diff --git a/server/functions/api/utils/authenticateToken.js b/server/functions/api/utils/authenticateToken.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..583f8b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/functions/api/utils/authenticateToken.js
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
+
+function authenticateToken(req, res, next) {
+  const authHeader = req.headers['authorization'];
+  const token = authHeader && authHeader.split(' ')[1];
+
+  if (token == null) {
+    console.log('No token provided');
+    return res.sendStatus(401);
+  }
+
+  jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET || 'fallback_secret_key_for_development', (err, user) => {
+    if (err) {
+      console.error('Token verification error:', err);
+      return res.sendStatus(403);
+    }
+    req.user = user;
+    next();
+  });
+}
+
+module.exports = authenticateToken;
\ No newline at end of file