diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/powershell.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/powershell.py
index ee855e5d8..36d10f709 100644
--- a/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/powershell.py
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/powershell.py
@@ -89,11 +89,18 @@ class PowerShellExploiter(HostExploiter):
         return [credentials for credentials in self._config.get_exploit_user_password_pairs()]
 
     def _authenticate(self, username: Optional[str], password: Optional[str]) -> Client:
+        ssl = password != ""
+        auth = "negotiate" if password != "" else "basic"
+        encryption = "auto" if password != "" else "never"
+
         with Client(
             self.host.ip_addr,
             username=username,
             password=password,
             cert_validation=False,
+            ssl=ssl,
+            auth=auth,
+            encryption=encryption,
         ) as client:
             # attempt to execute dir command to know if authentication was successful
             client.execute_cmd("dir")