diff --git a/.env b/.env
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d0330008
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+MYSQL_USER=dvna
+MYSQL_DATABASE=dvna
+MYSQL_PASSWORD=passw0rd
+MYSQL_HOST=127.0.0.1
+MYSQL_PORT=3306
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4f04de66..9b6facbc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -107,15 +107,10 @@ Clone the repository
 git clone https://github.com/appsecco/dvna; cd dvna
 ```
 
-Configure the environment variables with your database information
+Configure the environment variables with your database information and node version
 
-```bash
-export MYSQL_USER=dvna
-export MYSQL_DATABASE=dvna
-export MYSQL_PASSWORD=passw0rd
-export MYSQL_HOST=127.0.0.1
-export MYSQL_PORT=3306
-```
+1. Required Node Version v18.20.5
+2. Configure your .env variables
 
 Install Dependencies
 
diff --git a/config/db.js b/config/db.js
index ed3ea58b..51730e0d 100644
--- a/config/db.js
+++ b/config/db.js
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+require('dotenv').config(); // Load environment variables from .env file
+
 module.exports = {
   username: process.env.MYSQL_USER,
   password: process.env.MYSQL_PASSWORD,
@@ -5,4 +7,4 @@ module.exports = {
   host: process.env.MYSQL_HOST || 'mysql-db',
   port: process.env.MYSQL_PORT || 3306,
   dialect: 'mysql'
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+};
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7841e55c..782e66ed 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -13,8 +13,9 @@
   "author": "sns",
   "license": "MIT",
   "dependencies": {
-    "bcrypt": "^1.0.3",
+    "bcrypt": "latest",
     "csurf": "^1.9.0",
+    "dotenv": "^16.4.5",
     "ejs": "^2.5.7",
     "express": "^4.16.2",
     "express-fileupload": "^0.4.0",
@@ -25,12 +26,13 @@
     "mathjs": "3.10.1",
     "md5": "^2.2.1",
     "morgan": "^1.9.0",
-    "mysql2": "^1.4.2",
+    "mysql2": "^3.11.3",
     "node-serialize": "0.0.4",
     "passport": "^0.4.0",
     "passport-local": "^1.0.0",
     "sequelize": "^4.13.10",
     "winston": "^3.0.0",
     "x-xss-protection": "^1.1.0"
-  }
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {}
 }