diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a7c496b6..ba36d143 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ target_link_libraries(
 	Boost::system
 	Threads::Threads
 	OpenSSL::Crypto
+	OpenSSL::SSL
 )
 target_include_directories(
 	mysql_asio
diff --git a/TODO.txt b/TODO.txt
index b789e92c..14dcfd03 100644
--- a/TODO.txt
+++ b/TODO.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,16 @@
+SSL
+	Isolated connection_params class with SSL options
+	Add an integ test in handshake to verify non-encrypted connections
+	Add a new integ test that proves using every feature over a non-encrypted connection
+	Update README
+	Make ssl context in channel lazy
+	Create appropriate tests for SSL request
+	Consider if handshake_response may use default serialization
 Multiresultset
 	Text protocol
 	Binary protocol (stored procedures)
 Handshake
 	sha256_password auth plugin: absence may cause BadUser tests to fail in 8.0
-	SSL
 	compression
 Usability
 	Should make_error_code be public?
diff --git a/include/boost/mysql/detail/network_algorithms/handshake.hpp b/include/boost/mysql/detail/network_algorithms/handshake.hpp
index c7a0e6ad..48592dbb 100644
--- a/include/boost/mysql/detail/network_algorithms/handshake.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/mysql/detail/network_algorithms/handshake.hpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ struct handshake_params
 	std::string_view username;
 	std::string_view password;
 	std::string_view database;
+	bool use_ssl; // TODO: change this to an enum
 };
 
 template <typename StreamType>
diff --git a/include/boost/mysql/detail/network_algorithms/impl/handshake.hpp b/include/boost/mysql/detail/network_algorithms/impl/handshake.hpp
index be42b3e8..00d52ef0 100644
--- a/include/boost/mysql/detail/network_algorithms/impl/handshake.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/mysql/detail/network_algorithms/impl/handshake.hpp
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ inline std::uint8_t get_collation_first_byte(collation value)
 	return static_cast<std::uint16_t>(value) % 0xff;
 }
 
+inline capabilities conditional_capability(bool condition, std::uint32_t cap)
+{
+	return capabilities(condition ? cap : 0);
+}
+
 inline error_code deserialize_handshake(
 	boost::asio::const_buffer buffer,
 	handshake_packet& output,
@@ -77,17 +82,19 @@ class handshake_processor
 {
 	handshake_params params_;
 	capabilities negotiated_caps_;
+	handshake_packet initial_packet_;
 public:
 	handshake_processor(const handshake_params& params): params_(params) {};
-	capabilities negotiated_capabilities() const { return negotiated_caps_; }
+	capabilities negotiated_capabilities() const noexcept { return negotiated_caps_; }
+	const handshake_params& params() const noexcept { return params_; }
 
+	// Initial greeting processing
 	error_code process_capabilities(const handshake_packet& handshake)
 	{
 		capabilities server_caps (handshake.capability_falgs.value);
-		capabilities required_caps =
-				params_.database.empty() ?
-				mandatory_capabilities :
-				mandatory_capabilities | capabilities(CLIENT_CONNECT_WITH_DB);
+		capabilities required_caps = mandatory_capabilities |
+				conditional_capability(!params_.database.empty(), CLIENT_CONNECT_WITH_DB) |
+				conditional_capability(params_.use_ssl, CLIENT_SSL);
 		if (!server_caps.has_all(required_caps))
 		{
 			return make_error_code(errc::server_unsupported);
@@ -95,66 +102,60 @@ public:
 		negotiated_caps_ = server_caps & (required_caps | optional_capabilities);
 		return error_code();
 	}
-	void compose_handshake_response(
-		std::string_view auth_response,
-		handshake_response_packet& output
-	)
-	{
-		output.client_flag.value = negotiated_caps_.get();
-		output.max_packet_size.value = MAX_PACKET_SIZE;
-		output.character_set.value = get_collation_first_byte(params_.connection_collation);
-		output.username.value = params_.username;
-		output.auth_response.value = auth_response;
-		output.database.value = params_.database;
-		output.client_plugin_name.value = mysql_native_password::plugin_name;
-	}
-	error_code compute_auth_switch_response(
-		const auth_switch_request_packet& request,
-		auth_switch_response_packet& output,
-		auth_response_calculator& calc
-	)
-	{
-		if (request.plugin_name.value != mysql_native_password::plugin_name)
-		{
-			return make_error_code(errc::unknown_auth_plugin);
-		}
-		return calc.calculate(
-			params_.password,
-			request.auth_plugin_data.value,
-			output.auth_plugin_data.value
-		);
-	}
 
 	error_code process_handshake(bytestring& buffer, error_info& info)
 	{
 		// Deserialize server greeting
-		handshake_packet handshake;
-		auto err = deserialize_handshake(boost::asio::buffer(buffer), handshake, info);
+		auto err = deserialize_handshake(boost::asio::buffer(buffer), initial_packet_, info);
 		if (err) return err;
 
 		// Check capabilities
-		err = process_capabilities(handshake);
-		if (err) return err;
+		return process_capabilities(initial_packet_);
+	}
 
-		// Authentication
+	// Response to that initial greeting
+	void compose_ssl_request(bytestring& buffer)
+	{
+		ssl_request sslreq {
+			int4(negotiated_capabilities().get()),
+			int4(MAX_PACKET_SIZE),
+			int1(get_collation_first_byte(params_.connection_collation)),
+			{}
+		};
+
+		// Serialize and send
+		serialize_message(sslreq, negotiated_caps_, buffer);
+	}
+
+	error_code compose_handshake_response(bytestring& buffer)
+	{
+		// Authentication calculation
 		auth_response_calculator calc;
 		std::string_view auth_response;
-		if (handshake.auth_plugin_name.value == mysql_native_password::plugin_name)
+		if (initial_packet_.auth_plugin_name.value == mysql_native_password::plugin_name)
 		{
-			err = calc.calculate(params_.password, handshake.auth_plugin_data.value, auth_response);
+			auto err = calc.calculate(params_.password, initial_packet_.auth_plugin_data.value, auth_response);
 			if (err) return err;
 		}
 
 		// Compose response
-		handshake_response_packet response;
-		compose_handshake_response(auth_response, response);
+		handshake_response_packet response {
+			int4(negotiated_caps_.get()),
+			int4(MAX_PACKET_SIZE),
+			int1(get_collation_first_byte(params_.connection_collation)),
+			string_null(params_.username),
+			string_lenenc(auth_response),
+			string_null(params_.database),
+			string_null(mysql_native_password::plugin_name)
+		};
 
 		// Serialize
-		serialize_message(response, negotiated_capabilities(), buffer);
+		serialize_message(response, negotiated_caps_, buffer);
 
 		return error_code();
 	}
 
+	// Server handshake response
 	error_code process_handshake_server_response(
 		bytestring& buffer,
 		bool& auth_complete,
@@ -198,6 +199,24 @@ public:
 		return error_code();
 	}
 
+	// Auth switch
+	error_code compute_auth_switch_response(
+		const auth_switch_request_packet& request,
+		auth_switch_response_packet& output,
+		auth_response_calculator& calc
+	)
+	{
+		if (request.plugin_name.value != mysql_native_password::plugin_name)
+		{
+			return make_error_code(errc::unknown_auth_plugin);
+		}
+		return calc.calculate(
+			params_.password,
+			request.auth_plugin_data.value,
+			output.auth_plugin_data.value
+		);
+	}
+
 	error_code process_auth_switch_response(
 		boost::asio::const_buffer buffer,
 		error_info& info
@@ -238,10 +257,27 @@ void boost::mysql::detail::hanshake(
 	channel.read(channel.shared_buffer(), err);
 	if (err) return;
 
-	// Process server greeting
+	// Process server greeting (handshake)
 	err = processor.process_handshake(channel.shared_buffer(), info);
 	if (err) return;
 
+	// Setup SSL if required
+	if (params.use_ssl)
+	{
+		// Send SSL request
+		processor.compose_ssl_request(channel.shared_buffer());
+		channel.write(boost::asio::buffer(channel.shared_buffer()), err);
+		if (err) return;
+
+		// SSL handshake
+		channel.ssl_handshake(err);
+		if (err) return;
+	}
+
+	// Handshake response
+	err = processor.compose_handshake_response(channel.shared_buffer());
+	if (err) return;
+
 	// Send
 	channel.write(boost::asio::buffer(channel.shared_buffer()), err);
 	if (err) return;
@@ -253,12 +289,7 @@ void boost::mysql::detail::hanshake(
 	// Process it
 	bool auth_complete = false;
 	err = processor.process_handshake_server_response(channel.shared_buffer(), auth_complete, info);
-	if (err) return;
-	if (auth_complete)
-	{
-		err.clear();
-		return;
-	}
+	if (err || auth_complete) return;
 
 	// We received an auth switch response and we have the response ready to be sent
 	channel.write(boost::asio::buffer(channel.shared_buffer()), err);
@@ -344,6 +375,38 @@ boost::mysql::detail::async_handshake(
 					yield break;
 				}
 
+				// SSL
+				if (processor_.params().use_ssl)
+				{
+					// Send SSL request
+					processor_.compose_ssl_request(channel_.shared_buffer());
+					yield channel_.async_write(
+						boost::asio::buffer(channel_.shared_buffer()),
+						std::move(*this)
+					);
+					if (err)
+					{
+						complete(cont, err);
+						yield break;
+					}
+
+					// SSL handshake
+					yield channel_.async_ssl_handshake(std::move(*this));
+					if (err)
+					{
+						complete(cont, err);
+						yield break;
+					}
+				}
+
+				// Compose handshake response
+				err = processor_.compose_handshake_response(channel_.shared_buffer());
+				if (err)
+				{
+					complete(cont, err);
+					yield break;
+				}
+
 				// Send
 				yield channel_.async_write(boost::asio::buffer(channel_.shared_buffer()), std::move(*this));
 				if (err)
diff --git a/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/channel.hpp b/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/channel.hpp
index 3367b3f8..5d1c6fe7 100644
--- a/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/channel.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/channel.hpp
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
 #include "boost/mysql/detail/protocol/capabilities.hpp"
 #include <boost/asio/buffer.hpp>
 #include <boost/asio/async_result.hpp>
+#include <boost/asio/ssl/stream.hpp>
+#include <boost/asio/ssl/context.hpp>
+#include <boost/asio/read.hpp>
+#include <boost/asio/write.hpp>
 #include <array>
 
 namespace boost {
@@ -17,7 +21,9 @@ class channel
 {
 	// TODO: static asserts for AsyncStream concept
 	// TODO: actually we also require it to be SyncStream, name misleading
-	AsyncStream& next_layer_;
+	boost::asio::ssl::context ssl_ctx_;
+	boost::asio::ssl::stream<AsyncStream&> next_layer_;
+	bool ssl_active_ {false};
 	std::uint8_t sequence_number_ {0};
 	std::array<std::uint8_t, 4> header_buffer_ {}; // for async ops
 	bytestring shared_buff_; // for async ops
@@ -28,8 +34,24 @@ class channel
 
 	error_code process_header_read(std::uint32_t& size_to_read); // reads from header_buffer_
 	void process_header_write(std::uint32_t size_to_write); // writes to header_buffer_
+
+	template <typename BufferSeq>
+	std::size_t read_impl(BufferSeq&& buff, error_code& ec);
+
+	template <typename BufferSeq>
+	std::size_t write_impl(BufferSeq&& buff, error_code& ec);
+
+	template <typename BufferSeq, typename CompletionToken>
+	auto async_read_impl(BufferSeq&& buff, CompletionToken&& token);
+
+	template <typename BufferSeq, typename CompletionToken>
+	auto async_write_impl(BufferSeq&& buff, CompletionToken&& token);
 public:
-	channel(AsyncStream& stream): next_layer_ {stream} {};
+	channel(AsyncStream& stream):
+		ssl_ctx_(boost::asio::ssl::context::tls_client),
+		next_layer_ (stream, ssl_ctx_)
+	{
+	};
 
 	template <typename Allocator>
 	void read(basic_bytestring<Allocator>& buffer, error_code& code);
@@ -44,11 +66,17 @@ public:
 	BOOST_ASIO_INITFN_RESULT_TYPE(CompletionToken, void(error_code))
 	async_write(boost::asio::const_buffer buffer, CompletionToken&& token);
 
+	void ssl_handshake(error_code& ec);
+
+	template <typename CompletionToken>
+	BOOST_ASIO_INITFN_RESULT_TYPE(CompletionToken, void(error_code))
+	async_ssl_handshake(CompletionToken&& token);
+
 	void reset_sequence_number(std::uint8_t value = 0) { sequence_number_ = value; }
 	std::uint8_t sequence_number() const { return sequence_number_; }
 
 	using stream_type = AsyncStream;
-	stream_type& next_layer() { return next_layer_; }
+	stream_type& next_layer() { return next_layer_.next_layer(); }
 
 	capabilities current_capabilities() const noexcept { return current_caps_; }
 	void set_current_capabilities(capabilities value) noexcept { current_caps_ = value; }
diff --git a/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/handshake_messages.hpp b/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/handshake_messages.hpp
index b130fbaa..2680d9d7 100644
--- a/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/handshake_messages.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/handshake_messages.hpp
@@ -79,6 +79,26 @@ struct serialization_traits<handshake_response_packet, serialization_tag::struct
 	static inline void serialize_(const handshake_response_packet& value, serialization_context& ctx) noexcept;
 };
 
+// SSL request
+struct ssl_request
+{
+	int4 client_flag;
+	int4 max_packet_size;
+	int1 character_set;
+	string_fixed<23> filler {};
+};
+
+template <>
+struct get_struct_fields<ssl_request>
+{
+	static constexpr auto value = std::make_tuple(
+		&ssl_request::client_flag,
+		&ssl_request::max_packet_size,
+		&ssl_request::character_set,
+		&ssl_request::filler
+	);
+};
+
 // auth switch request
 struct auth_switch_request_packet
 {
diff --git a/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/impl/channel.hpp b/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/impl/channel.hpp
index b16faa31..98820db9 100644
--- a/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/impl/channel.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/mysql/detail/protocol/impl/channel.hpp
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 #ifndef MYSQL_ASIO_IMPL_CHANNEL_IPP
 #define MYSQL_ASIO_IMPL_CHANNEL_IPP
 
-#include <boost/asio/read.hpp>
-#include <boost/asio/write.hpp>
 #include <boost/beast/core/async_base.hpp>
 #include <cassert>
 #include "boost/mysql/detail/protocol/common_messages.hpp"
@@ -73,6 +71,90 @@ void boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::process_header_write(
 	serialize(header, ctx);
 }
 
+template <typename AsyncStream>
+template <typename BufferSeq>
+std::size_t boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::read_impl(
+	BufferSeq&& buff,
+	error_code& ec
+)
+{
+	if (ssl_active_)
+	{
+		return boost::asio::read(next_layer_, std::forward<BufferSeq>(buff), ec);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		return boost::asio::read(next_layer_.next_layer(), std::forward<BufferSeq>(buff), ec);
+	}
+}
+
+template <typename AsyncStream>
+template <typename BufferSeq>
+std::size_t boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::write_impl(
+	BufferSeq&& buff,
+	error_code& ec
+)
+{
+	if (ssl_active_)
+	{
+		return boost::asio::write(next_layer_, std::forward<BufferSeq>(buff), ec);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		return boost::asio::write(next_layer_.next_layer(), std::forward<BufferSeq>(buff), ec);
+	}
+}
+
+template <typename AsyncStream>
+template <typename BufferSeq, typename CompletionToken>
+auto boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::async_read_impl(
+	BufferSeq&& buff,
+	CompletionToken&& token
+)
+{
+	if (ssl_active_)
+	{
+		return boost::asio::async_read(
+			next_layer_,
+			std::forward<BufferSeq>(buff),
+			std::forward<CompletionToken>(token)
+		);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		return boost::asio::async_read(
+			next_layer_.next_layer(),
+			std::forward<BufferSeq>(buff),
+			std::forward<CompletionToken>(token)
+		);
+	}
+}
+
+template <typename AsyncStream>
+template <typename BufferSeq, typename CompletionToken>
+auto boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::async_write_impl(
+	BufferSeq&& buff,
+	CompletionToken&& token
+)
+{
+	if (ssl_active_)
+	{
+		return boost::asio::async_write(
+			next_layer_,
+			std::forward<BufferSeq>(buff),
+			std::forward<CompletionToken>(token)
+		);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		return boost::asio::async_write(
+			next_layer_.next_layer(),
+			std::forward<BufferSeq>(buff),
+			std::forward<CompletionToken>(token)
+		);
+	}
+}
+
 template <typename AsyncStream>
 template <typename Allocator>
 void boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::read(
@@ -87,20 +169,12 @@ void boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::read(
 
 	do
 	{
-		boost::asio::read(
-			next_layer_,
-			boost::asio::buffer(header_buffer_),
-			code
-		);
+		read_impl(boost::asio::buffer(header_buffer_), code);
 		if (code) return;
 		code = process_header_read(size_to_read);
 		if (code) return;
 		buffer.resize(buffer.size() + size_to_read);
-		boost::asio::read(
-			next_layer_,
-			boost::asio::buffer(buffer.data() + transferred_size, size_to_read),
-			code
-		);
+		read_impl(boost::asio::buffer(buffer.data() + transferred_size, size_to_read), code);
 		if (code) return;
 		transferred_size += size_to_read;
 	} while (size_to_read == MAX_PACKET_SIZE);
@@ -122,8 +196,7 @@ void boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::write(
 	{
 		auto size_to_write = compute_size_to_write(bufsize, transferred_size);
 		process_header_write(size_to_write);
-		boost::asio::write(
-			next_layer_,
+		write_impl(
 			std::array<boost::asio::const_buffer, 2> {
 				boost::asio::buffer(header_buffer_),
 				boost::asio::buffer(first + transferred_size, size_to_write)
@@ -179,8 +252,7 @@ boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::async_read(
 			{
 				do
 				{
-					yield boost::asio::async_read(
-						stream_.next_layer_,
+					yield stream_.async_read_impl(
 						boost::asio::buffer(stream_.header_buffer_),
 						std::move(*this)
 					);
@@ -201,8 +273,7 @@ boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::async_read(
 
 					buffer_.resize(buffer_.size() + size_to_read);
 
-					yield boost::asio::async_read(
-						stream_.next_layer_,
+					yield stream_.async_read_impl(
 						boost::asio::buffer(buffer_.data() + total_transferred_size_, size_to_read),
 						std::move(*this)
 					);
@@ -273,8 +344,7 @@ boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::async_write(
 					size_to_write = compute_size_to_write(buffer_.size(), total_transferred_size_);
 					stream_.process_header_write(size_to_write);
 
-					yield boost::asio::async_write(
-						stream_.next_layer_,
+					yield stream_.async_write_impl(
 						std::array<boost::asio::const_buffer, 2> {
 							boost::asio::buffer(stream_.header_buffer_),
 							boost::asio::buffer(buffer_ + total_transferred_size_, size_to_write)
@@ -302,6 +372,29 @@ boost::mysql::detail::channel<AsyncStream>::async_write(
 	return initiator.result.get();
 }
 
+template <typename Stream>
+void boost::mysql::detail::channel<Stream>::ssl_handshake(
+	error_code& ec
+)
+{
+	ssl_active_ = true;
+	next_layer_.handshake(boost::asio::ssl::stream_base::client, ec);
+}
+
+template <typename Stream>
+template <typename CompletionToken>
+BOOST_ASIO_INITFN_RESULT_TYPE(CompletionToken, void(boost::mysql::error_code))
+boost::mysql::detail::channel<Stream>::async_ssl_handshake(
+	CompletionToken&& token
+)
+{
+	ssl_active_ = true;
+	return next_layer_.async_handshake(
+		boost::asio::ssl::stream_base::client,
+		std::forward<CompletionToken>(token)
+	);
+}
+
 #include <boost/asio/unyield.hpp>
 
 
diff --git a/include/boost/mysql/impl/connection.hpp b/include/boost/mysql/impl/connection.hpp
index bcc6c4d0..da7f548f 100644
--- a/include/boost/mysql/impl/connection.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/mysql/impl/connection.hpp
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ inline handshake_params to_handshake_params(
 		input.connection_collation,
 		input.username,
 		input.password,
-		input.database
+		input.database,
+		true
 	};
 }
 
diff --git a/test/unit/detail/protocol/channel.cpp b/test/unit/detail/protocol/channel.cpp
index 1d50b993..339c3947 100644
--- a/test/unit/detail/protocol/channel.cpp
+++ b/test/unit/detail/protocol/channel.cpp
@@ -96,6 +96,12 @@ public:
 		}
 		return res;
 	}
+
+	using lowest_layer_type = MockStream;
+	using executor_type = boost::asio::system_executor;
+
+	MockStream& lowest_layer() { return *this; }
+	executor_type get_executor() { return boost::asio::system_executor(); }
 };
 
 struct MysqlChannelFixture : public Test