diff --git a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/constants.go b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/constants.go
index 261f55c6e1..553894659c 100644
--- a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/constants.go
+++ b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/constants.go
@@ -677,6 +677,8 @@ const (
 	DatabaseReadAccess = "DatabaseReadAccess"
 	// user for databases that have write access
 	DatabaseWriteAccess = "DatabaseWriteAccess"
+	// check dependencies are ready
+	DatabaseDependencyReady = "DatabaseDependencyReady"
 
 	// Condition reasons
 	DataRestoreStartedByExternalInitializer    = "DataRestoreStartedByExternalInitializer"
@@ -698,6 +700,7 @@ const (
 	DatabaseWriteAccessCheckFailed             = "DatabaseWriteAccessCheckFailed"
 	InternalUsersCredentialSyncFailed          = "InternalUsersCredentialsSyncFailed"
 	InternalUsersCredentialsSyncedSuccessfully = "InternalUsersCredentialsSyncedSuccessfully"
+	FailedToEnsureDependency                   = "FailedToEnsureDependency"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -966,7 +969,7 @@ const (
 	DruidExporterPort       = 9104
 
 	// Common Runtime Configurations Properties
-	// ZooKeeperSpec
+	// ZooKeeper
 	DruidZKServiceHost              = "druid.zk.service.host"
 	DruidZKPathsBase                = "druid.zk.paths.base"
 	DruidZKServiceCompress          = "druid.zk.service.compress"
@@ -984,6 +987,25 @@ const (
 	DruidMetadataStorageConnectorPasswordEnvConfig = "{\"type\": \"environment\", \"variable\": \"DRUID_METADATA_STORAGE_PASSWORD\"}"
 	DruidMetadataStorageCreateTables               = "druid.metadata.storage.connector.createTables"
 
+	// MySQL TLS
+	DruidMetadataMySQLUseSSL                          = "druid.metadata.mysql.ssl.useSSL"
+	DruidMetadataMySQLClientCertKeyStoreURL           = "druid.metadata.mysql.ssl.clientCertificateKeyStoreUrl"
+	DruidMetadataMySQLClientCertKeyStorePath          = "/opt/druid/conf/tls/metadatakeystore.jks"
+	DruidMetadataMySQLClientCertKeyStoreType          = "druid.metadata.mysql.ssl.clientCertificateKeyStoreType"
+	DruidMetadataMySQLClientCertKeyStoreTypeJKS       = "JKS"
+	DruidMetadataMySQLClientCertKeyStorePassword      = "druid.metadata.mysql.ssl.clientCertificateKeyStorePassword"
+	DruidMetadataMySQLClientCertKeyStorePasswordValue = "password"
+
+	// Postgres TLS
+	DruidMetadataPostgresUseSSL    = "druid.metadata.postgres.ssl.useSSL"
+	DruidMetadataPGUseSSLMode      = "druid.metadata.postgres.ssl.sslMode"
+	DruidMetadataPGSSLCert         = "druid.metadata.postgres.ssl.sslCert"
+	DruidMetadataPGSSLCertPath     = "/opt/druid/conf/tls/tls.crt"
+	DruidMetadataPGSSLKey          = "druid.metadata.postgres.ssl.sslKey"
+	DruidMetadataPGSSLKeyPath      = "/opt/druid/conf/tls/tls.key"
+	DruidMetadataPGSSLRootCert     = "druid.metadata.postgres.ssl.sslRootCert"
+	DruidMetadataPGSSLRootCertPath = "/opt/druid/conf/tls/ca.cert"
+
 	// Deep Storage
 	DruidDeepStorageTypeKey      = "druid.storage.type"
 	DruidDeepStorageTypeS3       = "s3"
diff --git a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_helpers.go b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_helpers.go
index 9d63a5f1a9..f54e8bf547 100644
--- a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_helpers.go
+++ b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_helpers.go
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
+	kmapi "kmodules.xyz/client-go/api/v1"
 	"kmodules.xyz/client-go/apiextensions"
 	coreutil "kmodules.xyz/client-go/core/v1"
 	meta_util "kmodules.xyz/client-go/meta"
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@ import (
 	mona "kmodules.xyz/monitoring-agent-api/api/v1"
 	ofst "kmodules.xyz/offshoot-api/api/v2"
 	pslister "kubeops.dev/petset/client/listers/apps/v1"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 )
 
 func (d *Druid) CustomResourceDefinition() *apiextensions.CustomResourceDefinition {
@@ -313,8 +316,10 @@ func (d *Druid) AddDruidExtensionLoadList(druidExtensionLoadList string, extensi
 func (d *Druid) GetMetadataStorageType(metadataStorage string) DruidMetadataStorageType {
 	if metadataStorage == string(DruidMetadataStorageMySQL) || metadataStorage == strings.ToLower(string(DruidMetadataStorageMySQL)) {
 		return DruidMetadataStorageMySQL
-	} else {
+	} else if metadataStorage == string(DruidMetadataStoragePostgreSQL) || metadataStorage == strings.ToLower(string(DruidMetadataStoragePostgreSQL)) {
 		return DruidMetadataStoragePostgreSQL
+	} else {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Unknown metadata storage type: %s", metadataStorage))
 	}
 }
 
@@ -441,7 +446,7 @@ func (d *Druid) SetDefaults() {
 				d.Spec.Topology.MiddleManagers.StorageType = StorageTypeDurable
 			}
 			if d.Spec.Topology.MiddleManagers.Storage == nil && d.Spec.Topology.MiddleManagers.StorageType == StorageTypeDurable {
-				d.Spec.Topology.MiddleManagers.Storage = d.getDefaultPVC()
+				d.Spec.Topology.MiddleManagers.Storage = d.GetDefaultPVC()
 			}
 			if version.Major() > 25 {
 				if d.Spec.Topology.MiddleManagers.PodTemplate.Spec.SecurityContext == nil {
@@ -463,7 +468,7 @@ func (d *Druid) SetDefaults() {
 				d.Spec.Topology.Historicals.StorageType = StorageTypeDurable
 			}
 			if d.Spec.Topology.Historicals.Storage == nil && d.Spec.Topology.Historicals.StorageType == StorageTypeDurable {
-				d.Spec.Topology.Historicals.Storage = d.getDefaultPVC()
+				d.Spec.Topology.Historicals.Storage = d.GetDefaultPVC()
 			}
 			if version.Major() > 25 {
 				if d.Spec.Topology.Historicals.PodTemplate.Spec.SecurityContext == nil {
@@ -504,11 +509,65 @@ func (d *Druid) SetDefaults() {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if d.Spec.MetadataStorage != nil {
-		if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Name != "" && d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Namespace == "" {
-			d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Namespace = d.Namespace
+
+	if d.Spec.MetadataStorage == nil {
+		d.Spec.MetadataStorage = &MetadataStorage{}
+	}
+	if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Namespace == "" {
+		d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Namespace = d.Namespace
+	}
+	if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.LinkedDB == "" {
+		d.Spec.MetadataStorage.LinkedDB = "druid"
+	}
+	if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.CreateTables == nil {
+		d.Spec.MetadataStorage.CreateTables = ptr.To(true)
+	}
+
+	if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Type == "" {
+		if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.ExternallyManaged {
+			appBinding, err := d.GetAppBinding(d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Name, d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Namespace)
+			if err != nil {
+				return
+			}
+			d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Type = d.GetMetadataStorageType(appBinding.Spec.AppRef.Kind)
+		} else {
+			d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Type = DruidMetadataStorageMySQL
+		}
+	}
+	if !d.Spec.MetadataStorage.ExternallyManaged {
+		if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.ObjectReference == nil {
+			d.Spec.MetadataStorage.ObjectReference = &kmapi.ObjectReference{}
 		}
+		d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Name = d.GetMetadataStorageName()
+	}
+
+	if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Version == nil {
+		var defaultVersion string
+		if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Type == DruidMetadataStorageMySQL {
+			defaultVersion = "8.0.35"
+		} else {
+			defaultVersion = "13.13"
+		}
+		d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Version = &defaultVersion
+	}
+
+	if d.Spec.ZookeeperRef == nil {
+		d.Spec.ZookeeperRef = &ZookeeperRef{}
 	}
+	if !d.Spec.ZookeeperRef.ExternallyManaged {
+		if d.Spec.ZookeeperRef.ObjectReference == nil {
+			d.Spec.ZookeeperRef.ObjectReference = &kmapi.ObjectReference{}
+		}
+		if d.Spec.ZookeeperRef.Name == "" {
+			d.Spec.ZookeeperRef.Name = d.GetZooKeeperName()
+		}
+		if d.Spec.ZookeeperRef.Namespace == "" {
+			d.Spec.ZookeeperRef.Namespace = d.Namespace
+		}
+		defaultVersion := "3.7.2"
+		d.Spec.ZookeeperRef.Version = &defaultVersion
+	}
+
 	if d.Spec.Monitor != nil {
 		if d.Spec.Monitor.Prometheus == nil {
 			d.Spec.Monitor.Prometheus = &mona.PrometheusSpec{}
@@ -520,8 +579,11 @@ func (d *Druid) SetDefaults() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (d *Druid) getDefaultPVC() *core.PersistentVolumeClaimSpec {
+func (d *Druid) GetDefaultPVC() *core.PersistentVolumeClaimSpec {
 	return &core.PersistentVolumeClaimSpec{
+		AccessModes: []core.PersistentVolumeAccessMode{
+			core.ReadWriteOnce,
+		},
 		Resources: core.VolumeResourceRequirements{
 			Requests: core.ResourceList{
 				core.ResourceStorage: resource.MustParse("1Gi"),
@@ -618,3 +680,30 @@ func (d *Druid) ReplicasAreReady(lister pslister.PetSetLister) (bool, string, er
 	}
 	return checkReplicasOfPetSet(lister.PetSets(d.Namespace), labels.SelectorFromSet(d.OffshootLabels()), expectedItems)
 }
+
+func (d *Druid) GetAppBinding(name string, namespace string) (*appcat.AppBinding, error) {
+	appbinding := &appcat.AppBinding{}
+	appbinding.Namespace = namespace
+	appbinding.Name = name
+
+	if err := DefaultClient.Get(context.TODO(), client.ObjectKeyFromObject(appbinding), appbinding); err != nil {
+		klog.Error(err, fmt.Sprintf("failed to get appbinding for metadata storage %s/%s", name, namespace))
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return appbinding, nil
+}
+
+func (d *Druid) GetMetadataStorageName() string {
+	if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Type == DruidMetadataStoragePostgreSQL {
+		return d.OffShootName() + "-pg-metadata"
+	}
+	return d.OffShootName() + "-mysql-metadata"
+}
+
+func (d *Druid) GetZooKeeperName() string {
+	return d.OffShootName() + "-zk"
+}
+
+func (d *Druid) GetInitConfigMapName() string {
+	return d.OffShootName() + "-init-script"
+}
diff --git a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_types.go b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_types.go
index 496144a737..1a7ba61ba6 100644
--- a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_types.go
+++ b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_types.go
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ type DruidSpec struct {
 	//TLS *kmapi.TLSConfig `json:"tls,omitempty"`
 
 	// MetadataStorage contains information for Druid to connect to external dependency metadata storage
-	MetadataStorage *MetadataStorage `json:"metadataStorage"`
+	// +optional
+	MetadataStorage *MetadataStorage `json:"metadataStorage,omitempty"`
 
 	// DeepStorage contains specification for druid to connect to the deep storage
 	DeepStorage *DeepStorageSpec `json:"deepStorage"`
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ type DruidDataNode struct {
 }
 
 type MetadataStorage struct {
-	// Name of the appbinding of zookeeper
+	// Name and namespace of the appbinding of metadata storage
 	// +optional
 	*kmapi.ObjectReference `json:",omitempty"`
 
@@ -167,6 +168,16 @@ type MetadataStorage struct {
 	// If Druid has the permission to create new tables
 	// +optional
 	CreateTables *bool `json:"createTables,omitempty"`
+
+	// +optional
+	LinkedDB string `json:"linkedDB,omitempty"`
+
+	// +optional
+	ExternallyManaged bool `json:"externallyManaged,omitempty"`
+
+	// Version of the MySQL/PG used
+	// +optional
+	Version *string `json:"version,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type DeepStorageSpec struct {
@@ -181,13 +192,20 @@ type DeepStorageSpec struct {
 }
 
 type ZookeeperRef struct {
-	// Name of the appbinding of zookeeper
+	// Name and namespace of appbinding of zookeeper
 	// +optional
 	*kmapi.ObjectReference `json:",omitempty"`
 
 	// Base ZooKeeperSpec path
 	// +optional
 	PathsBase string `json:"pathsBase,omitempty"`
+
+	// +optional
+	ExternallyManaged bool `json:"externallyManaged,omitempty"`
+
+	// Version of the ZK used
+	// +optional
+	Version *string `json:"version,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // DruidStatus defines the observed state of Druid
diff --git a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_webhook.go b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_webhook.go
index 5c6858e722..cd4b4344dc 100644
--- a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_webhook.go
+++ b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/druid_webhook.go
@@ -130,10 +130,10 @@ func (d *Druid) validateCreateOrUpdate() field.ErrorList {
 			d.Name,
 			"spec.metadataStorage is missing"))
 	} else {
-		if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Name == "" && d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Type == "" {
+		if d.Spec.MetadataStorage.ExternallyManaged && d.Spec.MetadataStorage.Name == "" {
 			allErr = append(allErr, field.Invalid(field.NewPath("spec").Child("metadataStorage").Child("name"),
 				d.Name,
-				"spec.metadataStorage.type and spec.metadataStorage.name both can not be empty simultaneously"))
+				"spec.metadataStorage.name can not be empty when d.Spec.MetadataStorage.ExternallyManaged is true"))
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/openapi_generated.go b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/openapi_generated.go
index 6649284e66..7773e2bc06 100644
--- a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/openapi_generated.go
+++ b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/openapi_generated.go
@@ -24904,7 +24904,7 @@ func schema_apimachinery_apis_kubedb_v1alpha2_DruidSpec(ref common.ReferenceCall
 						},
 					},
 				},
-				Required: []string{"version", "metadataStorage", "deepStorage"},
+				Required: []string{"version", "deepStorage"},
 			},
 		},
 		Dependencies: []string{
@@ -27987,6 +27987,25 @@ func schema_apimachinery_apis_kubedb_v1alpha2_MetadataStorage(ref common.Referen
 							Format:      "",
 						},
 					},
+					"linkedDB": {
+						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+							Type:   []string{"string"},
+							Format: "",
+						},
+					},
+					"externallyManaged": {
+						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+							Type:   []string{"boolean"},
+							Format: "",
+						},
+					},
+					"version": {
+						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+							Description: "Version of the MySQL/PG used",
+							Type:        []string{"string"},
+							Format:      "",
+						},
+					},
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -33301,6 +33320,19 @@ func schema_apimachinery_apis_kubedb_v1alpha2_ZookeeperRef(ref common.ReferenceC
 							Format:      "",
 						},
 					},
+					"externallyManaged": {
+						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+							Type:   []string{"boolean"},
+							Format: "",
+						},
+					},
+					"version": {
+						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+							Description: "Version of the ZK used",
+							Type:        []string{"string"},
+							Format:      "",
+						},
+					},
 				},
 			},
 		},
diff --git a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index 3c271bcf71..6b5c9e2ae7 100644
--- a/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/apis/kubedb/v1alpha2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -2638,6 +2638,11 @@ func (in *MetadataStorage) DeepCopyInto(out *MetadataStorage) {
 		*out = new(bool)
 		**out = **in
 	}
+	if in.Version != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Version, &out.Version
+		*out = new(string)
+		**out = **in
+	}
 	return
 }
 
@@ -5724,6 +5729,11 @@ func (in *ZookeeperRef) DeepCopyInto(out *ZookeeperRef) {
 		*out = new(apiv1.ObjectReference)
 		**out = **in
 	}
+	if in.Version != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Version, &out.Version
+		*out = new(string)
+		**out = **in
+	}
 	return
 }
 
diff --git a/crds/kubedb.com_druids.yaml b/crds/kubedb.com_druids.yaml
index 914612c55f..d6703678af 100644
--- a/crds/kubedb.com_druids.yaml
+++ b/crds/kubedb.com_druids.yaml
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ spec:
                 properties:
                   createTables:
                     type: boolean
+                  externallyManaged:
+                    type: boolean
+                  linkedDB:
+                    type: string
                   name:
                     type: string
                   namespace:
@@ -119,6 +123,8 @@ spec:
                     - MySQL
                     - PostgreSQL
                     type: string
+                  version:
+                    type: string
                 required:
                 - name
                 type: object
@@ -19046,18 +19052,21 @@ spec:
                 type: string
               zookeeperRef:
                 properties:
+                  externallyManaged:
+                    type: boolean
                   name:
                     type: string
                   namespace:
                     type: string
                   pathsBase:
                     type: string
+                  version:
+                    type: string
                 required:
                 - name
                 type: object
             required:
             - deepStorage
-            - metadataStorage
             - version
             type: object
           status: