diff --git a/backend/data_manager_v2.py b/backend/data_manager_v2.py
index 1d210ee..e1a07ad 100644
--- a/backend/data_manager_v2.py
+++ b/backend/data_manager_v2.py
@@ -200,9 +200,21 @@ class DataManager:
 
     def sql_conn(self):
         import pyodbc
+        driver = os.getenv("SQL_DRIVER")
+        if not driver:
+            installed = pyodbc.drivers()
+            if "ODBC Driver 18 for SQL Server" in installed:
+                driver = "ODBC Driver 18 for SQL Server"
+            elif "ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server" in installed:
+                driver = "ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server"
+            elif "FreeTDS" in installed:
+                driver = "FreeTDS"
+            else:
+                driver = "SQL Server"
         conn_str = (
-            f"DRIVER={{SQL Server}};SERVER={self.sql_server};"
-            f"DATABASE={self.sql_db};UID={self.sql_user};PWD={self.sql_pass}"
+            f"DRIVER={{{driver}}};SERVER={self.sql_server};"
+            f"DATABASE={self.sql_db};UID={self.sql_user};PWD={self.sql_pass};"
+            "Encrypt=no;TrustServerCertificate=yes;"
         )
         return pyodbc.connect(conn_str)