diff --git a/.env.sample b/.env.sample
index 8ebbd4fa..b9cbfb67 100644
--- a/.env.sample
+++ b/.env.sample
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ SMTP_HOST=your.smtpserver.com
 SMTP_PORT=587
 SMTP_USER=yoursmtpuser
 SMTP_PASS=yoursmtppassword
+SMTP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false
 ADMIN_EMAIL=adminaccountemail@example.com
 EMAIL_SENDER=automatedemailfromaddress@example.com
 HOME_URL=your.domain.com
diff --git a/ON_PREM_DEPLOYMENT.md b/ON_PREM_DEPLOYMENT.md
index 0a8d7e1c..e5332453 100644
--- a/ON_PREM_DEPLOYMENT.md
+++ b/ON_PREM_DEPLOYMENT.md
@@ -122,6 +122,12 @@ Nginx Proxy Manager should not be exposed to the internet. It is recommended to
 
 Find the container ID of the mongo container with `docker ps` and then run `docker exec -it <container-id> /bin/bash` to get a terminal within the container. From there you can run `mongosh` to connect to the database.
 
+Alternatively, you can download [mongosh](https://www.mongodb.com/try/download/shell) and connect directly as:
+
+```
+mongosh "mongodb://127.0.0.1:27017/dpdmongo?directConnection=true&serverSelectionTimeoutMS=2000&appName=mongosh+2.3.8"
+```
+
 ### 2. Importing charts, configs, users
 
 Due to Gnar company's changes in database structure, [this](https://github.com/AMP-SCZ/utility/blob/f84e3d5a211d5e10020c670994dd78e79f07fb17/dpdash_ci_cd/dpdash_ci_cd.sh#L22-L29) method of `mongoimport` no longer works. The new method is:
@@ -145,9 +151,6 @@ The trailing JSONs can be obtained from rc-predict.partners.org's `mongoexport`.
    
 </details>
 
-```
-
-```
 
 ### 2. Importing data
 
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 846b09bc..0bfe1811 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ services:
     networks:
       - app-tier
     # Expose port for Nginx Proxy Manager to access
-    expose:
-      - 8000
+    ports:
+      - 8000:8000
     environment:
       - HOME_URL=https://dpdash.local
 
diff --git a/server/mailer/BaseMailer.js b/server/mailer/BaseMailer.js
index b135a2ac..df856c6e 100644
--- a/server/mailer/BaseMailer.js
+++ b/server/mailer/BaseMailer.js
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ export default class BaseMailer {
               user: process.env.SMTP_USER,
               pass: process.env.SMTP_PASS,
             },
+            tls: {
+              // to not fail on invalid certs:
+              // set SMTP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false in .env file
+              rejectUnauthorized: process.env.SMTP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED == 'true',
+            },
           })
 
           return await transporter.sendMail({
diff --git a/server/services/FiltersService/index.js b/server/services/FiltersService/index.js
index a9b12570..dd8eb500 100644
--- a/server/services/FiltersService/index.js
+++ b/server/services/FiltersService/index.js
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ export const FILTER_TO_MONGO_VALUE_MAP = {
   Missing: null,
   Recruited: 'recruited',
   'Not recruited': 'not recruited',
-  Excluded: 0,
   Male: 1,
   Female: 2,
 }