diff --git a/config.default.js b/config.default.js
index 2ee7a508f..8a8c93ecc 100644
--- a/config.default.js
+++ b/config.default.js
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ if (process.env.VCAP_SERVICES) {
     port:     27017,
     url:      '"mongodb://localhost:27017/db',
     username: 'admin',
+    ssl:      false
   };
 }
 
@@ -32,6 +33,9 @@ module.exports = {
     server: process.env.ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_SERVER  || mongo.host,
     port:   process.env.ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_PORT    || mongo.port,
 
+    //useSSL: connect to the server using secure SSL
+    useSSL: process.env.ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_SSL || mongo.ssl,
+
     //autoReconnect: automatically reconnect if connection is lost
     autoReconnect: true,