diff --git a/backend/common/src/env_settings.py b/backend/common/src/env_settings.py
index 6133aaa2..f0ef0c98 100644
--- a/backend/common/src/env_settings.py
+++ b/backend/common/src/env_settings.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Functionality:
 - encapsulate persistence of application properties
 """
 
+import os.path
 from os import environ
 
 try:
@@ -15,6 +16,31 @@ except ModuleNotFoundError:
     pass
 
 
+def get_password_from_file(env_var_name) -> str:
+    """get password from file"""
+
+    env_var_file: str = env_var_name + "_FILE"
+
+    env_var_name_val = environ.get(env_var_name)
+    env_var_path_val = environ.get(env_var_file)
+
+    if env_var_name_val is not None:
+        return str(env_var_name_val)
+
+    elif env_var_path_val is not None:
+        if os.path.isfile(str(env_var_path_val)):
+            with open(
+                file=str(env_var_path_val), mode="r", encoding="utf-8"
+            ) as file:
+                return file.read()
+        else:
+            print(f"{env_var_file} file: {env_var_path_val} does not exist")
+    else:
+        print(f"either {env_var_name} or {env_var_file} must be set")
+
+    return ""
+
+
 class EnvironmentSettings:
     """
     Handle settings for the application that are driven from the environment.
@@ -29,7 +55,7 @@ class EnvironmentSettings:
     TA_PORT: int = int(environ.get("TA_PORT", False))
     TA_BACKEND_PORT: int = int(environ.get("TA_BACKEND_PORT", False))
     TA_USERNAME: str = str(environ.get("TA_USERNAME"))
-    TA_PASSWORD: str = str(environ.get("TA_PASSWORD"))
+    TA_PASSWORD: str = get_password_from_file("TA_PASSWORD")
 
     # Application Paths
     MEDIA_DIR: str = str(environ.get("TA_MEDIA_DIR", "/youtube"))
@@ -42,7 +68,7 @@ class EnvironmentSettings:
 
     # ElasticSearch
     ES_URL: str = str(environ.get("ES_URL"))
-    ES_PASS: str = str(environ.get("ELASTIC_PASSWORD"))
+    ES_PASS: str = get_password_from_file("ELASTIC_PASSWORD")
     ES_USER: str = str(environ.get("ELASTIC_USER", "elastic"))
     ES_SNAPSHOT_DIR: str = str(
         environ.get(