diff --git a/deploy/role.yaml b/deploy/role.yaml
index 239fc0f15..933ae8493 100644
--- a/deploy/role.yaml
+++ b/deploy/role.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,26 @@
 apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
 kind: Role
+metadata:
+  name: vitess-operator-subcontroller
+  namespace: example
+rules:
+- apiGroups:
+  - planetscale.com
+  resources:
+  - vitessshards
+  - vitessshards/status
+  - vitessshards/finalizers
+  - vitessbackups
+  - vitessbackups/status
+  - vitessbackups/finalizers
+  - vitessbackupstorages
+  - vitessbackupstorages/status
+  - vitessbackupstorages/finalizers
+  verbs:
+  - '*'
+---
+apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
+kind: ClusterRole
 metadata:
   name: vitess-operator
 rules:
diff --git a/deploy/role_binding.yaml b/deploy/role_binding.yaml
index 88ecc53a2..1c8eede75 100644
--- a/deploy/role_binding.yaml
+++ b/deploy/role_binding.yaml
@@ -1,11 +1,26 @@
 kind: RoleBinding
 apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
 metadata:
-  name: vitess-operator
+  name: vitess-operator-subcontroller
+  namespace: example
 subjects:
-- kind: ServiceAccount
-  name: vitess-operator
+  - kind: ServiceAccount
+    name: vitess-operator
+    namespace: example
 roleRef:
   kind: Role
+  name: vitess-operator-subcontroller
+  apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
+---
+kind: ClusterRoleBinding
+apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
+metadata:
+  name: vitess-operator
+subjects:
+  - kind: ServiceAccount
+    name: vitess-operator
+    namespace: default
+roleRef:
+  kind: ClusterRole
   name: vitess-operator
   apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
diff --git a/deploy/service_account.yaml b/deploy/service_account.yaml
index e2c0d8212..431b357b2 100644
--- a/deploy/service_account.yaml
+++ b/deploy/service_account.yaml
@@ -2,3 +2,9 @@ apiVersion: v1
 kind: ServiceAccount
 metadata:
   name: vitess-operator
+---
+apiVersion: v1
+kind: ServiceAccount
+metadata:
+  name: vitess-operator
+  namespace: example
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/endtoend/backup_restore_test.sh b/test/endtoend/backup_restore_test.sh
index 92d567fe6..c7398ca41 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/backup_restore_test.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/backup_restore_test.sh
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@ echo "Make temporary directory for the test"
 mkdir -p -m 777 ./vtdataroot/backup
 echo "Building the docker image"
 docker build -f build/Dockerfile.release -t vitess-operator-pr:latest .
-echo "Setting up the kind config"
 setupKindConfig
 createKindCluster
 
@@ -89,6 +88,7 @@ cd "$PWD/test/endtoend/operator"
 killall kubectl
 setupKubectlAccessForCI
 
+createExampleNamespace
 get_started "operator-latest.yaml" "101_initial_cluster_backup.yaml"
 verifyVtGateVersion "22.0.0"
 checkSemiSyncSetup
diff --git a/test/endtoend/backup_schedule_test.sh b/test/endtoend/backup_schedule_test.sh
index 233932899..fafece512 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/backup_schedule_test.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/backup_schedule_test.sh
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ function verifyListBackupsOutputWithSchedule() {
   for i in {1..600} ; do
     # Ensure that we can view the backup files from the host.
     docker exec -it $(docker container ls --format '{{.Names}}' | grep kind) chmod o+rwx -R /backup > /dev/null
-    backupCount=$(kubectl get vtb --no-headers | wc -l)
+    backupCount=$(kubectl get vtb -n example --no-headers | wc -l)
     echo "Found ${backupCount} backups"
     if [[ "${backupCount}" -ge 3 ]]; then
       echo -e "Check for Jobs' pods"
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ cd "$PWD/test/endtoend/operator"
 killall kubectl
 setupKubectlAccessForCI
 
+createExampleNamespace
 get_started "operator-latest.yaml" "101_initial_cluster_backup_schedule.yaml"
 verifyVtGateVersion "22.0.0"
 checkSemiSyncSetup
diff --git a/test/endtoend/hpa_test.sh b/test/endtoend/hpa_test.sh
index 4b2e79d54..61ca1eb2d 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/hpa_test.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/hpa_test.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ source ./test/endtoend/utils.sh
 
 function verifyHpaCount() {
   expectedCount=$1
-  count=$(kubectl get hpa --no-headers | wc -l)
+  count=$(kubectl get hpa -n example --no-headers | wc -l)
   if [[ "$count" -eq "$expectedCount" ]]; then
     echo "HorizontalPodAutoscaler count is $count"
     return 0
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ function verifyHpaCount() {
 function verifyHpaWithTimeout() {
   regex=$1
   for i in {1..600} ; do
-    out=$(kubectl get hpa --no-headers)
+    out=$(kubectl get hpa -n example --no-headers)
     echo "$out" | grep -E "$regex" > /dev/null 2>&1
     if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
       echo "HorizontalPodAutoscaler $regex found"
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ cd "$PWD/test/endtoend/operator"
 killall kubectl
 setupKubectlAccessForCI
 
+createExampleNamespace
 get_started "operator-latest.yaml" "101_initial_cluster_autoscale.yaml"
 verifyVtGateVersion "22.0.0"
 checkSemiSyncSetup
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster.yaml
index e0a34ed19..e38a40fdb 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   backup:
     engine: xtrabackup
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@ apiVersion: v1
 kind: Secret
 metadata:
   name: example-cluster-config
+  namespace: example
 type: Opaque
 stringData:
   users.json: |
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_autoscale.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_autoscale.yaml
index 08e19c2db..0547a8099 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_autoscale.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_autoscale.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   images:
     vtctld: vitess/lite:latest
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ apiVersion: v1
 kind: Secret
 metadata:
   name: example-cluster-config
+  namespace: example
 type: Opaque
 stringData:
   users.json: |
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_backup.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_backup.yaml
index 9c673128a..a4a04de5f 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_backup.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_backup.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   backup:
     engine: xtrabackup
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ spec:
     vtorc: vitess/lite:latest
     vtbackup: vitess/lite:latest
     mysqld:
-      mysql80Compatible: mysql:8.0.40
+      mysql80Compatible: vitess/lite:latest
     mysqldExporter: prom/mysqld-exporter:v0.14.0
   cells:
   - name: zone1
@@ -78,7 +79,6 @@ spec:
             vttablet:
               extraFlags:
                 db_charset: utf8mb4
-                wait_for_backup_interval: "0"
               resources:
                 limits:
                   memory: 512Mi
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ apiVersion: v1
 kind: Secret
 metadata:
   name: example-cluster-config
+  namespace: example
 type: Opaque
 stringData:
   users.json: |
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_backup_schedule.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_backup_schedule.yaml
index b6379901a..c2cc833a4 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_backup_schedule.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_backup_schedule.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   backup:
     engine: xtrabackup
@@ -109,7 +110,6 @@ spec:
             vttablet:
               extraFlags:
                 db_charset: utf8mb4
-                wait_for_backup_interval: "0"
               resources:
                 limits:
                   memory: 1024Mi
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ apiVersion: v1
 kind: Secret
 metadata:
   name: example-cluster-config
+  namespace: example
 type: Opaque
 stringData:
   users.json: |
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_unmanaged_tablet.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_unmanaged_tablet.yaml
index 38910e015..cb7f3ad40 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_unmanaged_tablet.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_unmanaged_tablet.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   images:
     vtctld: vitess/lite:latest
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ apiVersion: v1
 kind: Secret
 metadata:
   name: example-cluster-config
+  namespace: example
 type: Opaque
 stringData:
   users.json: |
@@ -210,6 +212,7 @@ apiVersion: v1
 kind: PersistentVolumeClaim
 metadata:
   name: mysql-pv-claim
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   accessModes:
     - ReadWriteOnce
@@ -221,6 +224,7 @@ apiVersion: v1
 kind: Service
 metadata:
   name: mysql
+  namespace: example
   labels:
     app: mysql
 spec:
@@ -234,6 +238,7 @@ apiVersion: apps/v1
 kind: Deployment
 metadata:
   name: mysql
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   replicas: 1
   selector:
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_vtorc_vtadmin.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_vtorc_vtadmin.yaml
index 8c803f007..8ccf17331 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_vtorc_vtadmin.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_vtorc_vtadmin.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   images:
     vtctld: vitess/lite:latest
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ apiVersion: v1
 kind: Secret
 metadata:
   name: example-cluster-config
+  namespace: example
 type: Opaque
 stringData:
   users.json: |
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/102_keyspace_teardown.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/102_keyspace_teardown.yaml
index e9dbcab76..199808619 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/102_keyspace_teardown.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/102_keyspace_teardown.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   backup:
     engine: xtrabackup
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/201_customer_tablets.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/201_customer_tablets.yaml
index c0565c7d9..f27a74a0a 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/201_customer_tablets.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/201_customer_tablets.yaml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   backup:
     engine: xtrabackup
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/302_new_shards.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/302_new_shards.yaml
index 2808349b8..cdf99b945 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/302_new_shards.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/302_new_shards.yaml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   backup:
     engine: xtrabackup
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/306_down_shard_0.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/306_down_shard_0.yaml
index 2cfcf5bd2..a871df4ac 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/306_down_shard_0.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/306_down_shard_0.yaml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   backup:
     engine: xtrabackup
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/401_scheduled_backups.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/401_scheduled_backups.yaml
index 221ab22ba..83c615659 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/401_scheduled_backups.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/401_scheduled_backups.yaml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   backup:
     engine: xtrabackup
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_autoscale.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_autoscale.yaml
index e36618964..d11353ed8 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_autoscale.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_autoscale.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   images:
     vtctld: vitess/lite:latest
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_upgrade.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_upgrade.yaml
index cb0216e65..a035881d3 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_upgrade.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_upgrade.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ apiVersion: planetscale.com/v2
 kind: VitessCluster
 metadata:
   name: example
+  namespace: example
 spec:
   backup:
     engine: xtrabackup
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/operator-latest.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/operator-latest.yaml
index 1c2795cdc..6829af8d2 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/operator-latest.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/operator-latest.yaml
@@ -7540,11 +7540,38 @@ spec:
 ---
 apiVersion: v1
 kind: ServiceAccount
+metadata:
+  name: vitess-operator
+  namespace: example
+---
+apiVersion: v1
+kind: ServiceAccount
 metadata:
   name: vitess-operator
 ---
 apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
 kind: Role
+metadata:
+  name: vitess-operator-backup-storage
+  namespace: example
+rules:
+  - apiGroups:
+      - planetscale.com
+    resources:
+      - vitessshards
+      - vitessshards/status
+      - vitessshards/finalizers
+      - vitessbackups
+      - vitessbackups/status
+      - vitessbackups/finalizers
+      - vitessbackupstorages
+      - vitessbackupstorages/status
+      - vitessbackupstorages/finalizers
+    verbs:
+      - '*'
+---
+apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
+kind: ClusterRole
 metadata:
   name: vitess-operator
 rules:
@@ -7634,14 +7661,29 @@ rules:
 apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
 kind: RoleBinding
 metadata:
-  name: vitess-operator
+  name: vitess-operator-backup-storage
+  namespace: example
 roleRef:
   apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
   kind: Role
+  name: vitess-operator-backup-storage
+subjects:
+  - kind: ServiceAccount
+    name: vitess-operator
+    namespace: example
+---
+apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
+kind: ClusterRoleBinding
+metadata:
+  name: vitess-operator
+roleRef:
+  apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
+  kind: ClusterRole
   name: vitess-operator
 subjects:
   - kind: ServiceAccount
     name: vitess-operator
+    namespace: default
 ---
 apiVersion: scheduling.k8s.io/v1
 description: Vitess components (vttablet, vtgate, vtctld, etcd)
@@ -7681,9 +7723,7 @@ spec:
             - vitess-operator
           env:
             - name: WATCH_NAMESPACE
-              valueFrom:
-                fieldRef:
-                  fieldPath: metadata.namespace
+              value: "default,example"
             - name: POD_NAME
               valueFrom:
                 fieldRef:
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/operator.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/operator.yaml
index c913195a1..a482d69cc 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/operator.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/operator.yaml
@@ -6841,11 +6841,38 @@ spec:
 ---
 apiVersion: v1
 kind: ServiceAccount
+metadata:
+  name: vitess-operator
+  namespace: example
+---
+apiVersion: v1
+kind: ServiceAccount
 metadata:
   name: vitess-operator
 ---
 apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
 kind: Role
+metadata:
+  name: vitess-operator-backup-storage
+  namespace: example
+rules:
+  - apiGroups:
+      - planetscale.com
+    resources:
+      - vitessshards
+      - vitessshards/status
+      - vitessshards/finalizers
+      - vitessbackups
+      - vitessbackups/status
+      - vitessbackups/finalizers
+      - vitessbackupstorages
+      - vitessbackupstorages/status
+      - vitessbackupstorages/finalizers
+    verbs:
+      - '*'
+---
+apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
+kind: ClusterRole
 metadata:
   name: vitess-operator
 rules:
@@ -6925,18 +6952,39 @@ rules:
       - jobs
     verbs:
       - '*'
+  - apiGroups:
+      - autoscaling
+    resources:
+      - horizontalpodautoscalers
+    verbs:
+      - '*'
 ---
 apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
 kind: RoleBinding
 metadata:
-  name: vitess-operator
+  name: vitess-operator-backup-storage
+  namespace: example
 roleRef:
   apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
   kind: Role
+  name: vitess-operator-backup-storage
+subjects:
+  - kind: ServiceAccount
+    name: vitess-operator
+    namespace: example
+---
+apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
+kind: ClusterRoleBinding
+metadata:
+  name: vitess-operator
+roleRef:
+  apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
+  kind: ClusterRole
   name: vitess-operator
 subjects:
   - kind: ServiceAccount
     name: vitess-operator
+    namespace: default
 ---
 apiVersion: scheduling.k8s.io/v1
 description: Vitess components (vttablet, vtgate, vtctld, etcd)
@@ -6976,9 +7024,7 @@ spec:
             - vitess-operator
           env:
             - name: WATCH_NAMESPACE
-              valueFrom:
-                fieldRef:
-                  fieldPath: metadata.namespace
+              value: "default,example"
             - name: POD_NAME
               valueFrom:
                 fieldRef:
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/pf.sh b/test/endtoend/operator/pf.sh
index 7e68135fd..a15c50849 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/pf.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/pf.sh
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-kubectl port-forward --address localhost "$(kubectl get service --selector="planetscale.com/component=vtctld" -o name | head -n1)" 15000 15999 &
+kubectl port-forward -n example --address localhost "$(kubectl get service -n example --selector="planetscale.com/component=vtctld" -o name | head -n1)" 15000 15999 &
 process_id1=$!
-kubectl port-forward --address localhost "$(kubectl get service --selector="planetscale.com/component=vtgate,!planetscale.com/cell" -o name | head -n1)" 15306:3306 &
+kubectl port-forward -n example --address localhost "$(kubectl get service -n example --selector="planetscale.com/component=vtgate,!planetscale.com/cell" -o name | head -n1)" 15306:3306 &
 process_id2=$!
 sleep 2
 echo "You may point your browser to http://localhost:15000, use the following aliases as shortcuts:"
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/pf_vtadmin.sh b/test/endtoend/operator/pf_vtadmin.sh
index 5af7a4296..e9e949cbb 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/pf_vtadmin.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/pf_vtadmin.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-kubectl port-forward --address localhost "$(kubectl get service --selector="planetscale.com/component=vtctld" -o name | head -n1)" 15000 15999 &
+kubectl port-forward -n example --address localhost "$(kubectl get service -n example --selector="planetscale.com/component=vtctld" -o name | head -n1)" 15000 15999 &
 process_id1=$!
-kubectl port-forward --address localhost "$(kubectl get service --selector="planetscale.com/component=vtgate,!planetscale.com/cell" -o name | head -n1)" 15306:3306 &
+kubectl port-forward -n example --address localhost "$(kubectl get service -n example --selector="planetscale.com/component=vtgate,!planetscale.com/cell" -o name | head -n1)" 15306:3306 &
 process_id2=$!
-kubectl port-forward --address localhost "$(kubectl get service --selector="planetscale.com/component=vtadmin" -o name | head -n1)" 14000:15000 14001:15001 &
+kubectl port-forward -n example --address localhost "$(kubectl get service -n example --selector="planetscale.com/component=vtadmin" -o name | head -n1)" 14000:15000 14001:15001 &
 process_id3=$!
 sleep 2
 echo "You may point your browser to http://localhost:15000, use the following aliases as shortcuts:"
diff --git a/test/endtoend/unmanaged_tablet_test.sh b/test/endtoend/unmanaged_tablet_test.sh
index 89ca66888..f9931d08d 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/unmanaged_tablet_test.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/unmanaged_tablet_test.sh
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ cd "$PWD/test/endtoend/operator"
 killall kubectl
 setupKubectlAccessForCI
 
+createExampleNamespace
+
 # Check Unmanaged tablet is running properly
 get_started_unmanaged
 
diff --git a/test/endtoend/upgrade_test.sh b/test/endtoend/upgrade_test.sh
index 4aca2c50b..987bd304d 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/upgrade_test.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/upgrade_test.sh
@@ -190,14 +190,14 @@ function scheduledBackups() {
   checkVitessBackupScheduleStatusWithTimeout "example-vbsc-customer(.*)"
 
   docker exec -it $(docker container ls --format '{{.Names}}' | grep kind) chmod o+rwx -R /backup > /dev/null
-  initialCommerceBackups=$(kubectl get vtb --no-headers | grep "commerce-x-x" | wc -l)
-  initialCustomerFirstShardBackups=$(kubectl get vtb --no-headers | grep "customer-x-80" | wc -l)
-  initialCustomerSecondShardBackups=$(kubectl get vtb --no-headers | grep "customer-80-x" | wc -l)
+  initialCommerceBackups=$(kubectl get vtb -n example --no-headers | grep "commerce-x-x" | wc -l)
+  initialCustomerFirstShardBackups=$(kubectl get vtb -n example --no-headers | grep "customer-x-80" | wc -l)
+  initialCustomerSecondShardBackups=$(kubectl get vtb -n example --no-headers | grep "customer-80-x" | wc -l)
 
   for i in {1..60} ; do
-    commerceBackups=$(kubectl get vtb --no-headers | grep "commerce-x-x" | wc -l)
-    customerFirstShardBackups=$(kubectl get vtb --no-headers | grep "customer-x-80" | wc -l)
-    customerSecondShardBackups=$(kubectl get vtb --no-headers | grep "customer-80-x" | wc -l)
+    commerceBackups=$(kubectl get vtb -n example --no-headers | grep "commerce-x-x" | wc -l)
+    customerFirstShardBackups=$(kubectl get vtb -n example --no-headers | grep "customer-x-80" | wc -l)
+    customerSecondShardBackups=$(kubectl get vtb -n example --no-headers | grep "customer-80-x" | wc -l)
 
     if [[ "${customerFirstShardBackups}" -ge $(( initialCustomerFirstShardBackups + 2 )) && "${customerSecondShardBackups}" -ge $(( initialCustomerSecondShardBackups + 2 )) && "${commerceBackups}" -ge $(( initialCommerceBackups + 2 )) ]]; then
       echo "Found all backups"
@@ -281,6 +281,7 @@ cd "$PWD/test/endtoend/operator"
 killall kubectl
 setupKubectlAccessForCI
 
+createExampleNamespace
 get_started "operator.yaml" "101_initial_cluster.yaml"
 verifyVtGateVersion "21.0.0"
 checkSemiSyncSetup
diff --git a/test/endtoend/utils.sh b/test/endtoend/utils.sh
index 9701e50f9..822ef0532 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/utils.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/utils.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ alias mysql="mysql -h 127.0.0.1 -P 15306 -u user"
 BUILDKITE_BUILD_ID=${BUILDKITE_BUILD_ID:-"0"}
 
 function checkSemiSyncSetup() {
-  for vttablet in $(kubectl get pods --no-headers -o custom-columns=":metadata.name" | grep "vttablet") ; do
+  for vttablet in $(kubectl get pods -n example --no-headers -o custom-columns=":metadata.name" | grep "vttablet") ; do
     echo "Checking semi-sync in $vttablet"
     checkSemiSyncWithRetry "$vttablet"
   done
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ function checkSemiSyncSetup() {
 function checkSemiSyncWithRetry() {
   vttablet=$1
   for i in {1..600} ; do
-    kubectl exec "$vttablet" -c mysqld -- mysql -S "/vt/socket/mysql.sock" -u root -e "show variables like 'rpl_semi_sync_%_enabled'" | grep "ON"
+    kubectl exec -n example "$vttablet" -c mysqld -- mysql -S "/vt/socket/mysql.sock" -u root -e "show variables like 'rpl_semi_sync_%_enabled'" | grep "ON"
     if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
       return
     fi
@@ -55,28 +55,28 @@ function runSQLWithRetry() {
 }
 
 function printMysqlErrorFiles() {
-  for vttablet in $(kubectl get pods --no-headers -o custom-columns=":metadata.name" | grep "vttablet") ; do
+  for vttablet in $(kubectl get pods -n example --no-headers -o custom-columns=":metadata.name" | grep "vttablet") ; do
     echo "Finding error.log file in $vttablet"
-    kubectl logs "$vttablet" -c mysqld
-    kubectl logs "$vttablet" -c vttablet
+    kubectl logs -n example "$vttablet" -c mysqld
+    kubectl logs -n example "$vttablet" -c vttablet
   done
 }
 
 function printBackupLogFiles() {
-  for vtbackup in $(kubectl get pods --no-headers -o custom-columns=":metadata.name" | grep "vtbackup") ; do
+  for vtbackup in $(kubectl get pods -n example --no-headers -o custom-columns=":metadata.name" | grep "vtbackup") ; do
     echo "Printing logs of $vtbackup"
-    kubectl logs "$vtbackup"
+    kubectl logs -n example "$vtbackup"
     echo "Description of $vtbackup"
-    kubectl describe pod "$vtbackup"
+    kubectl describe pod -n example "$vtbackup"
     echo "User in $vtbackup"
-    kubectl exec "$vtbackup" -- whoami
+    kubectl exec -n example "$vtbackup" -- whoami
   done
 }
 
 function removeBackupFiles() {
-  for vttablet in $(kubectl get pods --no-headers -o custom-columns=":metadata.name" | grep "vttablet") ; do
+  for vttablet in $(kubectl get pods -n example --no-headers -o custom-columns=":metadata.name" | grep "vttablet") ; do
     echo "Removing backup files using $vttablet"
-    kubectl exec "$vttablet" -c vttablet -- rm -rf /vt/backups/example
+    kubectl exec -n example "$vttablet" -c vttablet -- rm -rf /vt/backups/example
     return 0
   done
 }
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ function removeBackupFiles() {
 # $1: keyspace-shard for which the backup needs to be taken
 function takeBackup() {
   keyspaceShard=$1
-  initialBackupCount=$(kubectl get vtb --no-headers | wc -l)
+  initialBackupCount=$(kubectl get vtb -n example --no-headers | wc -l)
   finalBackupCount=$((initialBackupCount+1))
 
   # Issue the BackupShard command to vtctldclient.
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ function verifyListBackupsOutput() {
   for i in {1..30} ; do
     # Ensure that we can view the backup files from the host.
     docker exec -it $(docker container ls --format '{{.Names}}' | grep kind) chmod o+rwx -R /backup > /dev/null
-    backupCount=$(kubectl get vtb --no-headers | wc -l)
+    backupCount=$(kubectl get vtb -n example --no-headers | wc -l)
     out=$(vtctldclient GetBackups "$keyspaceShard" | wc -l)
     echo "$out" | grep "$backupCount" > /dev/null 2>&1
     if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ function checkPodStatusWithTimeout() {
   # We use this for loop instead of `kubectl wait` because we don't have access to the full pod name
   # and `kubectl wait` does not support regex to match resource name.
   for i in {1..1200} ; do
-    out=$(kubectl get pods)
+    out=$(kubectl get pods -A)
     echo "$out" | grep -E "$regex" | wc -l | grep "$nb" > /dev/null 2>&1
     if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
       echo "$regex found"
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ function checkPodExistWithTimeout() {
   # We use this for loop instead of `kubectl wait` because we don't have access to the full pod name
   # and `kubectl wait` does not support regex to match resource name.
   for i in {1..1200} ; do
-    out=$(kubectl get pods)
+    out=$(kubectl get pods -A)
     echo "$out" | grep -E "$regex" > /dev/null 2>&1
     if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
       echo "$regex found"
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ function checkPodExistWithTimeout() {
 function ensurePodResourcesSet() {
   regex=$1
 
-  baseCmd='kubectl get pods -o custom-columns="NAME:metadata.name,CONTAINERS:spec.containers[*].name,RESOURCE:spec.containers[*].resources'
+  baseCmd='kubectl get pods -A -o custom-columns="NAME:metadata.name,CONTAINERS:spec.containers[*].name,RESOURCE:spec.containers[*].resources'
 
   # We don't check for .limits.cpu because it is usually unset
   for resource in '.limits.memory"' '.requests.cpu"' '.requests.memory"' ; do
@@ -211,8 +211,8 @@ function insertWithRetry() {
 
 function verifyVtGateVersion() {
   version=$1
-  podName=$(kubectl get pods --no-headers -o custom-columns=":metadata.name" | grep "vtgate")
-  data=$(kubectl logs "$podName" | head)
+  podName=$(kubectl get pods -n example --no-headers -o custom-columns=":metadata.name" | grep "vtgate")
+  data=$(kubectl logs -n example "$podName" | head)
   echo "$data" | grep "$version" > /dev/null 2>&1
   if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]; then
     echo -e "The vtgate version is incorrect, expected: $version, got:\n$data"
@@ -270,10 +270,10 @@ function verifyCustomSidecarDBName() {
     selector="app=mysql"
   fi 
   local pods pod
-  pods=$(kubectl get pods --no-headers --selector="${selector}" -o custom-columns=":metadata.name")
+  pods=$(kubectl get pods -n example --no-headers --selector="${selector}" -o custom-columns=":metadata.name")
   for pod in $(echo "${pods}"); do
     local sdb
-    sdb=$(eval "kubectl exec ${pod} ${container} -- ${mysqlCMD}")
+    sdb=$(eval "kubectl exec -n example ${pod} ${container} -- ${mysqlCMD}")
     if [[ "${sdb}" != "${db_name}" ]]; then
       echo "Custom sidecar DB name ${db_name} not being used in ${pod} pod"
       exit 1
@@ -343,6 +343,7 @@ function setupKubectlAccessForCI() {
 }
 
 function setupKindConfig() {
+  echo "Setting up the kind config"
   if [[ "$BUILDKITE_BUILD_ID" != "0" ]]; then
     # The script is being run from buildkite, so we can't mount the current
     # working directory to kind. The current directory in the docker is workdir
@@ -364,6 +365,11 @@ function createKindCluster() {
   kind load docker-image vitess-operator-pr:latest --name kind-${BUILDKITE_BUILD_ID}
 }
 
+function createExampleNamespace() {
+  echo "Creating the example namespace"
+  kubectl create namespace example
+}
+
 # get_started:
 # $1: operator file to use
 # $2: initial config file to use
@@ -450,7 +456,7 @@ function checkVitessBackupScheduleStatusWithTimeout() {
   regex=$1
 
   for i in {1..1200} ; do
-    if [[ $(kubectl get VitessBackupSchedule | grep -E "${regex}" | wc -l) -eq 1 ]]; then
+    if [[ $(kubectl get VitessBackupSchedule -n example | grep -E "${regex}" | wc -l) -eq 1 ]]; then
       echo "$regex found"
       return
     fi
diff --git a/test/endtoend/vtorc_vtadmin_test.sh b/test/endtoend/vtorc_vtadmin_test.sh
index fd1d51ece..0c02d5ae7 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/vtorc_vtadmin_test.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/vtorc_vtadmin_test.sh
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ cd "$PWD/test/endtoend/operator"
 killall kubectl
 setupKubectlAccessForCI
 
+createExampleNamespace
 get_started_vtorc_vtadmin
 verifyVtGateVersion "22.0.0"
 checkSemiSyncSetup
diff --git a/test/integration/framework/main.go b/test/integration/framework/main.go
index 162eb72df..38553aa3f 100644
--- a/test/integration/framework/main.go
+++ b/test/integration/framework/main.go
@@ -152,6 +152,10 @@ func testMain(tests func() int) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot create default ServiceAccount: %v\n%s", err, out)
 	}
 
+	if out, err := execKubectl("create", "namespace", "example"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cannot create the example namespace: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+
 	// Install vitess-operator base files, but not the Deployment itself.
 	files := []string{
 		"service_account.yaml",
@@ -189,7 +193,7 @@ func testMain(tests func() int) error {
 
 	// Set env vars that vitess-operator expects, to simulate the values
 	// provided in deploy/operator.yaml.
-	os.Setenv("WATCH_NAMESPACE", "default")
+	os.Setenv("WATCH_NAMESPACE", "default,example")
 	os.Setenv("POD_NAME", "vitess-operator")
 	os.Setenv("PS_OPERATOR_POD_NAMESPACE", "default")
 	os.Setenv("PS_OPERATOR_POD_NAME", "vitess-operator")