diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 9fb523a..97463ce 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -10,4 +10,5 @@ SUPPORT_NETWORK_ENDPOINT=/endpoint/path/here
 CASE_ENDPOINT=/endpoint/path/here
 INCIDENT_ENDPOINT=/endpoint/path/here
 SR_ENDPOINT=/endpoint/path/here
-MEMO_ENDPOINT=/endpoint/path/here
\ No newline at end of file
+MEMO_ENDPOINT=/endpoint/path/here
+SKIP_AUTH_GUARD=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/helm/templates/deployment.yaml b/helm/templates/deployment.yaml
index bb89368..a134fde 100644
--- a/helm/templates/deployment.yaml
+++ b/helm/templates/deployment.yaml
@@ -77,4 +77,9 @@ spec:
                 secretKeyRef:
                     name: visitz-api
                     key: CLIENT_SECRET
+            - name: SKIP_AUTH_GUARD
+              valueFrom:
+                secretKeyRef:
+                    name: visitz-api
+                    key: SKIP_AUTH_GUARD
       restartPolicy: Always
diff --git a/src/common/guards/auth/auth.guard.spec.ts b/src/common/guards/auth/auth.guard.spec.ts
index 1023eb7..1d0cb61 100644
--- a/src/common/guards/auth/auth.guard.spec.ts
+++ b/src/common/guards/auth/auth.guard.spec.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ describe('AuthGuard', () => {
           useValue: {
             get: jest.fn((key: string) => {
               const lookup = {
-                NODE_ENV: 'test',
+                skipAuthGuard: true,
               };
               return lookup[key];
             }),
@@ -69,18 +69,23 @@ describe('AuthGuard', () => {
   });
 
   describe('canActivate tests', () => {
-    it('should always return true in non-production environment', async () => {
+    it('should always return true when skipping', async () => {
       const authSpy = jest
         .spyOn(service, 'getRecordAndValidate')
         .mockResolvedValueOnce(false);
       const guardSpy = jest.spyOn(AuthGuard.prototype, 'canActivate');
-      const isAuthed = await guard.canActivate({} as ExecutionContext);
+      const execContext = {
+        switchToHttp: () => ({
+          getRequest: () => getMockReq(),
+        }),
+      };
+      const isAuthed = await guard.canActivate(execContext as ExecutionContext);
       expect(authSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
       expect(guardSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(isAuthed).toBe(true);
     });
 
-    it('should return the result of getRecordAndValidate in a production environment', async () => {
+    it('should return the result of getRecordAndValidate when not skipping', async () => {
       const module: TestingModule = await Test.createTestingModule({
         providers: [
           AuthService,
@@ -92,7 +97,7 @@ describe('AuthGuard', () => {
             useValue: {
               get: jest.fn((key: string) => {
                 const lookup = {
-                  NODE_ENV: 'production',
+                  skipAuthGuard: false,
                 };
                 return lookup[key];
               }),
@@ -119,7 +124,6 @@ describe('AuthGuard', () => {
           getRequest: () => getMockReq(),
         }),
       };
-
       const isAuthed = await guard.canActivate(execContext);
       expect(authSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(guardSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
diff --git a/src/common/guards/auth/auth.guard.ts b/src/common/guards/auth/auth.guard.ts
index 174b652..b9ec944 100644
--- a/src/common/guards/auth/auth.guard.ts
+++ b/src/common/guards/auth/auth.guard.ts
@@ -5,18 +5,18 @@ import { AuthService } from './auth.service';
 
 @Injectable()
 export class AuthGuard implements CanActivate {
-  environment;
+  skip;
   constructor(
     private readonly authService: AuthService,
     private readonly configService: ConfigService,
   ) {
-    this.environment = this.configService.get('NODE_ENV');
+    this.skip = this.configService.get('skipAuthGuard');
   }
 
   canActivate(
     context: ExecutionContext,
   ): boolean | Promise<boolean> | Observable<boolean> {
-    if (this.environment !== 'production') {
+    if (this.skip) {
       // skip for local development
       return true;
     }
diff --git a/src/configuration/configuration.ts b/src/configuration/configuration.ts
index 144a0d0..22d6b6e 100644
--- a/src/configuration/configuration.ts
+++ b/src/configuration/configuration.ts
@@ -27,4 +27,5 @@ export default () => ({
     clientId: process.env.CLIENT_ID,
     clientSecret: process.env.CLIENT_SECRET,
   },
+  skipAuthGuard: process.env.SKIP_AUTH_GUARD === 'true',
 });