diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 147cb5a..3a449c6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1 +1,31 @@
-# run-k8s-job
\ No newline at end of file
+# Run Kubernetes Job Action
+
+Run an arbitrary docker image as a job on a Kubernetes cluster and report the output to stdout.
+
+## Why?
+
+For services/apps running on Kubernetes the `run-k8s-job` action allows you to define an arbitrary task as an explict step in a GitHub workflow, without having to deal with a lot of Kubernetes-specific details (you just need a Docker image). This can be useful for creating automated stage gates in a deployment pipeline, or kicking off any task that may be repeated based on the GitHub [events that trigger workflows](https://help.github.com/en/actions/reference/events-that-trigger-workflows). 
+
+It's also not always entirely straightforward to get the output of a previously executed Kubernetes job. This action will grab job status and any logs and output them to the actions console. 
+
+Some example uses might be:
+- smoke/integration tests against a live environment
+- load tests
+- database migrations
+
+
+## Required Inputs
+
+- `cluster-url` the base URL for your Kubernetes cluster.
+- `cluster-token` the OAuth Bearer token for your Kubernetes cluster.
+- `image` the docker image to be run as a job. The image must be publically accessible. 
+- `ca-file` the path to the root CA certificates (in PEM format) for establishing a TLS connection to the Kubernetes server. Note: this is not is not strictly a required input, but the step will fail if one is not provided and the `disable-tls` input is not explicitly set to false. It is **highly recommended** that a CA file be specified.
+
+## Optional Inputs
+- `job-name` prefix for the auto-generated job name in Kubernetes. Defaults to the name of the repo. 
+- `namespace` the Kubernetes namespace where the job should run. Defaults to `default`
+- `disable-tls` connect to the Kubernetes server insecurely (without TLS). Should only be used for testing purposes as it leaves the connection vulnerable to [man-in-the-middle attacks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-in-the-middle_attack).
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 7cb778a..9882790 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -8,19 +8,24 @@ inputs:
   cluster-token:
     description: 'Kubernetes API authentication token'
     required: true
-  ca-file:
-    description: 'Path to the file containing the root CA cert for the kubernetes cluster'
+  image:
+    description: 'Name of the docker image in a remote repository (i.e. "debian")'
     required: true
+  ca-file:
+    description: 'Path to the file containing the root CA cert for the kubernetes API server'
+    required: false
+  job-name: 
+    description: 'Name of the job (note: used only as a prefix for an auto-generated job name)'
+    required: false
+    default: ${{github.repository}}-job  
   namespace:
     description: 'Kubernetes namespace where the job will run'
-    required: true
-  job-name: 
-    description: 'Name of the job (note: used as a prefix only for an auto-generated job name)'
     required: false
-    default: ${{github.repository}}
-  image:
-    description: 'Name of the docker image in a remote repository (i.e. "debian")'
-    required: true
+    default: 'default'
+  disable-tls:
+    description: 'Connect to Kubernetes API server without TLS (not recommended)'
+    required: false
+    default: "false"
 
 runs:
   using: docker
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index ef2e918..6e8673d 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"os"
+	"strconv"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/sethvargo/go-githubactions"
@@ -19,16 +21,41 @@ func main() {
 	image := action.GetInput("image")
 	jobName := action.GetInput("job-name")
 	caFilePath := action.GetInput("ca-file")
+	tlsFlag := action.GetInput("disable-tls")
 
-	action = action.WithFieldsMap(map[string]string{
-		"job": jobName,
-	})
+	if len(clusterURL) == 0 {
+		action.Fatalf("'cluster-url' is a required input but was empty")
+	}
+
+	if len(token) == 0 {
+		action.Fatalf("'cluster-token' is a required input but was empty")
+	}
+
+	if len(image) == 0 {
+		action.Fatalf("'image' is a required input but was empty")
+	}
+
+	disableTLS, err := strconv.ParseBool(tlsFlag)
+	if err != nil {
+		action.Fatalf("'disable-tls input must be either 'true' or 'false', was %s", tlsFlag)
+	}
+
+	if !disableTLS {
+		if len(caFilePath) == 0 {
+			action.Fatalf("you must either specify the file path to the root ca or explicitly disable tls using the 'disable-tls' input")
+		}
+
+		if _, err := os.Stat(caFilePath); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			action.Fatalf("could not locate file %s; please make sure the file is available in the runner's context", caFilePath)
+		}
+	}
 
 	config, err := clientcmd.BuildConfigFromFlags(clusterURL, "")
 	if err != nil {
 		action.Fatalf("%v", err)
 	}
 
+	config.Insecure = disableTLS
 	config.CAFile = caFilePath
 	config.BearerToken = token
 
@@ -37,6 +64,10 @@ func main() {
 		action.Fatalf("%v", err)
 	}
 
+	action = action.WithFieldsMap(map[string]string{
+		"job": jobName,
+	})
+
 	runner := NewJobRunner(clientset.BatchV1().Jobs(namespace), clientset.CoreV1().Pods(namespace), 5*time.Second, action)
 
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 15*time.Minute)