diff --git a/server/index.js b/server/index.js
index 0cb51de..d40e4f6 100644
--- a/server/index.js
+++ b/server/index.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ const { sequelize } = require('./models');
 const routes = require('./routes');
 const { initializeSocketHandlers } = require('./services/socketService');
 const AlertService = require('./services/alertService');
+const seedDatabase = require('./seedDatabase');
 const errorHandler = require('./middleware/errorHandler');
 
 const app = express();
@@ -76,9 +77,23 @@ async function startServer() {
     await sequelize.authenticate();
     console.log('Database connected successfully.');
     
-    if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
+    // Always sync database in containerized environments or development
+    // Check if tables exist before syncing
+    try {
       await sequelize.sync({ alter: true });
       console.log('Database synchronized.');
+      
+      // Seed database with initial data
+      await seedDatabase();
+    } catch (syncError) {
+      console.error('Database sync error:', syncError);
+      // If sync fails, try force sync (this will drop and recreate tables)
+      console.log('Attempting force sync...');
+      await sequelize.sync({ force: false, alter: true });
+      console.log('Database force synchronized.');
+      
+      // Seed database with initial data
+      await seedDatabase();
     }
     
     server.listen(PORT, () => {
diff --git a/server/seedDatabase.js b/server/seedDatabase.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..add7d35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/seedDatabase.js
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+const bcrypt = require('bcryptjs');
+const { User, Device } = require('./models');
+
+async function seedDatabase() {
+  try {
+    console.log('🌱 Seeding database...');
+
+    // Check if admin user exists
+    const existingAdmin = await User.findOne({ where: { username: 'admin' } });
+    
+    if (!existingAdmin) {
+      // Create default admin user
+      const adminPassword = await bcrypt.hash('admin123', 10);
+      
+      await User.create({
+        username: 'admin',
+        email: 'admin@dronedetection.local',
+        password_hash: adminPassword,
+        first_name: 'System',
+        last_name: 'Administrator',
+        role: 'admin',
+        is_active: true,
+        sms_alerts_enabled: false,
+        email_alerts_enabled: false,
+        timezone: 'Europe/Stockholm'
+      });
+      
+      console.log('✅ Admin user created (username: admin, password: admin123)');
+    } else {
+      console.log('✅ Admin user already exists');
+    }
+
+    // Create a sample device if none exist
+    const deviceCount = await Device.count();
+    if (deviceCount === 0) {
+      await Device.create({
+        device_id: 1001,
+        name: 'Drone Detector Alpha',
+        location: 'Stockholm Central',
+        geo_lat: 59.3293,
+        geo_lon: 18.0686,
+        is_active: true,
+        detection_range: 15000, // 15km
+        frequency_bands: ['2.4GHz', '5.8GHz'],
+        device_type: 'RF_SCANNER',
+        last_heartbeat: new Date()
+      });
+      
+      console.log('✅ Sample device created');
+    } else {
+      console.log('✅ Devices already exist');
+    }
+
+    console.log('🌱 Database seeding completed');
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('❌ Database seeding failed:', error);
+    throw error;
+  }
+}
+
+module.exports = seedDatabase;