diff --git a/config/env/default.js b/config/env/default.js
index 105aa154b6..cc09ea42f6 100644
--- a/config/env/default.js
+++ b/config/env/default.js
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ module.exports = {
   port: process.env.PORT || 3000,
   templateEngine: 'swig',
   // Session details
+  // session expiration is set by default to 24 hours
+  sessionExpiration: 24 * (60 * 1000),
   // sessionSecret should be changed for security measures and concerns
   sessionSecret: 'MEAN',
   // sessionKey is set to the generic sessionId key used by PHP applications
diff --git a/config/lib/express.js b/config/lib/express.js
index ca4313eb2d..9e2bfe03e9 100644
--- a/config/lib/express.js
+++ b/config/lib/express.js
@@ -115,6 +115,9 @@ module.exports.initSession = function (app, db) {
     saveUninitialized: true,
     resave: true,
     secret: config.sessionSecret,
+    cookie: {
+      maxAge: config.sessionExpiration
+    },
     key: config.sessionKey,
     store: new MongoStore({
       mongooseConnection: db.connection,