diff --git a/.github/workflows/CI.yml b/.github/workflows/CI.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..97357e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/CI.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+name: CI
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches: ['**']
+  push:
+    branches: ['**']
+    tags: [v*]
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  ci:
+    # run on 1) push, 2) external PRs, 3)
+    # do not run on internal, non-steward PRs since those will be run by push to branch
+    if: |
+      github.event_name == 'push' || 
+      github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name != github.repository
+    runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Set up JDK 17
+      uses: actions/setup-java@v3
+      with:
+        java-version: '17'
+        distribution: 'temurin'
+    - name: Build & Test
+      run: mvn clean package
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7b49db1..8e0fafb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
-![Logo](docs/images/otterjet-logo.png?raw=true)
+<p align="center">
+    <img src="docs/images/otterjet-logo.png?raw=true"/>
+</p>
+
+# Welcome!
+
+[![CI](https://github.com/softwaremill/otterJet/workflows/CI/badge.svg)](https://github.com/softwaremill/otterJet/actions?query=workflow%3A%22CI%22)
 
 # OtterJet
 
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 75677a2..7784fc8 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -144,32 +144,27 @@
             <groupId>io.github.openfeign</groupId>
             <artifactId>feign-jackson</artifactId>
         </dependency>
-
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.testcontainers</groupId>
             <artifactId>testcontainers</artifactId>
             <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
-
         <dependency>
             <groupId>com.github.javafaker</groupId>
             <artifactId>javafaker</artifactId>
             <version>1.0.2</version>
             <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
-
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
             <artifactId>junit-jupiter</artifactId>
             <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
-
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
             <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-test</artifactId>
             <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
-
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.awaitility</groupId>
             <artifactId>awaitility</artifactId>
@@ -192,13 +187,8 @@
         <plugins>
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
-                <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-                <version>3.11.0</version>
-                <configuration>
-                    <source>17</source>
-                    <target>17</target>
-                    <fork>true</fork>
-                </configuration>
+                <artifactId>maven-war-plugin</artifactId>
+                <version>3.4.0</version>
             </plugin>
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>