf-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)
+      BUF_VERSION: 1.26.1
+      BUF_URL: https://github.com/bufbuild/buf/releases/download/v{{.BUF_VERSION}}/buf-{{OS}}-{{ARCH}}
     cmds:
       - mkdir -p {{.BUILD_ROOT}}/bin
-      - curl -sSLf --retry 3 --retry-connrefused --retry-delay 2 {{.BUF_URL}} -o '{{.BUILD_ROOT}}/bin/buf'
+      - curl -sSLf --retry 3 --retry-connrefused --retry-delay 2 https://github.com/bufbuild/buf/releases/download/v{{.BUF_VERSION}}/buf-{{OS}}-arm64 -o '{{.BUILD_ROOT}}/bin/buf'
+      - curl -sSLf --retry 3 --retry-connrefused --retry-delay 2 https://github.com/bufbuild/buf/releases/download/v{{.BUF_VERSION}}/buf-{{OS}}-x86_64 -o '{{.BUILD_ROOT}}/bin/buf'
       - chmod +x '{{.BUILD_ROOT}}/bin/buf'
     status:
       - test -f '{{.BUILD_ROOT}}/bin/buf'
-      - '[[ $({{ .BUILD_ROOT }}/bin/buf --version) == {{.BUF_VERSION}} ]]'
+      - "[[ $({{ .BUILD_ROOT }}/bin/buf --version) == '{{.BUF_VERSION}}' ]]"
\ No newline at end of file