diff --git a/pkg/api/plugin_resource_test.go b/pkg/api/plugin_resource_test.go
index a2d3c93111f..deb9373d4fa 100644
--- a/pkg/api/plugin_resource_test.go
+++ b/pkg/api/plugin_resource_test.go
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func TestCallResource(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	reg := registry.ProvideService()
 	l := loader.ProvideService(pCfg, fakes.NewFakeLicensingService(), signature.NewUnsignedAuthorizer(pCfg),
-		reg, provider.ProvideService(coreRegistry), finder.NewLocalFinder(), fakes.NewFakeRoleRegistry(),
+		reg, provider.ProvideService(coreRegistry), finder.NewLocalFinder(pCfg), fakes.NewFakeRoleRegistry(),
 		assetpath.ProvideService(pluginscdn.ProvideService(pCfg)), signature.ProvideService(pCfg, keystore.ProvideService(kvstore.NewFakeKVStore())))
 	srcs := sources.ProvideService(cfg, pCfg)
 	ps, err := store.ProvideService(reg, srcs, l)
diff --git a/pkg/api/plugins_test.go b/pkg/api/plugins_test.go
index 9dce4ff7ee9..9cf95c431d2 100644
--- a/pkg/api/plugins_test.go
+++ b/pkg/api/plugins_test.go
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ func Test_GetPluginAssets(t *testing.T) {
 	requestedFile := filepath.Clean(tmpFile.Name())
 
 	t.Run("Given a request for an existing plugin file", func(t *testing.T) {
-		p := createPlugin(plugins.JSONData{ID: pluginID}, plugins.External, plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{requestedFile: {}}, filepath.Dir(requestedFile)))
+		p := createPlugin(plugins.JSONData{ID: pluginID}, plugins.External, plugins.NewLocalFS(filepath.Dir(requestedFile)))
 		pluginRegistry := &fakes.FakePluginRegistry{
 			Store: map[string]*plugins.Plugin{
 				p.ID: p,
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ func Test_GetPluginAssets(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("Given a request for a relative path", func(t *testing.T) {
-		p := createPlugin(plugins.JSONData{ID: pluginID}, plugins.External, plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{}, ""))
+		p := createPlugin(plugins.JSONData{ID: pluginID}, plugins.External, plugins.NewFakeFS())
 		pluginRegistry := &fakes.FakePluginRegistry{
 			Store: map[string]*plugins.Plugin{
 				p.ID: p,
@@ -312,9 +312,7 @@ func Test_GetPluginAssets(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("Given a request for an existing plugin file that is not listed as a signature covered file", func(t *testing.T) {
-		p := createPlugin(plugins.JSONData{ID: pluginID}, plugins.Core, plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-			requestedFile: {},
-		}, ""))
+		p := createPlugin(plugins.JSONData{ID: pluginID}, plugins.Core, plugins.NewLocalFS(filepath.Dir(requestedFile)))
 		pluginRegistry := &fakes.FakePluginRegistry{
 			Store: map[string]*plugins.Plugin{
 				p.ID: p,
@@ -332,7 +330,7 @@ func Test_GetPluginAssets(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("Given a request for an non-existing plugin file", func(t *testing.T) {
-		p := createPlugin(plugins.JSONData{ID: pluginID}, plugins.External, plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{}, ""))
+		p := createPlugin(plugins.JSONData{ID: pluginID}, plugins.External, plugins.NewFakeFS())
 		service := &fakes.FakePluginRegistry{
 			Store: map[string]*plugins.Plugin{
 				p.ID: p,
@@ -625,13 +623,13 @@ func Test_PluginsList_AccessControl(t *testing.T) {
 		ID: "test-app", Type: "app", Name: "test-app",
 		Info: plugins.Info{
 			Version: "1.0.0",
-		}}, plugins.External, plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{}, ""))
+		}}, plugins.External, plugins.NewFakeFS())
 	p2 := createPlugin(
 		plugins.JSONData{ID: "mysql", Type: "datasource", Name: "MySQL",
 			Info: plugins.Info{
 				Author:      plugins.InfoLink{Name: "Grafana Labs", URL: "https://grafana.com"},
 				Description: "Data source for MySQL databases",
-			}}, plugins.Core, plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{}, ""))
+			}}, plugins.Core, plugins.NewFakeFS())
 
 	pluginRegistry := &fakes.FakePluginRegistry{
 		Store: map[string]*plugins.Plugin{
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/ifaces.go b/pkg/plugins/ifaces.go
index a4ce3c6f736..b146f32bcd5 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/ifaces.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/ifaces.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ type FS interface {
 	fs.FS
 
 	Base() string
-	Files() []string
+	Files() ([]string, error)
 }
 
 type FSRemover interface {
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/localfiles.go b/pkg/plugins/localfiles.go
index cb0b442f8d1..8def6dd7503 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/localfiles.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/localfiles.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package plugins
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -10,78 +11,152 @@ import (
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
 )
 
-var _ fs.FS = (*LocalFS)(nil)
+var (
+	_ fs.File = &LocalFile{}
+
+	_ FS = &LocalFS{}
+	_ FS = &StaticFS{}
+)
 
 // LocalFS is a plugins.FS that allows accessing files on the local file system.
 type LocalFS struct {
-	// m is a map of relative file paths that can be accessed on the local filesystem.
-	// The path separator must be os-specific.
-	m map[string]*LocalFile
-
-	// basePath is the basePath that will be prepended to all the files (in m map) before accessing them.
+	// basePath is the basePath that will be prepended to all the files to get their absolute path.
 	basePath string
 }
 
-// NewLocalFS returns a new LocalFS that can access the specified files in the specified base path.
-// Both the map keys and basePath should use the os-specific path separator for Open() to work properly.
-func NewLocalFS(m map[string]struct{}, basePath string) LocalFS {
-	pfs := make(map[string]*LocalFile, len(m))
-	for k := range m {
-		pfs[k] = &LocalFile{
-			path: k,
+// NewLocalFS returns a new LocalFS that can access any file in the specified base path on the filesystem.
+// basePath must use os-specific path separator for Open() to work properly.
+func NewLocalFS(basePath string) LocalFS {
+	return LocalFS{basePath: basePath}
+}
+
+// fileIsAllowed takes an absolute path to a file and an os.FileInfo for that file, and it checks if access to that
+// file is allowed or not. Access to a file is allowed if the file is in the FS's Base() directory, and if it's a
+// symbolic link it should not end up outside the plugin's directory.
+func (f LocalFS) fileIsAllowed(basePath string, absolutePath string, info os.FileInfo) (bool, error) {
+	if info.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink == os.ModeSymlink {
+		symlinkPath, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(absolutePath)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+
+		symlink, err := os.Stat(symlinkPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+
+		// verify that symlinked file is within plugin directory
+		p, err := filepath.Rel(basePath, symlinkPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+		if p == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(p, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
+			return false, fmt.Errorf("file '%s' not inside of plugin directory", p)
+		}
+
+		// skip adding symlinked directories
+		if symlink.IsDir() {
+			return false, nil
 		}
 	}
 
-	return LocalFS{
-		m:        pfs,
-		basePath: basePath,
+	// skip directories
+	if info.IsDir() {
+		return false, nil
 	}
-}
 
-// Open opens the specified file on the local filesystem, and returns the corresponding fs.File.
-// If a nil error is returned, the caller should take care of closing the returned file.
-func (f LocalFS) Open(name string) (fs.File, error) {
-	cleanPath, err := util.CleanRelativePath(name)
+	// verify that file is within plugin directory
+	file, err := filepath.Rel(f.Base(), absolutePath)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return false, err
 	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(file, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("file '%s' not inside of plugin directory", file)
+	}
+	return true, nil
+}
 
-	if kv, exists := f.m[filepath.Join(f.basePath, cleanPath)]; exists {
-		if kv.f != nil {
-			return kv.f, nil
+// walkFunc returns a filepath.WalkFunc that accumulates absolute file paths into acc by walking over f.Base().
+// f.fileIsAllowed is used as WalkFunc, see its documentation for more information on which files are collected.
+func (f LocalFS) walkFunc(basePath string, acc map[string]struct{}) filepath.WalkFunc {
+	return func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
-		file, err := os.Open(kv.path)
+		ok, err := f.fileIsAllowed(basePath, path, info)
 		if err != nil {
-			if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-				return nil, ErrFileNotExist
-			}
-			return nil, ErrPluginFileRead
+			return err
+		}
+		if !ok {
+			return nil
 		}
-		return file, nil
+		acc[path] = struct{}{}
+		return nil
 	}
-	return nil, ErrFileNotExist
+}
+
+// Open opens the specified file on the local filesystem.
+// The provided name must be a relative file name that uses os-specific path separators.
+// The function returns the corresponding fs.File for accessing the file on the local filesystem.
+// If a nil error is returned, the caller should take care of calling Close() the returned fs.File.
+// If the file does not exist, ErrFileNotExist is returned.
+func (f LocalFS) Open(name string) (fs.File, error) {
+	cleanPath, err := util.CleanRelativePath(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	basePath := f.Base()
+	absFn := filepath.Join(basePath, cleanPath)
+	finfo, err := os.Stat(absFn)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, ErrFileNotExist
+	}
+	// Make sure access to the file is allowed (symlink check, etc)
+	ok, err := f.fileIsAllowed(basePath, absFn, finfo)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, ErrFileNotExist
+	}
+	return &LocalFile{path: absFn}, nil
 }
 
 // Base returns the base path for the LocalFS.
+// The returned string uses os-specific path separator.
 func (f LocalFS) Base() string {
 	return f.basePath
 }
 
-// Files returns a slice of all the file paths in the LocalFS relative to the base path.
-// The returned strings use the same path separator as the
-func (f LocalFS) Files() []string {
-	var files []string
-	for p := range f.m {
-		r, err := filepath.Rel(f.basePath, p)
-		if strings.Contains(r, "..") || err != nil {
+// Files returns a slice of all the relative file paths on the LocalFS.
+// The returned strings can be passed to Open() to open those files.
+// The returned strings use os-specific path separator.
+func (f LocalFS) Files() ([]string, error) {
+	// Accumulate all files into filesMap by calling f.collectFilesFunc, which will write into the accumulator.
+	// Those are absolute because filepath.Walk uses absolute file paths.
+	absFilePaths := make(map[string]struct{})
+	if err := filepath.Walk(f.basePath, f.walkFunc(f.Base(), absFilePaths)); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("walk: %w", err)
+	}
+	// Convert the accumulator into a slice of relative path strings
+	relFiles := make([]string, 0, len(absFilePaths))
+	base := f.Base()
+	for fn := range absFilePaths {
+		relPath, err := filepath.Rel(base, fn)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		clenRelPath, err := util.CleanRelativePath(relPath)
+		if strings.Contains(clenRelPath, "..") || err != nil {
 			continue
 		}
-		files = append(files, r)
+		relFiles = append(relFiles, clenRelPath)
 	}
-
-	return files
+	return relFiles, nil
 }
 
+// Remove removes a plugin from the local filesystem by deleting all files in the folder.
+// It returns ErrUninstallInvalidPluginDir is the plugin does not contain plugin.json nor dist/plugin.json.
 func (f LocalFS) Remove() error {
 	// extra security check to ensure we only remove a directory that looks like a plugin
 	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(f.basePath, "plugin.json")); os.IsNotExist(err) {
@@ -89,11 +164,72 @@ func (f LocalFS) Remove() error {
 			return ErrUninstallInvalidPluginDir
 		}
 	}
-
 	return os.RemoveAll(f.basePath)
 }
 
-var _ fs.File = (*LocalFile)(nil)
+// staticFilesMap is a set-like map that contains files that can be accessed from a plugins.FS.
+type staticFilesMap map[string]struct{}
+
+// isAllowed returns true if the provided path is allowed.
+// path is a string accepted by an FS Open() method.
+func (a staticFilesMap) isAllowed(path string) bool {
+	_, ok := a[path]
+	return ok
+}
+
+// newStaticFilesMap creates a new staticFilesMap from a list of allowed file paths.
+func newStaticFilesMap(files ...string) staticFilesMap {
+	m := staticFilesMap(make(map[string]struct{}, len(files)))
+	for _, k := range files {
+		m[k] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	return m
+}
+
+// StaticFS wraps an FS and allows accessing only the files in the allowList.
+// This is a more secure implementation of a FS suitable for production environments.
+// The keys of the allow list must be in the same format used by the underlying FS' Open() method.
+type StaticFS struct {
+	FS
+
+	// staticFilesMap is a map of allowed paths (accepted by FS.Open())
+	staticFilesMap staticFilesMap
+}
+
+// NewStaticFS returns a new StaticFS that can access the files on an underlying FS,
+// but only if they are also specified in a static list, which is constructed when creating the object
+// by calling Files() on the underlying FS.
+func NewStaticFS(fs FS) (StaticFS, error) {
+	files, err := fs.Files()
+	if err != nil {
+		return StaticFS{}, err
+	}
+	return StaticFS{
+		FS:             fs,
+		staticFilesMap: newStaticFilesMap(files...),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// Open checks that name is an allowed file and, if so, it returns a fs.File to access it, by calling the
+// underlying FS' Open() method.
+// If access is denied, the function returns ErrFileNotExist.
+func (f StaticFS) Open(name string) (fs.File, error) {
+	// Ensure access to the file is allowed
+	if !f.staticFilesMap.isAllowed(name) {
+		return nil, ErrFileNotExist
+	}
+	// Use the wrapped FS to access the file
+	return f.FS.Open(name)
+}
+
+// Files returns a slice of all static file paths relative to the base path.
+func (f StaticFS) Files() ([]string, error) {
+	files := make([]string, 0, len(f.staticFilesMap))
+	for fn := range f.staticFilesMap {
+		files = append(files, fn)
+	}
+	return files, nil
+}
 
 // LocalFile implements a fs.File for accessing the local filesystem.
 type LocalFile struct {
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/localfiles_test.go b/pkg/plugins/localfiles_test.go
index 86ddc6d9ec8..af523cde9b7 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/localfiles_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/localfiles_test.go
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 package plugins
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -17,14 +19,7 @@ func TestLocalFS_Remove(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	err = f.Close()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	fs := NewLocalFS(
-		map[string]struct{}{
-			"plugin.json": {},
-		},
-		pluginDir,
-	)
-
+	fs := NewLocalFS(pluginDir)
 	err = fs.Remove()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -49,12 +44,7 @@ func TestLocalFS_Remove(t *testing.T) {
 
 		pluginDir = filepath.Dir(pluginDistDir)
 
-		fs = NewLocalFS(
-			map[string]struct{}{
-				"dist/plugin.json": {},
-			},
-			pluginDir,
-		)
+		fs = NewLocalFS(pluginDir)
 
 		err = fs.Remove()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -78,12 +68,7 @@ func TestLocalFS_Remove(t *testing.T) {
 		err = f.Close()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		fs = NewLocalFS(
-			map[string]struct{}{
-				"system32/important.exe": {},
-			},
-			pluginDir,
-		)
+		fs = NewLocalFS(pluginDir)
 
 		err = fs.Remove()
 		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrUninstallInvalidPluginDir)
@@ -222,3 +207,73 @@ func newTempFileScenarioForTest(t *testing.T) tempFileScenario {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	return s
 }
+
+func createDummyTempFile(dir, fn string) (err error) {
+	f, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(dir, fn)) // nolint: gosec
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if closeErr := f.Close(); closeErr != nil && err == nil {
+			err = closeErr
+		}
+	}()
+	_, err = f.WriteString(fn)
+	return
+}
+
+func TestStaticFS(t *testing.T) {
+	tmp := t.TempDir()
+	const allowedFn, deniedFn = "allowed.txt", "denied.txt"
+	require.NoError(t, createDummyTempFile(tmp, allowedFn))
+
+	localFS := NewLocalFS(tmp)
+	staticFS, err := NewStaticFS(localFS)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	t.Run("open allowed", func(t *testing.T) {
+		f, err := staticFS.Open(allowedFn)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		t.Cleanup(func() { require.NoError(t, f.Close()) })
+		b, err := io.ReadAll(f)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, []byte(allowedFn), b)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("open denied", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Add file after initialization
+		require.NoError(t, createDummyTempFile(tmp, deniedFn))
+
+		// StaticFS should fail
+		_, err := staticFS.Open(deniedFn)
+		require.True(t, errors.Is(err, ErrFileNotExist))
+
+		// Underlying FS should succeed
+		f, err := localFS.Open(deniedFn)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		t.Cleanup(func() { require.NoError(t, f.Close()) })
+		b, err := io.ReadAll(f)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, []byte("denied.txt"), b)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("open not existing", func(t *testing.T) {
+		_, err := staticFS.Open("unknown.txt")
+		require.True(t, errors.Is(err, ErrFileNotExist))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("list files", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Run("underlying fs has extra files", func(t *testing.T) {
+			files, err := localFS.Files()
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			sort.Strings(files)
+			require.Equal(t, []string{allowedFn, deniedFn}, files)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("staticfs filters underelying fs's files", func(t *testing.T) {
+			files, err := staticFS.Files()
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.Equal(t, []string{allowedFn}, files)
+		})
+	})
+}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/fakes/fakes.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/fakes/fakes.go
index 51cea698f6a..73585979579 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/fakes/fakes.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/fakes/fakes.go
@@ -364,8 +364,8 @@ func (f *FakePluginFiles) Base() string {
 	return f.base
 }
 
-func (f *FakePluginFiles) Files() []string {
-	return []string{}
+func (f *FakePluginFiles) Files() ([]string, error) {
+	return []string{}, nil
 }
 
 func (f *FakePluginFiles) Remove() error {
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local.go
index 30752497e09..a3217697a60 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/infra/fs"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/config"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/log"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
 )
@@ -24,15 +25,21 @@ var (
 )
 
 type Local struct {
-	log log.Logger
+	log        log.Logger
+	production bool
 }
 
-func NewLocalFinder() *Local {
+func NewLocalFinder(cfg *config.Cfg) *Local {
 	return &Local{
-		log: log.New("local.finder"),
+		production: !cfg.DevMode,
+		log:        log.New("local.finder"),
 	}
 }
 
+func ProvideLocalFinder(cfg *config.Cfg) *Local {
+	return NewLocalFinder(cfg)
+}
+
 func (l *Local) Find(ctx context.Context, src plugins.PluginSource) ([]*plugins.FoundBundle, error) {
 	if len(src.PluginURIs(ctx)) == 0 {
 		return []*plugins.FoundBundle{}, nil
@@ -81,15 +88,21 @@ func (l *Local) Find(ctx context.Context, src plugins.PluginSource) ([]*plugins.
 
 	var res = make(map[string]*plugins.FoundBundle)
 	for pluginDir, data := range foundPlugins {
-		files, err := collectFilesWithin(pluginDir)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+		var pluginFs plugins.FS
+		pluginFs = plugins.NewLocalFS(pluginDir)
+		if l.production {
+			// In prod, tighten up security by allowing access only to the files present up to this point.
+			// Any new file "sneaked in" won't be allowed and will acts as if the file did not exist.
+			var err error
+			pluginFs, err = plugins.NewStaticFS(pluginFs)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
 		}
-
 		res[pluginDir] = &plugins.FoundBundle{
 			Primary: plugins.FoundPlugin{
 				JSONData: data,
-				FS:       plugins.NewLocalFS(files, pluginDir),
+				FS:       pluginFs,
 			},
 		}
 	}
@@ -190,61 +203,6 @@ func (l *Local) getAbsPluginJSONPaths(path string) ([]string, error) {
 	return pluginJSONPaths, nil
 }
 
-func collectFilesWithin(dir string) (map[string]struct{}, error) {
-	files := map[string]struct{}{}
-	err := filepath.Walk(dir, func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		if info.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink == os.ModeSymlink {
-			symlinkPath, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(path)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			symlink, err := os.Stat(symlinkPath)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			// verify that symlinked file is within plugin directory
-			p, err := filepath.Rel(dir, symlinkPath)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-			if p == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(p, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
-				return fmt.Errorf("file '%s' not inside of plugin directory", p)
-			}
-
-			// skip adding symlinked directories
-			if symlink.IsDir() {
-				return nil
-			}
-		}
-
-		// skip directories
-		if info.IsDir() {
-			return nil
-		}
-
-		// verify that file is within plugin directory
-		file, err := filepath.Rel(dir, path)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		if strings.HasPrefix(file, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("file '%s' not inside of plugin directory", file)
-		}
-
-		files[path] = struct{}{}
-
-		return nil
-	})
-
-	return files, err
-}
-
 func (l *Local) readFile(pluginJSONPath string) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
 	l.log.Debug("Loading plugin", "path", pluginJSONPath)
 
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local_test.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local_test.go
index f1d240da749..e6b4f031e46 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local_test.go
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/manager/fakes"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/featuremgmt"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/org"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/pluginsintegration/config"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/setting"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
 )
 
@@ -23,6 +26,11 @@ func TestFinder_Find(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
+
+	cfg := setting.NewCfg()
+	pCfg, err := config.ProvideConfig(setting.ProvideProvider(cfg), cfg, featuremgmt.WithFeatures())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
 	testCases := []struct {
 		name            string
 		pluginDirs      []string
@@ -55,10 +63,7 @@ func TestFinder_Find(t *testing.T) {
 							Backend:    true,
 							Executable: "test",
 						},
-						FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-							filepath.Join(testData, "valid-v2-signature/plugin/plugin.json"):  {},
-							filepath.Join(testData, "valid-v2-signature/plugin/MANIFEST.txt"): {},
-						}, filepath.Join(testData, "valid-v2-signature/plugin")),
+						FS: mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(testData, "valid-v2-signature/plugin")),
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -87,12 +92,7 @@ func TestFinder_Find(t *testing.T) {
 								Plugins:        []plugins.Dependency{},
 							},
 						},
-						FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-							filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/plugin.json"):         {},
-							filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/MANIFEST.txt"):        {},
-							filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested/plugin.json"):  {},
-							filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested/MANIFEST.txt"): {},
-						}, filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested")),
+						FS: mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested")),
 					},
 					Children: []*plugins.FoundPlugin{
 						{
@@ -114,10 +114,7 @@ func TestFinder_Find(t *testing.T) {
 									Plugins:        []plugins.Dependency{},
 								},
 							},
-							FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-								filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested/plugin.json"):  {},
-								filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested/MANIFEST.txt"): {},
-							}, filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested")),
+							FS: mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested")),
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -178,14 +175,7 @@ func TestFinder_Find(t *testing.T) {
 								{Name: "Nginx Datasource", Type: "datasource", Role: "Viewer"},
 							},
 						},
-						FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-							filepath.Join(testData, "includes-symlinks/MANIFEST.txt"):                 {},
-							filepath.Join(testData, "includes-symlinks/dashboards/connections.json"):  {},
-							filepath.Join(testData, "includes-symlinks/dashboards/extra/memory.json"): {},
-							filepath.Join(testData, "includes-symlinks/plugin.json"):                  {},
-							filepath.Join(testData, "includes-symlinks/symlink_to_txt"):               {},
-							filepath.Join(testData, "includes-symlinks/text.txt"):                     {},
-						}, filepath.Join(testData, "includes-symlinks")),
+						FS: mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(testData, "includes-symlinks")),
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -213,12 +203,7 @@ func TestFinder_Find(t *testing.T) {
 							Plugins:        []plugins.Dependency{},
 						},
 					},
-					FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-						filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/plugin.json"):         {},
-						filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/MANIFEST.txt"):        {},
-						filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested/plugin.json"):  {},
-						filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested/MANIFEST.txt"): {},
-					}, filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested")),
+					FS: mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested")),
 				},
 				Children: []*plugins.FoundPlugin{
 					{
@@ -240,10 +225,7 @@ func TestFinder_Find(t *testing.T) {
 								Plugins:        []plugins.Dependency{},
 							},
 						},
-						FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-							filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested/plugin.json"):  {},
-							filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested/MANIFEST.txt"): {},
-						}, filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested")),
+						FS: mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(testData, "duplicate-plugins/nested/nested")),
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -267,10 +249,7 @@ func TestFinder_Find(t *testing.T) {
 							State:   plugins.AlphaRelease,
 							Backend: true,
 						},
-						FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-							filepath.Join(testData, "invalid-v1-signature/plugin/plugin.json"):  {},
-							filepath.Join(testData, "invalid-v1-signature/plugin/MANIFEST.txt"): {},
-						}, filepath.Join(testData, "invalid-v1-signature/plugin")),
+						FS: mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(testData, "invalid-v1-signature/plugin")),
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -278,7 +257,7 @@ func TestFinder_Find(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			f := NewLocalFinder()
+			f := NewLocalFinder(pCfg)
 			pluginBundles, err := f.Find(context.Background(), &fakes.FakePluginSource{
 				PluginURIsFunc: func(ctx context.Context) []string {
 					return tc.pluginDirs
@@ -294,14 +273,18 @@ func TestFinder_Find(t *testing.T) {
 				return pluginBundles[i].Primary.JSONData.ID < pluginBundles[j].Primary.JSONData.ID
 			})
 
-			if !cmp.Equal(pluginBundles, tc.expectedBundles, localFSComparer) {
-				t.Fatalf("Result mismatch (-want +got):\n%s", cmp.Diff(pluginBundles, tc.expectedBundles, localFSComparer))
+			if !cmp.Equal(pluginBundles, tc.expectedBundles, fsComparer) {
+				t.Fatalf("Result mismatch (-want +got):\n%s", cmp.Diff(pluginBundles, tc.expectedBundles, fsComparer))
 			}
 		})
 	}
 }
 
 func TestFinder_getAbsPluginJSONPaths(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := setting.NewCfg()
+	pCfg, err := config.ProvideConfig(setting.ProvideProvider(cfg), cfg, featuremgmt.WithFeatures())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
 	t.Run("When scanning a folder that doesn't exists shouldn't return an error", func(t *testing.T) {
 		origWalk := walk
 		walk = func(path string, followSymlinks, detectSymlinkInfiniteLoop bool, walkFn util.WalkFunc) error {
@@ -311,7 +294,7 @@ func TestFinder_getAbsPluginJSONPaths(t *testing.T) {
 			walk = origWalk
 		})
 
-		finder := NewLocalFinder()
+		finder := NewLocalFinder(pCfg)
 		paths, err := finder.getAbsPluginJSONPaths("test")
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Empty(t, paths)
@@ -326,7 +309,7 @@ func TestFinder_getAbsPluginJSONPaths(t *testing.T) {
 			walk = origWalk
 		})
 
-		finder := NewLocalFinder()
+		finder := NewLocalFinder(pCfg)
 		paths, err := finder.getAbsPluginJSONPaths("test")
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Empty(t, paths)
@@ -341,7 +324,7 @@ func TestFinder_getAbsPluginJSONPaths(t *testing.T) {
 			walk = origWalk
 		})
 
-		finder := NewLocalFinder()
+		finder := NewLocalFinder(pCfg)
 		paths, err := finder.getAbsPluginJSONPaths("test")
 		require.Error(t, err)
 		require.Empty(t, paths)
@@ -469,9 +452,15 @@ func TestFinder_readPluginJSON(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-var localFSComparer = cmp.Comparer(func(fs1 plugins.LocalFS, fs2 plugins.LocalFS) bool {
-	fs1Files := fs1.Files()
-	fs2Files := fs2.Files()
+var fsComparer = cmp.Comparer(func(fs1 plugins.FS, fs2 plugins.FS) bool {
+	fs1Files, err := fs1.Files()
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	fs2Files, err := fs2.Files()
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 
 	sort.SliceStable(fs1Files, func(i, j int) bool {
 		return fs1Files[i] < fs1Files[j]
@@ -483,3 +472,9 @@ var localFSComparer = cmp.Comparer(func(fs1 plugins.LocalFS, fs2 plugins.LocalFS
 
 	return cmp.Equal(fs1Files, fs2Files) && fs1.Base() == fs2.Base()
 })
+
+func mustNewStaticFSForTests(t *testing.T, dir string) plugins.FS {
+	sfs, err := plugins.NewStaticFS(plugins.NewLocalFS(dir))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return sfs
+}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/loader_test.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/loader_test.go
index 0fa139bd86b..e96b6291313 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/loader_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/loader_test.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package loader
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
 	"testing"
@@ -28,13 +27,18 @@ import (
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/setting"
 )
 
-var compareOpts = []cmp.Option{cmpopts.IgnoreFields(plugins.Plugin{}, "client", "log"), localFSComparer}
+var compareOpts = []cmp.Option{cmpopts.IgnoreFields(plugins.Plugin{}, "client", "log"), fsComparer}
 
-var localFSComparer = cmp.Comparer(func(fs1 plugins.LocalFS, fs2 plugins.LocalFS) bool {
-	fs1Files := fs1.Files()
-	fs2Files := fs2.Files()
+var fsComparer = cmp.Comparer(func(fs1 plugins.FS, fs2 plugins.FS) bool {
+	fs1Files, err := fs1.Files()
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	fs2Files, err := fs2.Files()
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 
-	finder.NewLocalFinder()
 	sort.SliceStable(fs1Files, func(i, j int) bool {
 		return fs1Files[i] < fs1Files[j]
 	})
@@ -108,9 +112,8 @@ func TestLoader_Load(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Module:  "app/plugins/datasource/cloudwatch/module",
 					BaseURL: "public/app/plugins/datasource/cloudwatch",
-					FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(
-						filesInDir(t, filepath.Join(corePluginDir, "app/plugins/datasource/cloudwatch")),
-						filepath.Join(corePluginDir, "app/plugins/datasource/cloudwatch")),
+
+					FS:        mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(corePluginDir, "app/plugins/datasource/cloudwatch")),
 					Signature: plugins.SignatureInternal,
 					Class:     plugins.Core,
 				},
@@ -147,12 +150,9 @@ func TestLoader_Load(t *testing.T) {
 						Backend:    true,
 						State:      "alpha",
 					},
-					Module:  "plugins/test-datasource/module",
-					BaseURL: "public/plugins/test-datasource",
-					FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(
-						filesInDir(t, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/valid-v2-signature/plugin/")),
-						filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/valid-v2-signature/plugin/"),
-					),
+					Module:        "plugins/test-datasource/module",
+					BaseURL:       "public/plugins/test-datasource",
+					FS:            mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/valid-v2-signature/plugin/")),
 					Signature:     "valid",
 					SignatureType: plugins.GrafanaSignature,
 					SignatureOrg:  "Grafana Labs",
@@ -226,20 +226,10 @@ func TestLoader_Load(t *testing.T) {
 							},
 						},
 					},
-					Class:   plugins.External,
-					Module:  "plugins/test-app/module",
-					BaseURL: "public/plugins/test-app",
-					FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(
-						map[string]struct{}{
-							filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/includes-symlinks", "/MANIFEST.txt"):                {},
-							filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/includes-symlinks", "dashboards/connections.json"):  {},
-							filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/includes-symlinks", "dashboards/extra/memory.json"): {},
-							filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/includes-symlinks", "plugin.json"):                  {},
-							filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/includes-symlinks", "symlink_to_txt"):               {},
-							filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/includes-symlinks", "text.txt"):                     {},
-						},
-						filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/includes-symlinks"),
-					),
+					Class:         plugins.External,
+					Module:        "plugins/test-app/module",
+					BaseURL:       "public/plugins/test-app",
+					FS:            mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/includes-symlinks")),
 					Signature:     "valid",
 					SignatureType: plugins.GrafanaSignature,
 					SignatureOrg:  "Grafana Labs",
@@ -276,13 +266,10 @@ func TestLoader_Load(t *testing.T) {
 						Backend: true,
 						State:   plugins.AlphaRelease,
 					},
-					Class:   plugins.External,
-					Module:  "plugins/test-datasource/module",
-					BaseURL: "public/plugins/test-datasource",
-					FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(
-						filesInDir(t, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/unsigned-datasource/plugin")),
-						filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/unsigned-datasource/plugin"),
-					),
+					Class:     plugins.External,
+					Module:    "plugins/test-datasource/module",
+					BaseURL:   "public/plugins/test-datasource",
+					FS:        mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/unsigned-datasource/plugin")),
 					Signature: "unsigned",
 				},
 			},
@@ -330,13 +317,10 @@ func TestLoader_Load(t *testing.T) {
 						Backend: true,
 						State:   plugins.AlphaRelease,
 					},
-					Class:   plugins.External,
-					Module:  "plugins/test-datasource/module",
-					BaseURL: "public/plugins/test-datasource",
-					FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(
-						filesInDir(t, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/unsigned-datasource/plugin")),
-						filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/unsigned-datasource/plugin"),
-					),
+					Class:     plugins.External,
+					Module:    "plugins/test-datasource/module",
+					BaseURL:   "public/plugins/test-datasource",
+					FS:        mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/unsigned-datasource/plugin")),
 					Signature: plugins.SignatureUnsigned,
 				},
 			},
@@ -440,14 +424,11 @@ func TestLoader_Load(t *testing.T) {
 					Backend: false,
 				},
 					DefaultNavURL: "/plugins/test-app/page/root-page-react",
-					FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-						filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/test-app-with-includes", "dashboards/memory.json"): {},
-						filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/test-app-with-includes", "plugin.json"):            {},
-					}, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/test-app-with-includes")),
-					Class:     plugins.External,
-					Signature: plugins.SignatureUnsigned,
-					Module:    "plugins/test-app/module",
-					BaseURL:   "public/plugins/test-app",
+					FS:            mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/test-app-with-includes")),
+					Class:         plugins.External,
+					Signature:     plugins.SignatureUnsigned,
+					Module:        "plugins/test-app/module",
+					BaseURL:       "public/plugins/test-app",
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -532,9 +513,7 @@ func TestLoader_Load_CustomSource(t *testing.T) {
 					Plugins:        []plugins.Dependency{},
 				},
 			},
-			FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-				filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/cdn/plugin", "plugin.json"): {},
-			}, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/cdn/plugin")),
+			FS:        mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/cdn/plugin")),
 			Class:     plugins.Bundled,
 			Signature: plugins.SignatureValid,
 			BaseURL:   "plugin-cdn/grafana-worldmap-panel/0.3.3/public/plugins/grafana-worldmap-panel",
@@ -670,13 +649,10 @@ func TestLoader_Load_MultiplePlugins(t *testing.T) {
 							Executable: "test",
 							State:      plugins.AlphaRelease,
 						},
-						Class:   plugins.External,
-						Module:  "plugins/test-datasource/module",
-						BaseURL: "public/plugins/test-datasource",
-						FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-							filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/valid-v2-pvt-signature/plugin/plugin.json"):  {},
-							filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/valid-v2-pvt-signature/plugin/MANIFEST.txt"): {},
-						}, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/valid-v2-pvt-signature/plugin")),
+						Class:         plugins.External,
+						Module:        "plugins/test-datasource/module",
+						BaseURL:       "public/plugins/test-datasource",
+						FS:            mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(parentDir, "testdata/valid-v2-pvt-signature/plugin")),
 						Signature:     "valid",
 						SignatureType: plugins.PrivateSignature,
 						SignatureOrg:  "Will Browne",
@@ -795,10 +771,7 @@ func TestLoader_Load_RBACReady(t *testing.T) {
 						},
 						Backend: false,
 					},
-					FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-						filepath.Join(pluginDir, "plugin.json"):  {},
-						filepath.Join(pluginDir, "MANIFEST.txt"): {},
-					}, pluginDir),
+					FS:            mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, pluginDir),
 					Class:         plugins.External,
 					Signature:     plugins.SignatureValid,
 					SignatureType: plugins.PrivateSignature,
@@ -885,10 +858,7 @@ func TestLoader_Load_Signature_RootURL(t *testing.T) {
 					Backend:      true,
 					Executable:   "test",
 				},
-				FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-					filepath.Join(filepath.Join(parentDir, "/testdata/valid-v2-pvt-signature-root-url-uri/plugin"), "plugin.json"):  {},
-					filepath.Join(filepath.Join(parentDir, "/testdata/valid-v2-pvt-signature-root-url-uri/plugin"), "MANIFEST.txt"): {},
-				}, filepath.Join(parentDir, "/testdata/valid-v2-pvt-signature-root-url-uri/plugin")),
+				FS:            mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(parentDir, "/testdata/valid-v2-pvt-signature-root-url-uri/plugin")),
 				Class:         plugins.External,
 				Signature:     plugins.SignatureValid,
 				SignatureType: plugins.PrivateSignature,
@@ -972,7 +942,7 @@ func TestLoader_Load_DuplicatePlugins(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Backend: false,
 				},
-				FS:            plugins.NewLocalFS(filesInDir(t, pluginDir), pluginDir),
+				FS:            mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, pluginDir),
 				Class:         plugins.External,
 				Signature:     plugins.SignatureValid,
 				SignatureType: plugins.GrafanaSignature,
@@ -1062,7 +1032,7 @@ func TestLoader_Load_SkipUninitializedPlugins(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Backend: false,
 				},
-				FS:            plugins.NewLocalFS(filesInDir(t, pluginDir1), pluginDir1),
+				FS:            mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, pluginDir1),
 				Class:         plugins.External,
 				Signature:     plugins.SignatureValid,
 				SignatureType: plugins.GrafanaSignature,
@@ -1137,10 +1107,9 @@ func TestLoader_Load_NestedPlugins(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			Backend: true,
 		},
-		Module:  "plugins/test-datasource/module",
-		BaseURL: "public/plugins/test-datasource",
-		FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(filesInDir(t, filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/nested-plugins/parent")),
-			filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/nested-plugins/parent")),
+		Module:        "plugins/test-datasource/module",
+		BaseURL:       "public/plugins/test-datasource",
+		FS:            mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/nested-plugins/parent")),
 		Signature:     plugins.SignatureValid,
 		SignatureType: plugins.GrafanaSignature,
 		SignatureOrg:  "Grafana Labs",
@@ -1170,10 +1139,9 @@ func TestLoader_Load_NestedPlugins(t *testing.T) {
 				Plugins:        []plugins.Dependency{},
 			},
 		},
-		Module:  "plugins/test-panel/module",
-		BaseURL: "public/plugins/test-panel",
-		FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(filesInDir(t, filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/nested-plugins/parent/nested")),
-			filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/nested-plugins/parent/nested")),
+		Module:        "plugins/test-panel/module",
+		BaseURL:       "public/plugins/test-panel",
+		FS:            mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/nested-plugins/parent/nested")),
 		Signature:     plugins.SignatureValid,
 		SignatureType: plugins.GrafanaSignature,
 		SignatureOrg:  "Grafana Labs",
@@ -1310,10 +1278,9 @@ func TestLoader_Load_NestedPlugins(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 				Backend: false,
 			},
-			Module:  "plugins/myorgid-simple-app/module",
-			BaseURL: "public/plugins/myorgid-simple-app",
-			FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(filesInDir(t, filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/app-with-child/dist")),
-				filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/app-with-child/dist")),
+			Module:        "plugins/myorgid-simple-app/module",
+			BaseURL:       "public/plugins/myorgid-simple-app",
+			FS:            mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/app-with-child/dist")),
 			DefaultNavURL: "/plugins/myorgid-simple-app/page/root-page-react",
 			Signature:     plugins.SignatureValid,
 			SignatureType: plugins.GrafanaSignature,
@@ -1349,10 +1316,9 @@ func TestLoader_Load_NestedPlugins(t *testing.T) {
 					Plugins:           []plugins.Dependency{},
 				},
 			},
-			Module:  "plugins/myorgid-simple-app/child/module",
-			BaseURL: "public/plugins/myorgid-simple-app",
-			FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(filesInDir(t, filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/app-with-child/dist/child")),
-				filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/app-with-child/dist/child")),
+			Module:          "plugins/myorgid-simple-app/child/module",
+			BaseURL:         "public/plugins/myorgid-simple-app",
+			FS:              mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, filepath.Join(rootDir, "testdata/app-with-child/dist/child")),
 			IncludedInAppID: parent.ID,
 			Signature:       plugins.SignatureValid,
 			SignatureType:   plugins.GrafanaSignature,
@@ -1421,7 +1387,7 @@ func Test_setPathsBasedOnApp(t *testing.T) {
 func newLoader(cfg *config.Cfg, cbs ...func(loader *Loader)) *Loader {
 	l := New(cfg, &fakes.FakeLicensingService{}, signature.NewUnsignedAuthorizer(cfg), fakes.NewFakePluginRegistry(),
 		fakes.NewFakeBackendProcessProvider(), fakes.NewFakeProcessManager(), fakes.NewFakeRoleRegistry(),
-		assetpath.ProvideService(pluginscdn.ProvideService(cfg)), finder.NewLocalFinder(),
+		assetpath.ProvideService(pluginscdn.ProvideService(cfg)), finder.NewLocalFinder(cfg),
 		signature.ProvideService(cfg, keystore.ProvideService(kvstore.NewFakeKVStore())))
 
 	for _, cb := range cbs {
@@ -1453,39 +1419,8 @@ func verifyState(t *testing.T, ps []*plugins.Plugin, reg *fakes.FakePluginRegist
 	}
 }
 
-func filesInDir(t *testing.T, dir string) map[string]struct{} {
-	files, err := collectFilesWithin(dir)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Logf("Could not collect plugin file info. Err: %v", err)
-		return map[string]struct{}{}
-	}
-	return files
-}
-
-func collectFilesWithin(dir string) (map[string]struct{}, error) {
-	files := map[string]struct{}{}
-	err := filepath.Walk(dir, func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		// skip directories
-		if info.IsDir() {
-			return nil
-		}
-
-		// verify that file is within plugin directory
-		//file, err := filepath.Rel(dir, path)
-		//if err != nil {
-		//	return err
-		//}
-		//if strings.HasPrefix(file, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
-		//	return fmt.Errorf("file '%s' not inside of plugin directory", file)
-		//}
-
-		files[path] = struct{}{}
-		return nil
-	})
-
-	return files, err
+func mustNewStaticFSForTests(t *testing.T, dir string) plugins.FS {
+	sfs, err := plugins.NewStaticFS(plugins.NewLocalFS(dir))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return sfs
 }
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/manager_integration_test.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/manager_integration_test.go
index 1e20c169614..074cbdaa0db 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/manager_integration_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/manager_integration_test.go
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func TestIntegrationPluginManager(t *testing.T) {
 	reg := registry.ProvideService()
 	lic := plicensing.ProvideLicensing(cfg, &licensing.OSSLicensingService{Cfg: cfg})
 	l := loader.ProvideService(pCfg, lic, signature.NewUnsignedAuthorizer(pCfg),
-		reg, provider.ProvideService(coreRegistry), finder.NewLocalFinder(), fakes.NewFakeRoleRegistry(),
+		reg, provider.ProvideService(coreRegistry), finder.NewLocalFinder(pCfg), fakes.NewFakeRoleRegistry(),
 		assetpath.ProvideService(pluginscdn.ProvideService(pCfg)), signature.ProvideService(pCfg, keystore.ProvideService(kvstore.NewFakeKVStore())))
 	srcs := sources.ProvideService(cfg, pCfg)
 	ps, err := store.ProvideService(reg, srcs, l)
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest.go
index 2f4bbcf853f..992a9080566 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ProtonMail/go-crypto/openpgp/clearsign"
 	"github.com/gobwas/glob"
+
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/config"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/log"
@@ -29,6 +30,9 @@ var (
 
 	// toSlash is filepath.ToSlash, but can be overwritten in tests path separators cross-platform
 	toSlash = filepath.ToSlash
+
+	// fromSlash is filepath.FromSlash, but can be overwritten in tests path separators cross-platform
+	fromSlash = filepath.FromSlash
 )
 
 // PluginManifest holds details for the file manifest
@@ -100,8 +104,11 @@ func (s *Signature) Calculate(ctx context.Context, src plugins.PluginSource, plu
 	if defaultSignature, exists := src.DefaultSignature(ctx); exists {
 		return defaultSignature, nil
 	}
-
-	if len(plugin.FS.Files()) == 0 {
+	fsFiles, err := plugin.FS.Files()
+	if err != nil {
+		return plugins.Signature{}, fmt.Errorf("files: %w", err)
+	}
+	if len(fsFiles) == 0 {
 		s.mlog.Warn("No plugin file information in directory", "pluginID", plugin.JSONData.ID)
 		return plugins.Signature{
 			Status: plugins.SignatureInvalid,
@@ -190,7 +197,7 @@ func (s *Signature) Calculate(ctx context.Context, src plugins.PluginSource, plu
 
 	// Track files missing from the manifest
 	var unsignedFiles []string
-	for _, f := range plugin.FS.Files() {
+	for _, f := range fsFiles {
 		// Ensure slashes are used, because MANIFEST.txt always uses slashes regardless of the filesystem
 		f = toSlash(f)
 
@@ -223,6 +230,8 @@ func (s *Signature) Calculate(ctx context.Context, src plugins.PluginSource, plu
 }
 
 func verifyHash(mlog log.Logger, plugin plugins.FoundPlugin, path, hash string) error {
+	path = fromSlash(path)
+
 	// nolint:gosec
 	// We can ignore the gosec G304 warning on this one because `path` is based
 	// on the path provided in a manifest file for a plugin and not user input.
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest_test.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest_test.go
index 5c9d78f7d37..069f7495136 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package signature
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"io/fs"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
@@ -172,10 +173,7 @@ func TestCalculate(t *testing.T) {
 						Version: "1.0.0",
 					},
 				},
-				FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-					filepath.Join(basePath, "MANIFEST.txt"): {},
-					filepath.Join(basePath, "plugin.json"):  {},
-				}, basePath),
+				FS: mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, basePath),
 			})
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			require.Equal(t, tc.expectedSignature, sig)
@@ -204,11 +202,7 @@ func TestCalculate(t *testing.T) {
 					Version: "1.0.0",
 				},
 			},
-			FS: plugins.NewLocalFS(map[string]struct{}{
-				filepath.Join(basePath, "MANIFEST.txt"):         {},
-				filepath.Join(basePath, "plugin.json"):          {},
-				filepath.Join(basePath, "chrome-win/debug.log"): {},
-			}, basePath),
+			FS: mustNewStaticFSForTests(t, basePath),
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Equal(t, plugins.Signature{
@@ -219,28 +213,51 @@ func TestCalculate(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("Signature verification should work with any path separator", func(t *testing.T) {
-		var toSlashUnix = newToSlash('/')
-		var toSlashWindows = newToSlash('\\')
+		const basePath = "../testdata/app-with-child/dist"
 
-		for _, tc := range []struct {
-			name    string
-			sep     string
-			toSlash func(string) string
+		platformWindows := fsPlatform{separator: '\\'}
+		platformUnix := fsPlatform{separator: '/'}
+
+		type testCase struct {
+			name      string
+			platform  fsPlatform
+			fsFactory func() (plugins.FS, error)
+		}
+		var testCases []testCase
+		for _, fsFactory := range []struct {
+			name string
+			f    func() (plugins.FS, error)
 		}{
-			{"unix", "/", toSlashUnix},
-			{"windows", "\\", toSlashWindows},
+			{"local fs", func() (plugins.FS, error) {
+				return plugins.NewLocalFS(basePath), nil
+			}},
+			{"static fs", func() (plugins.FS, error) {
+				return plugins.NewStaticFS(plugins.NewLocalFS(basePath))
+			}},
 		} {
+			testCases = append(testCases, []testCase{
+				{"unix " + fsFactory.name, platformUnix, fsFactory.f},
+				{"windows " + fsFactory.name, platformWindows, fsFactory.f},
+			}...)
+		}
+
+		for _, tc := range testCases {
 			t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 				// Replace toSlash for cross-platform testing
 				oldToSlash := toSlash
+				oldFromSlash := fromSlash
 				t.Cleanup(func() {
 					toSlash = oldToSlash
+					fromSlash = oldFromSlash
 				})
-				toSlash = tc.toSlash
-
-				basePath := "../testdata/app-with-child/dist"
+				toSlash = tc.platform.toSlashFunc()
+				fromSlash = tc.platform.fromSlashFunc()
 
 				s := ProvideService(&config.Cfg{}, keystore.ProvideService(kvstore.NewFakeKVStore()))
+				pfs, err := tc.fsFactory()
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				pfs, err = newPathSeparatorOverrideFS(string(tc.platform.separator), pfs)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
 				sig, err := s.Calculate(context.Background(), &fakes.FakePluginSource{
 					PluginClassFunc: func(ctx context.Context) plugins.Class {
 						return plugins.External
@@ -253,11 +270,7 @@ func TestCalculate(t *testing.T) {
 							Version: "%VERSION%",
 						},
 					},
-					FS: newPathSeparatorOverrideFS(tc.sep, map[string]struct{}{
-						filepath.Join(basePath, "MANIFEST.txt"):      {},
-						filepath.Join(basePath, "plugin.json"):       {},
-						filepath.Join(basePath, "child/plugin.json"): {},
-					}, basePath),
+					FS: pfs,
 				})
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				require.Equal(t, plugins.Signature{
@@ -270,20 +283,35 @@ func TestCalculate(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
-// newToSlash returns a new function that acts as filepath.ToSlash but for the specified os-separator.
+type fsPlatform struct {
+	separator rune
+}
+
+// toSlashFunc returns a new function that acts as filepath.ToSlash but for the specified os-separator.
 // This can be used to test filepath.ToSlash-dependant code cross-platform.
-func newToSlash(sep rune) func(string) string {
+func (p fsPlatform) toSlashFunc() func(string) string {
 	return func(path string) string {
-		if sep == '/' {
+		if p.separator == '/' {
 			return path
 		}
-		return strings.ReplaceAll(path, string(sep), "/")
+		return strings.ReplaceAll(path, string(p.separator), "/")
 	}
 }
 
-func TestNewToSlash(t *testing.T) {
+// fromSlashFunc returns a new function that acts as filepath.FromSlash but for the specified os-separator.
+// This can be used to test filepath.FromSlash-dependant code cross-platform.
+func (p fsPlatform) fromSlashFunc() func(string) string {
+	return func(path string) string {
+		if p.separator == '/' {
+			return path
+		}
+		return strings.ReplaceAll(path, "/", string(p.separator))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFsPlatform(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("unix", func(t *testing.T) {
-		toSlashUnix := newToSlash('/')
+		toSlashUnix := fsPlatform{'/'}.toSlashFunc()
 		require.Equal(t, "folder", toSlashUnix("folder"))
 		require.Equal(t, "/folder", toSlashUnix("/folder"))
 		require.Equal(t, "/folder/file", toSlashUnix("/folder/file"))
@@ -291,39 +319,46 @@ func TestNewToSlash(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("windows", func(t *testing.T) {
-		toSlashWindows := newToSlash('\\')
+		toSlashWindows := fsPlatform{'\\'}.toSlashFunc()
 		require.Equal(t, "folder", toSlashWindows("folder"))
 		require.Equal(t, "C:/folder", toSlashWindows("C:\\folder"))
 		require.Equal(t, "folder/file.exe", toSlashWindows("folder\\file.exe"))
 	})
 }
 
-// fsPathSeparatorFiles embeds plugins.LocalFS and overrides the Files() behaviour so all the returned elements
+// fsPathSeparatorFiles embeds a plugins.FS and overrides the Files() behaviour so all the returned elements
 // have the specified path separator. This can be used to test Files() behaviour cross-platform.
 type fsPathSeparatorFiles struct {
-	plugins.LocalFS
+	plugins.FS
 
 	separator string
 }
 
 // newPathSeparatorOverrideFS returns a new fsPathSeparatorFiles. Sep is the separator that will be used ONLY for
-// the elements returned by Files(). Files and basePath MUST use the os-specific path separator (filepath.Separator)
-// if Open() is required to work for the test case.
-func newPathSeparatorOverrideFS(sep string, files map[string]struct{}, basePath string) fsPathSeparatorFiles {
+// the elements returned by Files().
+func newPathSeparatorOverrideFS(sep string, ufs plugins.FS) (fsPathSeparatorFiles, error) {
 	return fsPathSeparatorFiles{
-		LocalFS:   plugins.NewLocalFS(files, basePath),
+		FS:        ufs,
 		separator: sep,
-	}
+	}, nil
 }
 
-// Files returns LocalFS.Files(), but all path separators (filepath.Separator) are replaced with f.separator.
-func (f fsPathSeparatorFiles) Files() []string {
-	files := f.LocalFS.Files()
+// Files returns LocalFS.Files(), but all path separators for the current platform (filepath.Separator)
+// are replaced with f.separator.
+func (f fsPathSeparatorFiles) Files() ([]string, error) {
+	files, err := f.FS.Files()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	const osSepStr = string(filepath.Separator)
 	for i := 0; i < len(files); i++ {
 		files[i] = strings.ReplaceAll(files[i], osSepStr, f.separator)
 	}
-	return files
+	return files, nil
+}
+
+func (f fsPathSeparatorFiles) Open(name string) (fs.File, error) {
+	return f.FS.Open(strings.ReplaceAll(name, f.separator, string(filepath.Separator)))
 }
 
 func TestFSPathSeparatorFiles(t *testing.T) {
@@ -335,17 +370,18 @@ func TestFSPathSeparatorFiles(t *testing.T) {
 		{"windows", "\\"},
 	} {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			fs := newPathSeparatorOverrideFS("/", map[string]struct{}{
-				"a": {},
-				strings.Join([]string{"a", "b", "c"}, tc.sep): {},
-			}, ".")
-			files := fs.Files()
-			filesMap := make(map[string]struct{}, len(files))
-			// Re-convert to map as the key order is not stable
-			for _, f := range files {
-				filesMap[f] = struct{}{}
-			}
-			require.Equal(t, filesMap, map[string]struct{}{"a": {}, strings.Join([]string{"a", "b", "c"}, tc.sep): {}})
+			pfs, err := newPathSeparatorOverrideFS(
+				"/", plugins.NewInMemoryFS(
+					map[string][]byte{"a": nil, strings.Join([]string{"a", "b", "c"}, tc.sep): nil},
+				),
+			)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			files, err := pfs.Files()
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			exp := []string{"a", strings.Join([]string{"a", "b", "c"}, tc.sep)}
+			sort.Strings(files)
+			sort.Strings(exp)
+			require.Equal(t, exp, files)
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -715,3 +751,9 @@ func createV2Manifest(t *testing.T, cbs ...func(*PluginManifest)) *PluginManifes
 
 	return m
 }
+
+func mustNewStaticFSForTests(t *testing.T, dir string) plugins.FS {
+	sfs, err := plugins.NewStaticFS(plugins.NewLocalFS(dir))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return sfs
+}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/test_utils.go b/pkg/plugins/test_utils.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5a5487cb19e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/plugins/test_utils.go
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+package plugins
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"time"
+)
+
+var (
+	_ FS          = &inMemoryFS{}
+	_ fs.File     = &inMemoryFile{}
+	_ fs.FileInfo = &inMemoryFileInfo{}
+)
+
+// inMemoryFS is an FS that stores files in-memory.
+type inMemoryFS struct {
+	files map[string][]byte
+}
+
+// NewInMemoryFS returns a new FS with the specified files and content.
+// The provided value is a map from file name (keys) to file content (values).
+func NewInMemoryFS(files map[string][]byte) FS {
+	return &inMemoryFS{files: files}
+}
+
+func (f inMemoryFS) Base() string {
+	return ""
+}
+
+func (f inMemoryFS) Files() ([]string, error) {
+	fps := make([]string, 0, len(f.files))
+	for fn := range f.files {
+		fps = append(fps, fn)
+	}
+	return fps, nil
+}
+
+func (f inMemoryFS) Open(fn string) (fs.File, error) {
+	if _, ok := f.files[fn]; !ok {
+		return nil, ErrFileNotExist
+	}
+	return &inMemoryFile{path: fn, reader: bytes.NewReader(f.files[fn])}, nil
+}
+
+// NewFakeFS returns a new FS that always returns ErrFileNotExist when trying to Open() and empty Files().
+func NewFakeFS() FS {
+	return NewInMemoryFS(nil)
+}
+
+// inMemoryFile is a fs.File whose content is stored in memory.
+type inMemoryFile struct {
+	path   string
+	reader *bytes.Reader
+}
+
+func (f *inMemoryFile) Stat() (fs.FileInfo, error) {
+	return inMemoryFileInfo{
+		name: f.path,
+		size: f.reader.Size(),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func (f *inMemoryFile) Read(b []byte) (int, error) {
+	return f.reader.Read(b)
+}
+
+func (f *inMemoryFile) Close() error {
+	return nil
+}
+
+type inMemoryFileInfo struct {
+	name string
+	size int64
+}
+
+func (f inMemoryFileInfo) Name() string       { return f.name }
+func (f inMemoryFileInfo) Size() int64        { return f.size }
+func (f inMemoryFileInfo) Mode() os.FileMode  { return 0444 } // Read for all
+func (f inMemoryFileInfo) ModTime() time.Time { return time.Time{} }
+func (f inMemoryFileInfo) IsDir() bool        { return false }
+func (f inMemoryFileInfo) Sys() interface{}   { return nil }
diff --git a/pkg/services/pluginsintegration/pluginsintegration.go b/pkg/services/pluginsintegration/pluginsintegration.go
index c057567102f..64c5daf6478 100644
--- a/pkg/services/pluginsintegration/pluginsintegration.go
+++ b/pkg/services/pluginsintegration/pluginsintegration.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ var WireExtensionSet = wire.NewSet(
 	signature.ProvideOSSAuthorizer,
 	wire.Bind(new(plugins.PluginLoaderAuthorizer), new(*signature.UnsignedPluginAuthorizer)),
 	wire.Bind(new(finder.Finder), new(*finder.Local)),
-	finder.NewLocalFinder,
+	finder.ProvideLocalFinder,
 )
 
 func ProvideClientDecorator(