How do i connect my PHP Web App to MySQL database (Ubuntu) Server with PHPStorm?

I have used PHPStorm SSH Terminal to connect/download a copy of my CakePHP web application from my development web server.  However, now i have to connect my dev web application to its MySQL Database that lives on the same server as well... the web server is using an AWS instance of Ubuntu... is there any possible way i can connect my PHPStorm IDE to the MySQL Server on the web development server without having to download a copy of the Database and import it locally?  Would i have to use an SSH tunnel to connect my web app to MySQL?  Do i have open ports on the router of the AWS somehow to allow connections from my work environment to the Dev/MySQL web server?? 

The only way i can figure this is out is to download the MySQL database and import it locally but thats not something i do not want to do because in the future i might have to download many web applications and connect to there SQL servers.  Importing all those SQL databases will take alot of time. 

Any help and guidance would be grateful.  thank you!