diff --git a/server/index.js b/server/index.js
index 6eedf0a..db8ccc4 100644
--- a/server/index.js
+++ b/server/index.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ const seedDatabase = require('./seedDatabase');
 const errorHandler = require('./middleware/errorHandler');
 const { apiDebugMiddleware } = require('./utils/apiDebugLogger');
 const IPRestrictionMiddleware = require('./middleware/ip-restriction');
+const { Umzug, SequelizeStorage } = require('umzug');
 
 const app = express();
 
@@ -121,12 +122,36 @@ initializeSocketHandlers(io);
 
 const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3001;
 
+// Migration runner
+const runMigrations = async () => {
+  const umzug = new Umzug({
+    migrations: {
+      glob: 'migrations/*.js',
+    },
+    context: sequelize.getQueryInterface(),
+    storage: new SequelizeStorage({ sequelize }),
+    logger: console,
+  });
+
+  console.log('Running database migrations...');
+  await umzug.up();
+  console.log('Migrations completed successfully.');
+};
+
 // Database connection and server startup
 async function startServer() {
   try {
     await sequelize.authenticate();
     console.log('Database connected successfully.');
     
+    // Run migrations first
+    try {
+      await runMigrations();
+    } catch (migrationError) {
+      console.error('Migration error:', migrationError);
+      console.log('Continuing with database sync...');
+    }
+    
     // Always sync database in containerized environments or development
     // Check if tables exist before syncing
     try {
diff --git a/server/package.json b/server/package.json
index 6034f52..8ba3d6b 100644
--- a/server/package.json
+++ b/server/package.json
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@
     "passport-oauth2": "^1.7.0",
     "passport-openidconnect": "^0.1.1",
     "ldapjs": "^3.0.7",
-    "express-session": "^1.17.3"
+    "express-session": "^1.17.3",
+    "umzug": "^3.4.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "nodemon": "^3.0.1",