diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fa18df6..7b7d0fd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,6 +8,61 @@ Kue based job queue for sails v1.1.0+. Its a wrapper around [**Kue**](https://au
 
 [**Kue**](https://automattic.github.io/kue/) (it will install itself)
 
+[**ioredis**](https://github.com/redis/ioredis) (required for TLS / `rediss://` connections — install as a peer dependency: `npm install ioredis`)
+
 ### Installation and Setup guide
 
 Please check [this blog](https://www.logisticinfotech.com/blog/easiest-way-to-create-job-queue-in-sails-with-sails-hook-job-queue/) for step by step guide.
+
+### Redis Configuration
+
+Set `sails.config.redis_url` (env: `sails_redis_url`) to your Redis connection string:
+
+```js
+// config/env/production.js
+module.exports = {
+  redis_url: 'rediss://user:password@host:port/0',
+};
+```
+
+#### Connection Modes
+
+| URL scheme | `redis_cluster_mode` | Behavior |
+|------------|---------------------|----------|
+| `redis://`  | (ignored) | Plain Redis — URL passed directly to kue |
+| `rediss://` | unset / `false` (default) | **Standalone ioredis with TLS** — correct for most managed providers |
+| `rediss://` | `true` | **ioredis Cluster with TLS** — for clustered deployments only |
+
+**Default behavior for `rediss://` is standalone mode.** This works with:
+
+- DigitalOcean Managed Valkey / Redis
+- Redis Cloud (Essentials & Pro non-cluster)
+- Upstash
+- AWS ElastiCache (cluster mode disabled)
+- Azure Cache for Redis (Basic / Standard)
+
+Only enable cluster mode if your provider explicitly runs Redis in cluster topology:
+
+```js
+// config/env/production.js
+module.exports = {
+  redis_url: 'rediss://user:password@host:port/0',
+  redis_cluster_mode: true, // Only for clustered deployments (e.g., Azure Premium with clustering)
+};
+```
+
+#### TLS Certificate Verification
+
+By default, TLS connections verify server certificates. To disable verification (e.g., self-signed certs in development):
+
+```js
+module.exports = {
+  redis_url: 'rediss://...',
+  redis_tls_reject_unauthorized: false, // Default: true
+};
+```
+
+### Breaking Changes in 0.1.0
+
+- **`rediss://` URLs now default to standalone mode** instead of cluster mode. If you were relying on the previous behavior where all `rediss://` connections used `ioredis.Cluster`, set `sails.config.redis_cluster_mode = true` to restore it.
+- **`rejectUnauthorized` now defaults to `true`** for TLS connections. Set `sails.config.redis_tls_reject_unauthorized = false` if you need the old behavior.
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index bcbb381..de9d84a 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -35,94 +35,150 @@ module.exports = function jobqueue(sails) {
     }
   };
 
+  /**
+   * Attach kue-specific methods that the kue library expects on the client.
+   * Required for both standalone and cluster Redis clients.
+   */
+  function attachKueMethods(client) {
+    client.prefix = 'q';
+    client.getKey = function(key) {
+      return this.prefix + ':' + key;
+    };
+    client.createFIFO = function(id) {
+      var idLen = '' + id.toString().length;
+      var len = 2 - idLen.length;
+      while (len--) idLen = '0' + idLen;
+      return idLen + '|' + id;
+    };
+    client.stripFIFO = function(zid) {
+      if (typeof zid === 'string') {
+        return +zid.substr(zid.indexOf('|') + 1);
+      }
+      return zid;
+    };
+    return client;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Create a standalone ioredis client with TLS for rediss:// URLs.
+   * Works with: DO Managed Valkey, Redis Cloud, Upstash,
+   * AWS ElastiCache (non-cluster), Azure Redis Basic/Standard.
+   */
+  function createStandaloneClient(redis_url) {
+    sails.log.info('Kue Redis: using ioredis standalone with TLS');
+
+    var client = new Redis(redis_url, {
+      tls: {
+        rejectUnauthorized: sails.config.redis_tls_reject_unauthorized !== false
+      },
+      maxRetriesPerRequest: 3,
+      enableOfflineQueue: true,
+      enableReadyCheck: true
+    });
+
+    client.on('ready', function() {
+      sails.log.info('Kue Redis standalone ready');
+    });
+    client.on('connect', function() {
+      sails.log.info('Kue Redis standalone connected');
+    });
+    client.on('error', function(err) {
+      sails.log.error('Kue Redis standalone error:', err);
+    });
+
+    return attachKueMethods(client);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Create an ioredis Cluster client for clustered Redis/Valkey deployments.
+   * Works with: Azure Redis Premium (clustering enabled),
+   * AWS ElastiCache (cluster mode enabled).
+   */
+  function createClusterClient(redis_url) {
+    var urlObj = new URL(redis_url);
+
+    sails.log.info('Kue Redis: using ioredis Cluster with TLS');
+
+    var client = new Redis.Cluster([
+      {
+        host: urlObj.hostname,
+        port: parseInt(urlObj.port) || 6380
+      }
+    ], {
+      redisOptions: {
+        password: urlObj.password ? decodeURIComponent(urlObj.password) : '',
+        tls: {
+          rejectUnauthorized: sails.config.redis_tls_reject_unauthorized !== false
+        }
+      },
+      enableOfflineQueue: true,
+      maxRetriesPerRequest: 3,
+      clusterRetryStrategy: function(times) {
+        if (times > 10) {
+          return null;
+        }
+        return Math.min(times * 50, 1000);
+      },
+      enableReadyCheck: true
+    });
+
+    client.on('ready', function() {
+      sails.log.info('Kue Redis Cluster ready');
+    });
+    client.on('connect', function() {
+      sails.log.info('Kue Redis Cluster connected');
+    });
+    client.on('error', function(err) {
+      if (err.message && !err.message.includes('MOVED') && !err.message.includes('ASK')) {
+        sails.log.error('Kue Redis Cluster error:', err);
+      }
+    });
+
+    return attachKueMethods(client);
+  }
+
   function initJobQueue() {
     // Create job queue on Jobs service
     var processors = Jobs._processors;
     var redis_url = sails.config.redis_url ? sails.config.redis_url : 'redis://127.0.0.1:6379';
 
-    // Handle SSL connections (rediss://)
+    // Determine Redis connection mode:
+    //   sails.config.redis_cluster_mode = true  → use ioredis.Cluster (opt-in)
+    //   sails.config.redis_cluster_mode = false or unset → use standalone ioredis
+    //
+    // TLS is determined by the URL scheme (rediss:// vs redis://), NOT by topology.
+    // Cluster mode is orthogonal to TLS — most managed Redis/Valkey providers use
+    // TLS without clustering (DO Valkey, Redis Cloud Essentials, Upstash, Azure Basic/Standard).
+    var useCluster = sails.config.redis_cluster_mode === true || sails.config.redis_cluster_mode === 'true';
     var redisConfig;
+
     if (redis_url.startsWith('rediss://')) {
-      try {
-        if (!Redis || !Redis.Cluster) {
-          throw new Error('ioredis is required for SSL Redis connections. Please install: npm install ioredis');
+      if (!Redis) {
+        sails.log.error('Kue Redis: ioredis is required for rediss:// (TLS) connections. Install: npm install ioredis');
+        // Fallback to non-SSL (will likely fail but better than crashing without explanation)
+        redisConfig = redis_url.replace('rediss://', 'redis://');
+      } else if (useCluster) {
+        // Cluster mode — opt-in for clustered Redis deployments
+        try {
+          redisConfig = {
+            createClientFactory: function() {
+              return createClusterClient(redis_url);
+            }
+          };
+        } catch (e) {
+          sails.log.error('Kue Redis: Cluster client creation failed:', e.message);
+          redisConfig = redis_url.replace('rediss://', 'redis://');
         }
-
+      } else {
+        // Standalone mode — default for non-clustered TLS providers
         redisConfig = {
           createClientFactory: function() {
-            var urlObj = new URL(redis_url);
-
-            sails.log.info('Using ioredis Cluster for Azure Redis Cache with SSL');
-
-            // Use Redis.Cluster - it handles MOVED redirects automatically and uses callbacks natively
-            var client = new Redis.Cluster([
-              {
-                host: urlObj.hostname,
-                port: parseInt(urlObj.port) || 6380
-              }
-            ], {
-              redisOptions: {
-                password: urlObj.password ? decodeURIComponent(urlObj.password) : '',
-                tls: {
-                  rejectUnauthorized: false // Set to true in production with proper certificates
-                }
-              },
-              // Cluster options
-              enableOfflineQueue: true, // Allow commands to queue while cluster is connecting
-              maxRetriesPerRequest: 3,
-              clusterRetryStrategy: function(times) {
-                if (times > 10) {
-                  return null;
-                }
-                return Math.min(times * 50, 1000);
-              },
-              enableReadyCheck: true
-            });
-
-            // Set up event listeners
-            client.on('ready', function() {
-              sails.log.info('Kue Redis Cluster ready');
-            });
-            client.on('connect', function() {
-              sails.log.info('Kue Redis Cluster connected');
-            });
-            client.on('error', function(err) {
-              // Don't log MOVED/ASK errors as they're handled automatically
-              if (err.message && !err.message.includes('MOVED') && !err.message.includes('ASK')) {
-                sails.log.error('Kue Redis Cluster error:', err);
-              }
-            });
-
-            // Add kue-specific methods that it expects
-            client.prefix = 'q';
-            client.getKey = function(key) {
-              return this.prefix + ':' + key;
-            };
-            client.createFIFO = function(id) {
-              var idLen = '' + id.toString().length;
-              var len = 2 - idLen.length;
-              while (len--) idLen = '0' + idLen;
-              return idLen + '|' + id;
-            };
-            client.stripFIFO = function(zid) {
-              if (typeof zid === 'string') {
-                return +zid.substr(zid.indexOf('|') + 1);
-              }
-              return zid;
-            };
-
-            // Return the client directly - ioredis uses callbacks natively which is what kue expects
-            return client;
+            return createStandaloneClient(redis_url);
           }
         };
-
-        sails.log.info('Kue Redis SSL: Using ioredis Cluster (simplified)');
-      } catch (e) {
-        sails.log.error('Error setting up Redis SSL client:', e);
-        // Fallback to non-SSL (will likely fail but better than crashing)
-        redisConfig = redis_url.replace('rediss://', 'redis://');
       }
     } else {
+      // Plain redis:// — pass URL directly, no TLS
       redisConfig = redis_url;
     }
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 12cf4b7..edde2e5 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@logisticinfotech/sails-hook-job-queue",
-  "version": "0.0.12",
+  "version": "0.1.0",
   "description": "sails hook for job-queue with kue",
   "main": "index.js",
   "scripts": {