diff --git a/misc_utility_functions.py b/misc_utility_functions.py
index 044a18d..e576d43 100644
--- a/misc_utility_functions.py
+++ b/misc_utility_functions.py
@@ -248,6 +248,11 @@ def tell(self) -> int:
         return self.file.tell()
     
 def configure_redis_optimally(redis_host='localhost', redis_port=6379, maxmemory='1gb'):
+    try:
+        subprocess.run(["sudo systemctl start redis-server"], check=True)
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+        logger.error(f"Failed to start Redis server: {e}")
+        raise
     r = redis.StrictRedis(host=redis_host, port=redis_port, decode_responses=True)
     def set_config(key, value):
         response = r.config_set(key, value)
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 5e926e6..6694be0 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ pytest
 python-decouple
 python-multipart
 pytz
+redis
 sqlalchemy
 textract-py3
 uvicorn