diff --git a/.github/workflows/PR-Demo-Comment-with-react.yml b/.github/workflows/PR-Demo-Comment-with-react.yml
index bf8323e49..2ec5c0025 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/PR-Demo-Comment-with-react.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/PR-Demo-Comment-with-react.yml
@@ -153,9 +153,14 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set up JDK 21
         uses: actions/setup-java@dded0888837ed1f317902acf8a20df0ad188d165 # v5.0.0
         with:
-          java-version: "17"
+          java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          gradle-version: 8.14
+
       - name: Run Gradle Command
         run: |
           if [ "${{ needs.check-comment.outputs.disable_security }}" == "true" ]; then
@@ -163,8 +168,11 @@ jobs:
           else
             export DISABLE_ADDITIONAL_FEATURES=false
           fi
-          ./gradlew clean build
+          ./gradlew build
         env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
           STIRLING_PDF_DESKTOP_UI: false
 
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 90391ee4b..d3b64f5a9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -68,9 +68,17 @@ jobs:
           java-version: ${{ matrix.jdk-version }}
           distribution: "temurin"
 
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          gradle-version: 8.14
+
       - name: Build with Gradle and spring security ${{ matrix.spring-security }}
-        run: ./gradlew clean build -PnoSpotless
+        run: ./gradlew build -PnoSpotless
         env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
           DISABLE_ADDITIONAL_FEATURES: ${{ matrix.spring-security }}
 
       - name: Check Test Reports Exist
@@ -135,9 +143,17 @@ jobs:
           java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          gradle-version: 8.14
+
       - name: Generate OpenAPI documentation
         run: ./gradlew :stirling-pdf:generateOpenApiDocs
         env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
           DISABLE_ADDITIONAL_FEATURES: true
 
       - name: Upload OpenAPI Documentation
@@ -199,8 +215,17 @@ jobs:
           java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          gradle-version: 8.14
+
       - name: check the licenses for compatibility
-        run: ./gradlew clean checkLicense
+        run: ./gradlew checkLicense
+        env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
 
       - name: FAILED - check the licenses for compatibility
         if: failure()
@@ -244,6 +269,11 @@ jobs:
           java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          gradle-version: 8.14
+
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
         uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@8d2750c68a42422c14e847fe6c8ac0403b4cbd6f # v3.12.0
 
@@ -269,6 +299,10 @@ jobs:
           chmod +x ./testing/test.sh
           chmod +x ./testing/test_disabledEndpoints.sh
           ./testing/test.sh
+        env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
 
   test-build-docker-images:
     if: github.event_name == 'pull_request' && needs.files-changed.outputs.project == 'true'
@@ -306,9 +340,17 @@ jobs:
           java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          gradle-version: 8.14
+
       - name: Build application
-        run: ./gradlew clean build
+        run: ./gradlew build
         env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
           DISABLE_ADDITIONAL_FEATURES: true
           STIRLING_PDF_DESKTOP_UI: false
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/frontend-backend-licenses-update.yml b/.github/workflows/frontend-backend-licenses-update.yml
index ce345bfe5..b0d6f3f3a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/frontend-backend-licenses-update.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/frontend-backend-licenses-update.yml
@@ -336,11 +336,19 @@ jobs:
           java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          gradle-version: 8.14
+
       - name: Check licenses and generate report
         id: license-check
         run: |
-          ./gradlew clean checkLicense generateLicenseReport || echo "LICENSE_CHECK_FAILED=true" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          ./gradlew checkLicense generateLicenseReport || echo "LICENSE_CHECK_FAILED=true" >> $GITHUB_ENV
         env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
           DISABLE_ADDITIONAL_FEATURES: false
           STIRLING_PDF_DESKTOP_UI: true
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/multiOSReleases.yml b/.github/workflows/multiOSReleases.yml
index b06f86de2..a1da75d0b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/multiOSReleases.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/multiOSReleases.yml
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@ jobs:
           java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
-      - uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
         with:
           gradle-version: 8.14
 
@@ -62,6 +63,10 @@ jobs:
           VERSION=$(./gradlew printVersion --quiet | tail -1)
           echo "Extracted version: $VERSION"
           echo "versionNumber=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+        env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
 
       - name: Determine build matrix
         id: set-matrix
@@ -118,7 +123,8 @@ jobs:
           java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
-      - uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
         with:
           gradle-version: 8.14
 
@@ -131,8 +137,11 @@ jobs:
           cache-dependency-path: frontend/package-lock.json
 
       - name: Build JAR
-        run: ./gradlew clean build ${{ matrix.variant.build_frontend && '-PbuildWithFrontend=true' || '' }} -x spotlessApply -x spotlessCheck -x test -x sonarqube
+        run: ./gradlew build ${{ matrix.variant.build_frontend && '-PbuildWithFrontend=true' || '' }} -x spotlessApply -x spotlessCheck -x test -x sonarqube
         env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
           DISABLE_ADDITIONAL_FEATURES: ${{ matrix.variant.disable_security }}
           STIRLING_PDF_DESKTOP_UI: false
 
@@ -194,13 +203,18 @@ jobs:
           java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          gradle-version: 8.14
+
       - name: Build Java backend with JLink
         working-directory: ./
         shell: bash
         run: |
           chmod +x ./gradlew
           echo "🔧 Building Stirling-PDF JAR..."
-          ./gradlew clean build -x spotlessApply -x spotlessCheck -x test -x sonarqube
+          ./gradlew build -x spotlessApply -x spotlessCheck -x test -x sonarqube
 
           # Find the built JAR
           STIRLING_JAR=$(ls app/core/build/libs/stirling-pdf-*.jar | head -n 1)
@@ -264,6 +278,9 @@ jobs:
           RUNTIME_SIZE=$(du -sh ./frontend/src-tauri/runtime/jre | cut -f1)
           echo "📊 Custom JRE size: $RUNTIME_SIZE"
         env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
           DISABLE_ADDITIONAL_FEATURES: true
 
       - name: Install frontend dependencies
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pre_commit.yml b/.github/workflows/pre_commit.yml
index 4e4665a56..d8389e9df 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pre_commit.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pre_commit.yml
@@ -57,8 +57,17 @@ jobs:
           java-version: 21
           distribution: "temurin"
 
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          gradle-version: 8.14
+
       - name: Build with Gradle
-        run: ./gradlew clean build
+        run: ./gradlew build
+        env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
 
       - name: git add
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/push-docker.yml b/.github/workflows/push-docker.yml
index af3d3afe5..1896af8ce 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/push-docker.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/push-docker.yml
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ jobs:
           java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
-      - uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
         with:
           gradle-version: 8.14
 
@@ -56,6 +57,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Get version number
         id: versionNumber
         run: echo "versionNumber=$(./gradlew printVersion --quiet | tail -1)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+        env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
+
+      - name: Install cosign
+        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' || github.ref == 'refs/heads/V2-master'
+        uses: sigstore/cosign-installer@faadad0cce49287aee09b3a48701e75088a2c6ad # v4.0.0
+        with:
+          cosign-release: "v2.4.1"
 
       - name: Install cosign
         if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' || github.ref == 'refs/heads/V2-master'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/swagger.yml b/.github/workflows/swagger.yml
index 2b0c946cd..3fa7fb14d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/swagger.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/swagger.yml
@@ -39,7 +39,10 @@ jobs:
           java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
-      - uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          gradle-version: 8.14
 
       - name: Generate Swagger documentation
         run: ./gradlew :stirling-pdf:generateOpenApiDocs
@@ -47,12 +50,19 @@ jobs:
       - name: Upload Swagger Documentation to SwaggerHub
         run: ./gradlew swaggerhubUpload
         env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
           SWAGGERHUB_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.SWAGGERHUB_API_KEY }}
           SWAGGERHUB_USER: "Frooodle"
 
       - name: Get version number
         id: versionNumber
         run: echo "versionNumber=$(./gradlew printVersion --quiet | tail -1)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+        env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
 
       - name: Set API version as published and default on SwaggerHub
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync_files_v2.yml b/.github/workflows/sync_files_v2.yml
index 25bbb2326..2e94080df 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync_files_v2.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync_files_v2.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ on:
       - main
     paths:
       - "build.gradle"
+      - "app/common/build.gradle"
+      - "app/core/build.gradle"
+      - "app/proprietary/build.gradle"
       - "README.md"
       - "frontend/public/locales/*/translation.toml"
       - "app/core/src/main/resources/static/3rdPartyLicenses.json"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tauri-build.yml b/.github/workflows/tauri-build.yml
index 8894d61c8..d2aae298a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tauri-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tauri-build.yml
@@ -99,14 +99,19 @@ jobs:
           java-version: "21"
           distribution: "temurin"
 
+      - name: Setup Gradle
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@4d9f0ba0025fe599b4ebab900eb7f3a1d93ef4c2 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          gradle-version: 8.14
+
       - name: Build Java backend with JLink
         working-directory: ./
         shell: bash
         run: |
           chmod +x ./gradlew
           echo "🔧 Building Stirling-PDF JAR..."
-          # STIRLING_PDF_DESKTOP_UI=false ./gradlew clean bootJar --no-daemon
-          ./gradlew clean build -x spotlessApply -x spotlessCheck -x test -x sonarqube
+          # STIRLING_PDF_DESKTOP_UI=false ./gradlew bootJar --no-daemon
+          ./gradlew build -x spotlessApply -x spotlessCheck -x test -x sonarqube
 
           # Find the built JAR
           STIRLING_JAR=$(ls app/core/build/libs/stirling-pdf-*.jar | head -n 1)
@@ -170,6 +175,9 @@ jobs:
           RUNTIME_SIZE=$(du -sh ./frontend/src-tauri/runtime/jre | cut -f1)
           echo "📊 Custom JRE size: $RUNTIME_SIZE"
         env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
           DISABLE_ADDITIONAL_FEATURES: true
 
       - name: Install frontend dependencies
diff --git a/.github/workflows/testdriver.yml b/.github/workflows/testdriver.yml
index b16484b0b..6168f8bf6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/testdriver.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/testdriver.yml
@@ -44,8 +44,11 @@ jobs:
           gradle-version: 8.14
 
       - name: Build with Gradle
-        run: ./gradlew clean build
+        run: ./gradlew build
         env:
+          MAVEN_USER: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_USER }}
+          MAVEN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PASSWORD }}
+          MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL }}
           DISABLE_ADDITIONAL_FEATURES: true
 
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
diff --git a/app/core/build.gradle b/app/core/build.gradle
index 34a2f1304..b4153a665 100644
--- a/app/core/build.gradle
+++ b/app/core/build.gradle
@@ -2,11 +2,6 @@ apply plugin: 'org.springframework.boot'
 
 import org.apache.tools.ant.taskdefs.condition.Os
 
-repositories {
-    maven { url = 'https://build.shibboleth.net/maven/releases' }
-    maven { url = 'https://maven.pkg.github.com/jcefmaven/jcefmaven' }
-}
-
 configurations {
     developmentOnly
     runtimeClasspath {
diff --git a/app/proprietary/build.gradle b/app/proprietary/build.gradle
index a8d3a5859..e9aea411f 100644
--- a/app/proprietary/build.gradle
+++ b/app/proprietary/build.gradle
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 repositories {
-    maven { url = "https://build.shibboleth.net/maven/releases" }
+    maven { url "https://build.shibboleth.net/maven/releases" }
 }
 
 ext {
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'com.bucket4j:bucket4j_jdk17-core:8.15.0'
 
     // https://mvnrepository.com/artifact/com.bucket4j/bucket4j_jdk17
-    implementation 'org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk18on:1.83'
+    implementation "org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk18on:$bouncycastleVersion"
 
     implementation 'org.thymeleaf.extras:thymeleaf-extras-springsecurity5:3.1.3.RELEASE'
     api 'io.micrometer:micrometer-registry-prometheus'
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index af191a0e5..47ce2ba21 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -38,6 +38,16 @@ ext.isSecurityDisabled = { ->
      System.getProperty('DISABLE_ADDITIONAL_FEATURES') == 'true')
 }
 
+ext.mavenUrl = System.getenv("MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL") ?: ""
+ext.username = System.getenv('MAVEN_USER') ?: ""
+ext.password = System.getenv('MAVEN_PASSWORD') ?: ""
+
+if (rootProject.ext.mavenUrl.isEmpty()) {
+    println "No custom MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL set, defaulting to Maven Central"
+} else {
+    println "MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL set"
+}
+
 jar {
     enabled = false
     manifest {
@@ -55,11 +65,6 @@ springBoot {
     mainClass = 'stirling.software.SPDF.SPDFApplication'
 }
 
-repositories {
-    mavenCentral()
-    maven { url = 'https://build.shibboleth.net/maven/releases' }
-}
-
 allprojects {
     group = 'stirling.software'
     version = '2.3.0'
@@ -135,13 +140,27 @@ subprojects {
         sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_17
     }
 
-     if (project.name != "stirling-pdf") {
+    if (project.name != "stirling-pdf") {
         bootJar {
             enabled = false
         }
-     }
+    }
 
     repositories {
+        if (!rootProject.ext.mavenUrl.isEmpty()) {
+            maven {
+                url rootProject.ext.mavenUrl + '/releases'
+                credentials(PasswordCredentials) {
+                    username rootProject.ext.username
+                    password rootProject.ext.password
+                }
+                authentication {
+                    basic(BasicAuthentication)
+                }
+                allowInsecureProtocol true
+            }
+        }
+        maven { url "https://build.shibboleth.net/maven/releases" }
         mavenCentral()
     }
 
diff --git a/settings.gradle b/settings.gradle
index 3c6363f77..14de3e0aa 100644
--- a/settings.gradle
+++ b/settings.gradle
@@ -1,7 +1,28 @@
+pluginManagement {
+    repositories {
+        var gradlePluginPortalUrl = System.getenv("MAVEN_PUBLIC_URL") ?: ""
+        if (!gradlePluginPortalUrl.isEmpty()){
+            maven {
+                url gradlePluginPortalUrl + "/gradle"
+                credentials(PasswordCredentials) {
+                    username System.getenv('MAVEN_USER') ?: ""
+                    password System.getenv('MAVEN_PASSWORD') ?: ""
+                }
+                authentication {
+                    basic(BasicAuthentication)
+                }
+                allowInsecureProtocol true
+            }
+        }
+        gradlePluginPortal()
+    }
+}
+
 plugins {
     // Apply the foojay-resolver plugin to allow automatic download of JDKs
     id 'org.gradle.toolchains.foojay-resolver-convention' version '1.0.0'
 }
+
 rootProject.name = 'Stirling PDF'
 
 include 'stirling-pdf', 'common', 'proprietary'