diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8e297b6c8f..fc6c2bd237 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ The table below describes the existing files in the `./front-end` folder:
 
 ## Database setup
 
-1. Set up a new PostgreSQL database instance by following the instructions in the "PostgreSQL: Creating & Installing Databases" lesson.
+1. Set up a new PostgreSQL database instance by following the instructions in the "PostgreSQL: Creating & Installing Databases" lesson.  Make sure to append `?ssl=true` to the end of the URL to ensure a secure connection
 1. After setting up your database instance, connect DBeaver to your new database instances by following the instructions in the "PostgreSQL: Installing DBeaver" lesson.
 
 ### Knex