diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 30e13dd..57e9a73 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ crash.*.log
 .terraformrc
 terraform.rc
 
-# Ignore local backend.tfvars
-backend.tfvars
+# Ignore local .tfvars
+*.tfvars
 
 # Ignore Terraform lock file
-.terraform.lock.hcl
\ No newline at end of file
+.terraform.lock.hcl
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index efba014..c651998 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ As we're using GitLab's Terraform image for our CI/CD pipeline, we'll stick to
 using the latest version of Terraform. Instruction on how to install Terraform
 can be found here: <https://www.terraform.io/downloads>
 
+### Authentication
+
+Create a file `terraform.tfvars` containing:
+```
+do_token = "<GREENHOST_API_KEY>"
+```
+... substituting in our actual key.
+
 ### Managed state
 
 - go to https://gitlab.com/bij1/intranet/terraform/-/terraform