How to Set Up an SSH Tunnel for Local Database Access

📰 Dev.to · Rabinarayan Patra

Learn to set up an SSH tunnel for secure local database access and protect your Postgres port from exposure

intermediate Published 28 May 2026

Action Steps

Set up an SSH server on your remote machine using a tool like OpenSSH
Generate a private and public key pair using ssh-keygen to authenticate your SSH connection
Configure your SSH client to connect to the remote server and forward the Postgres port to your local machine
Use the ssh command with the -L option to create a tunnel and forward the port
Test your SSH tunnel by connecting to your local Postgres instance using a tool like psql

Who Needs to Know This

Developers and DevOps engineers can benefit from this tutorial to secure their database access and prevent potential ransomware attacks

Key Insight

💡 Exposing your Postgres port directly to the internet can lead to ransomware attacks, but an SSH tunnel can provide a secure alternative