diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5e43e571..940a3afb 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
     - Connection timeout errors now include the URL and suggest increasing timeout parameter
     - Connection errors provide actionable steps like checking internet connection and increasing retries
     - Network errors include clear failure reasons and suggested actions
-    - HTTP response errors now include status code and reason.
+    - HTTP response errors now include status code and reason
+  - Changed default value of `verify_ssl` to `True`
 
 * `lobster-python`:
   - Added system test infrastructure and Bazel targets under `tests_system/lobster_python`.
diff --git a/lobster/tools/codebeamer/codebeamer.py b/lobster/tools/codebeamer/codebeamer.py
index e14baedd..6dc63f1a 100755
--- a/lobster/tools/codebeamer/codebeamer.py
+++ b/lobster/tools/codebeamer/codebeamer.py
@@ -157,7 +157,9 @@ def query_cb_single(cb_config: Config, url: str):
             f"Reason: {ex}\n"
             "\nPossible actions:\n"
             "• Check internet connection\n"
-            "• Increase retries using 'num_request_retry'"
+            "• Increase retries using 'num_request_retry'\n"
+            "• Check SSL certificates or disable verification by setting "
+            f"'{SupportedConfigKeys.VERIFY_SSL.value}' to false"
         ) from ex
 
     except RequestException as ex:
@@ -507,7 +509,7 @@ def parse_config_data(data: dict) -> Config:
         references=ensure_list(data.get(SupportedConfigKeys.REFS.value, [])),
         import_tagged=data.get(SupportedConfigKeys.IMPORT_TAGGED.value),
         import_query=data.get(SupportedConfigKeys.IMPORT_QUERY.value),
-        verify_ssl=data.get(SupportedConfigKeys.VERIFY_SSL.value, False),
+        verify_ssl=data.get(SupportedConfigKeys.VERIFY_SSL.value, True),
         page_size=data.get(SupportedConfigKeys.PAGE_SIZE.value, 100),
         schema=data.get(SupportedConfigKeys.SCHEMA.value, "Requirement"),
         timeout=data.get(SupportedConfigKeys.TIMEOUT.value, 30),
diff --git a/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/lobster_codebeamer_test_runner.py b/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/lobster_codebeamer_test_runner.py
index 703fc8e0..36632467 100644
--- a/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/lobster_codebeamer_test_runner.py
+++ b/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/lobster_codebeamer_test_runner.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class ConfigFileData:
     page_size: Optional[int] = None
     num_request_retry: Optional[int] = None
     retry_error_codes: Optional[List[int]] = None
+    verify_ssl: Optional[bool] = None
 
     def set_default_root_token_out(self):
         self.root = f"https://localhost:{PORT}"
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ def append_if_not_none(key, value):
         append_if_not_none("page_size", self.page_size)
         append_if_not_none("num_request_retry", self.num_request_retry)
         append_if_not_none("retry_error_codes", self.retry_error_codes)
+        append_if_not_none("verify_ssl", self.verify_ssl)
 
         with open(filename, mode='w', encoding="UTF-8") as file:
             yaml.dump(data, file)
diff --git a/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_extract_requirements.py b/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_extract_requirements.py
index d4efd656..05a589ac 100644
--- a/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_extract_requirements.py
+++ b/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_extract_requirements.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ def setUpClass(cls):
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
         self._test_runner = self.create_test_runner()
+        self._test_runner.config_file_data.verify_ssl = False
 
     def extract_requirements(self,
                              cfg: ConfigFileData,
diff --git a/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_lobster_codebeamer.py b/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_lobster_codebeamer.py
index ec893646..2a7c2782 100644
--- a/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_lobster_codebeamer.py
+++ b/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_lobster_codebeamer.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
         self.codebeamer_flask.reset()
         self._test_runner = self.create_test_runner()
+        self._test_runner.config_file_data.verify_ssl = False
 
     def test_retry_if_configured(self):
         """Ensure the tool retries and exits after exhausting
diff --git a/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_valid_flow.py b/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_valid_flow.py
index d54ed85f..4d12d5ee 100644
--- a/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_valid_flow.py
+++ b/tests_system/lobster_codebeamer/test_valid_flow.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
         self.codebeamer_flask.reset()
         self._test_runner = self.create_test_runner()
+        self._test_runner.config_file_data.verify_ssl = False
 
     def test_valid_query_id(self):
         # lobster-trace: codebeamer_req.Query_Id_Parameter