diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-pipeline.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-pipeline.yml
index 4d5bf1b..1e7208c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-pipeline.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-pipeline.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set up Java environment
         uses: actions/setup-java@v1
         with:
-          java-version: 11
+          java-version: 17
           gpg-private-key: ${{ secrets.MAVEN_CENTRAL_GPG_SIGNING_KEY_SEC }}
           gpg-passphrase: MAVEN_CENTRAL_GPG_PASSPHRASE
       - name: Build
diff --git a/.mvn/jvm.config b/.mvn/jvm.config
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61a567f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.mvn/jvm.config
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+--add-exports jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.api=ALL-UNNAMED
+--add-exports jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.file=ALL-UNNAMED
+--add-exports jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.parser=ALL-UNNAMED
+--add-exports jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.tree=ALL-UNNAMED
+--add-exports jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.util=ALL-UNNAMED
diff --git a/eze/pom.xml b/eze/pom.xml
index 7e4a558..8a757dd 100644
--- a/eze/pom.xml
+++ b/eze/pom.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
+  xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
+  xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
   <artifactId>eze</artifactId>
@@ -23,6 +25,11 @@
       <artifactId>zeebe-workflow-engine</artifactId>
     </dependency>
 
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>io.camunda</groupId>
+      <artifactId>zeebe-db</artifactId>
+    </dependency>
+
     <dependency>
       <groupId>io.camunda</groupId>
       <artifactId>zeebe-util</artifactId>
@@ -195,10 +202,10 @@
       <groupId>org.jetbrains.kotlin</groupId>
       <artifactId>kotlin-stdlib</artifactId>
     </dependency>
-<!--    <dependency>-->
-<!--      <groupId>org.jetbrains</groupId>-->
-<!--      <artifactId>annotations</artifactId>-->
-<!--    </dependency>-->
+    <!--    <dependency>-->
+    <!--      <groupId>org.jetbrains</groupId>-->
+    <!--      <artifactId>annotations</artifactId>-->
+    <!--    </dependency>-->
     <dependency>
       <groupId>org.jetbrains.kotlin</groupId>
       <artifactId>kotlin-reflect</artifactId>
diff --git a/eze/src/main/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/EzeDbColumnFamily.kt b/eze/src/main/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/EzeDbColumnFamily.kt
index 95af106..7600095 100644
--- a/eze/src/main/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/EzeDbColumnFamily.kt
+++ b/eze/src/main/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/EzeDbColumnFamily.kt
@@ -37,7 +37,25 @@ class EzeDbColumnFamily<ColumnFamilyNames : Enum<ColumnFamilyNames>,
         }
     }
 
-    override fun put(key: KeyType, value: ValueType) {
+    override fun insert(key: KeyType, value: ValueType) {
+        if (exists(key)) {
+            throw IllegalStateException("An entry with the key $key already exists.")
+        }
+        put(key, value)
+    }
+
+    override fun update(key: KeyType, value: ValueType) {
+        if (!exists(key)) {
+            throw IllegalStateException("An entry with the key $key doesn't exist.")
+        }
+        put(key, value)
+    }
+
+    override fun upsert(key: KeyType, value: ValueType) {
+        put(key, value)
+    }
+
+    private fun put(key: KeyType, value: ValueType) {
         ensureInOpenTransaction(
             context
         ) { transaction ->
@@ -53,6 +71,7 @@ class EzeDbColumnFamily<ColumnFamilyNames : Enum<ColumnFamilyNames>,
         }
     }
 
+
     override fun get(key: KeyType): ValueType? {
         columnFamilyContext.writeKey(key)
         val valueBuffer: DirectBuffer? = getValue(context, columnFamilyContext)
@@ -103,7 +122,18 @@ class EzeDbColumnFamily<ColumnFamilyNames : Enum<ColumnFamilyNames>,
         whileEqualPrefix(context, keyPrefix, visitor)
     }
 
-    override fun delete(key: KeyType) {
+    override fun deleteExisting(key: KeyType) {
+        if (!exists(key)) {
+            throw IllegalStateException("An entry with the key $key doesn't exist.")
+        }
+        delete(key)
+    }
+
+    override fun deleteIfExists(key: KeyType) {
+        delete(key)
+    }
+
+    private fun delete(key: KeyType) {
         columnFamilyContext.writeKey(key)
         ensureInOpenTransaction(
             context
diff --git a/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/ColumnFamilyTest.java b/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/ColumnFamilyTest.java
index e6f1f14..2f4878d 100644
--- a/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/ColumnFamilyTest.java
+++ b/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/ColumnFamilyTest.java
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 package org.camunda.community.eze.db;
 
 import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatCode;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 
 import io.camunda.zeebe.db.ColumnFamily;
 import io.camunda.zeebe.db.ZeebeDb;
@@ -45,13 +47,13 @@ public void setup() throws Exception {
   }
 
   @Test
-  public void shouldPutValue() {
+  public void shouldInsertValue() {
     // given
     key.wrapLong(1213);
     value.wrapLong(255);
 
     // when
-    columnFamily.put(key, value);
+    columnFamily.insert(key, value);
     value.wrapLong(221);
 
     // then
@@ -64,6 +66,81 @@ public void shouldPutValue() {
     assertThat(value.getValue()).isEqualTo(255);
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void shouldNotInsertIfExist() {
+    // given
+    key.wrapLong(1);
+    value.wrapLong(10);
+
+    columnFamily.insert(key, value);
+
+    // when/then
+    assertThatThrownBy(() -> columnFamily.insert(key, value))
+        .isInstanceOf(IllegalStateException.class);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldUpdateValue() {
+    // given
+    key.wrapLong(1213);
+    value.wrapLong(255);
+    columnFamily.insert(key, value);
+
+    // when
+    value.wrapLong(256);
+    columnFamily.update(key, value);
+
+    // then
+    final DbLong zbLong = columnFamily.get(key);
+
+    assertThat(zbLong).isNotNull();
+    assertThat(zbLong.getValue()).isEqualTo(256);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldNotUpdateIfNotExist() {
+    // given
+    key.wrapLong(1);
+    value.wrapLong(10);
+
+    // when/then
+    assertThatThrownBy(() -> columnFamily.update(key, value))
+        .isInstanceOf(IllegalStateException.class);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldUpsertIfExist() {
+    // given
+    key.wrapLong(1);
+    value.wrapLong(10);
+
+    columnFamily.insert(key, value);
+
+    // when
+    value.wrapLong(11);
+    columnFamily.upsert(key, value);
+
+    // then
+    final var persistedValue = columnFamily.get(key);
+
+    assertThat(persistedValue.getValue()).isEqualTo(11);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldUpsertIfNotExist() {
+    // given
+    key.wrapLong(1);
+    value.wrapLong(10);
+
+    // when
+    columnFamily.upsert(key, value);
+
+    // then
+    final var persistedValue = columnFamily.get(key);
+
+    assertThat(persistedValue.getValue()).isEqualTo(10);
+  }
+
   @Test
   public void shouldReturnNullIfNotExist() {
     // given
@@ -149,12 +226,12 @@ public void shouldNotExist() {
   }
 
   @Test
-  public void shouldDelete() {
+  public void shouldDeleteExisting() {
     // given
     putKeyValuePair(1213, 255);
 
     // when
-    columnFamily.delete(key);
+    columnFamily.deleteExisting(key);
 
     // then
     final boolean exists = columnFamily.exists(key);
@@ -164,6 +241,44 @@ public void shouldDelete() {
     assertThat(zbLong).isNull();
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void shouldNotDeleteExistingIfNotExist() {
+    // given
+    key.wrapLong(1);
+    value.wrapLong(10);
+
+    // when/then
+    assertThatThrownBy(() -> columnFamily.deleteExisting(key))
+        .isInstanceOf(IllegalStateException.class);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldDeleteIfExists() {
+    // given
+    key.wrapLong(1);
+    value.wrapLong(10);
+
+    columnFamily.insert(key, value);
+
+    // when
+    columnFamily.deleteIfExists(key);
+
+    // then
+    final var persistedValue = columnFamily.get(key);
+
+    assertThat(persistedValue).isNull();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldIgnoreDeleteIfNotExist() {
+    // given
+    key.wrapLong(1);
+    value.wrapLong(10);
+
+    // when/then
+    assertThatCode(() -> columnFamily.deleteIfExists(key)).doesNotThrowAnyException();
+  }
+
   @Test
   public void shouldNotDeleteDifferentKey() {
     // given
@@ -171,7 +286,7 @@ public void shouldNotDeleteDifferentKey() {
 
     // when
     key.wrapLong(700);
-    columnFamily.delete(key);
+    columnFamily.deleteIfExists(key);
 
     // then
     key.wrapLong(1213);
@@ -235,7 +350,7 @@ public void shouldDeleteOnForeachPair() {
     // when
     columnFamily.forEach(
         (key, value) -> {
-          columnFamily.delete(key);
+          columnFamily.deleteIfExists(key);
         });
 
     final List<Long> keys = new ArrayList<>();
@@ -302,7 +417,7 @@ public void shouldDeleteWhileTrue() {
     // when
     columnFamily.whileTrue(
         (key, value) -> {
-          columnFamily.delete(key);
+          columnFamily.deleteIfExists(key);
           return key.getValue() != 4567;
         });
 
@@ -326,13 +441,13 @@ public void shouldCheckIfEmpty() {
     putKeyValuePair(1, 10);
     assertThat(columnFamily.isEmpty()).isFalse();
 
-    columnFamily.delete(key);
+    columnFamily.deleteIfExists(key);
     assertThat(columnFamily.isEmpty()).isTrue();
   }
 
   private void putKeyValuePair(final int key, final int value) {
     this.key.wrapLong(key);
     this.value.wrapLong(value);
-    columnFamily.put(this.key, this.value);
+    columnFamily.upsert(this.key, this.value);
   }
 }
diff --git a/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/DbStringColumnFamilyTest.java b/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/DbStringColumnFamilyTest.java
index ea28187..d1ed188 100644
--- a/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/DbStringColumnFamilyTest.java
+++ b/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/DbStringColumnFamilyTest.java
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ public void setup() throws Exception {
   }
 
   @Test
-  public void shouldPutValue() {
+  public void shouldInsertValue() {
     // given
     key.wrapString("foo");
     value.wrapString("baring");
 
     // when
-    columnFamily.put(key, value);
+    columnFamily.insert(key, value);
     value.wrapString("yes");
 
     // then
@@ -230,6 +230,6 @@ public void shouldThrowExceptionOnMultipleNestedWhileEqualPrefix() {
   private void putKeyValuePair(final String key, final String value) {
     this.key.wrapString(key);
     this.value.wrapString(value);
-    columnFamily.put(this.key, this.value);
+    columnFamily.upsert(this.key, this.value);
   }
 }
diff --git a/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/DbTransactionTest.java b/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/DbTransactionTest.java
index 4d89d76..f721d2a 100644
--- a/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/DbTransactionTest.java
+++ b/eze/src/test/kotlin/org/camunda/community/eze/db/DbTransactionTest.java
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ public void shouldUseTransaction() {
     // when
     transactionContext.runInTransaction(
         () -> {
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
-          twoColumnFamily.put(twoKey, twoValue);
-          threeColumnFamily.put(threeKey, threeValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
+          twoColumnFamily.upsert(twoKey, twoValue);
+          threeColumnFamily.upsert(threeKey, threeValue);
         });
 
     // then
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ public void shouldNotGetPreviousValue() {
 
     transactionContext.runInTransaction(
         () -> {
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
           oneColumnFamily.get(oneKey);
           oneKey.wrapLong(-1);
 
@@ -125,9 +125,9 @@ public void shouldStartNewTransaction() throws Exception {
     final ZeebeDbTransaction transaction = transactionContext.getCurrentTransaction();
     transaction.run(
         () -> {
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
-          twoColumnFamily.put(twoKey, twoValue);
-          threeColumnFamily.put(threeKey, threeValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
+          twoColumnFamily.upsert(twoKey, twoValue);
+          threeColumnFamily.upsert(threeKey, threeValue);
         });
 
     // when
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@ public void shouldAccessOnOpenTransaction() throws Exception {
     final ZeebeDbTransaction transaction = transactionContext.getCurrentTransaction();
     transaction.run(
         () -> {
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
-          twoColumnFamily.put(twoKey, twoValue);
-          threeColumnFamily.put(threeKey, threeValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
+          twoColumnFamily.upsert(twoKey, twoValue);
+          threeColumnFamily.upsert(threeKey, threeValue);
         });
 
     // when
@@ -204,15 +204,15 @@ public void shouldNotReopenTransactionWithOperations() {
           final ZeebeDbTransaction sameTransaction = transactionContext.getCurrentTransaction();
           sameTransaction.run(
               () -> {
-                oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
-                twoColumnFamily.put(twoKey, twoValue);
-                threeColumnFamily.put(threeKey, threeValue);
+                oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
+                twoColumnFamily.upsert(twoKey, twoValue);
+                threeColumnFamily.upsert(threeKey, threeValue);
               });
           sameTransaction.commit();
 
           // then it is committed but available in this transaction
           assertThat(oneColumnFamily.exists(oneKey)).isTrue();
-          oneColumnFamily.delete(oneKey);
+          oneColumnFamily.deleteIfExists(oneKey);
 
           assertThat(twoColumnFamily.exists(twoKey)).isTrue();
           assertThat(threeColumnFamily.exists(threeKey)).isTrue();
@@ -239,9 +239,9 @@ public void shouldRollbackTransaction() throws Exception {
     final ZeebeDbTransaction transaction = transactionContext.getCurrentTransaction();
     transaction.run(
         () -> {
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
-          twoColumnFamily.put(twoKey, twoValue);
-          threeColumnFamily.put(threeKey, threeValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
+          twoColumnFamily.upsert(twoKey, twoValue);
+          threeColumnFamily.upsert(threeKey, threeValue);
         });
 
     // when
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ public void shouldGetValueInTransaction() {
     // when
     transactionContext.runInTransaction(
         () -> {
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
           final DbLong value = oneColumnFamily.get(oneKey);
           actualValue.set(value.getValue());
         });
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ public void shouldFindValueInTransaction() {
     final Map<Long, Long> actualValues = new HashMap<>();
     oneKey.wrapLong(1);
     oneValue.wrapLong(-1);
-    oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+    oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
     // when
     transactionContext.runInTransaction(
@@ -287,12 +287,12 @@ public void shouldFindValueInTransaction() {
           // update value
           oneKey.wrapLong(1);
           oneValue.wrapLong(-2);
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
           // create new key-value pair
           oneKey.wrapLong(2);
           oneValue.wrapLong(-3);
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
           actualValues.put(oneKey.getValue(), oneColumnFamily.get(oneKey).getValue());
           oneKey.wrapLong(1);
@@ -313,11 +313,11 @@ public void shouldIterateAndFindValuesInTransaction() {
 
     oneKey.wrapLong(1);
     oneValue.wrapLong(-1);
-    oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+    oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
     oneKey.wrapLong(2);
     oneValue.wrapLong(-2);
-    oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+    oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
     // when
     transactionContext.runInTransaction(
@@ -325,12 +325,12 @@ public void shouldIterateAndFindValuesInTransaction() {
           // update old value
           oneKey.wrapLong(2);
           oneValue.wrapLong(-5);
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
           // create new key-value pair
           oneKey.wrapLong(3);
           oneValue.wrapLong(-3);
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
           oneColumnFamily.forEach((k, v) -> actualValues.put(k.getValue(), v.getValue()));
         });
@@ -348,15 +348,15 @@ public void shouldIterateAndDeleteInTransaction() {
     // given
     oneKey.wrapLong(1);
     oneValue.wrapLong(-1);
-    oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+    oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
     oneKey.wrapLong(2);
     oneValue.wrapLong(-2);
-    oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+    oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
     // when
     transactionContext.runInTransaction(
-        () -> oneColumnFamily.forEach((k, v) -> oneColumnFamily.delete(k)));
+        () -> oneColumnFamily.forEach((k, v) -> oneColumnFamily.deleteIfExists(k)));
 
     // then
     assertThat(oneColumnFamily.exists(oneKey)).isFalse();
@@ -370,15 +370,15 @@ public void shouldEndInSameTransaction() {
     final AtomicLong actualValue = new AtomicLong(0);
     oneKey.wrapLong(1);
     oneValue.wrapLong(-1);
-    oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+    oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
     twoValue.wrapLong(192313);
 
     // when
-    oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+    oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
     transactionContext.runInTransaction(
         () -> {
-          transactionContext.runInTransaction(() -> oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, twoValue));
+          transactionContext.runInTransaction(() -> oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, twoValue));
           final DbLong value = oneColumnFamily.get(oneKey);
           actualValue.set(value.getValue());
         });
@@ -396,24 +396,24 @@ public void shouldWriteAndDeleteInTransaction() {
 
     twoKey.wrapLong(52000);
     twoValue.wrapLong(192313);
-    twoColumnFamily.put(twoKey, twoValue);
+    twoColumnFamily.upsert(twoKey, twoValue);
 
     threeKey.wrapLong(Short.MAX_VALUE);
     threeValue.wrapLong(Integer.MAX_VALUE);
-    threeColumnFamily.put(threeKey, threeValue);
+    threeColumnFamily.upsert(threeKey, threeValue);
 
     // when
     transactionContext.runInTransaction(
         () -> {
           // create
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
           // delete
-          twoColumnFamily.delete(twoKey);
+          twoColumnFamily.deleteIfExists(twoKey);
 
           // update
           threeValue.wrapLong(Integer.MIN_VALUE);
-          threeColumnFamily.put(threeKey, threeValue);
+          threeColumnFamily.upsert(threeKey, threeValue);
         });
 
     // then
@@ -436,10 +436,10 @@ public void shouldWriteAndDeleteSameKeyValuePairInTransaction() {
     transactionContext.runInTransaction(
         () -> {
           // create
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
           // delete
-          oneColumnFamily.delete(oneKey);
+          oneColumnFamily.deleteIfExists(oneKey);
         });
 
     // then
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ public void shouldNotCommitOnError() {
 
     twoKey.wrapLong(52000);
     twoValue.wrapLong(192313);
-    twoColumnFamily.put(twoKey, twoValue);
+    twoColumnFamily.upsert(twoKey, twoValue);
 
     threeKey.wrapLong(Short.MAX_VALUE);
     threeValue.wrapLong(Integer.MAX_VALUE);
@@ -464,9 +464,9 @@ public void shouldNotCommitOnError() {
     try {
       transactionContext.runInTransaction(
           () -> {
-            oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
-            twoColumnFamily.delete(twoKey);
-            threeColumnFamily.put(threeKey, threeValue);
+            oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
+            twoColumnFamily.deleteIfExists(twoKey);
+            threeColumnFamily.upsert(threeKey, threeValue);
             throw new RuntimeException();
           });
     } catch (final Exception e) {
@@ -484,15 +484,15 @@ public void shouldWriteKeyAfterDeletion() {
     // given
     oneKey.wrapLong(1);
     oneValue.wrapLong(-1);
-    oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+    oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
 
     // when
     assertThat(oneColumnFamily.get(oneKey).getValue()).isEqualTo(-1);
     transactionContext.runInTransaction(
         () -> {
-          oneColumnFamily.delete(oneKey);
+          oneColumnFamily.deleteIfExists(oneKey);
           oneValue.wrapLong(-2);
-          oneColumnFamily.put(oneKey, oneValue);
+          oneColumnFamily.upsert(oneKey, oneValue);
         });
 
     // then
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 298f7f0..f6ed0ca 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
+  xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
+  xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
   <artifactId>eze-root</artifactId>
@@ -11,7 +13,7 @@
     <groupId>org.camunda.community</groupId>
     <artifactId>community-hub-release-parent</artifactId>
     <version>1.2.2</version>
-    <relativePath />
+    <relativePath/>
   </parent>
 
   <modules>
@@ -40,11 +42,11 @@
     <license.header>licenses/COPYING-HEADER.txt</license.header>
 
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <version.java>11</version.java>
+    <version.java>17</version.java>
     <maven.version>3.0</maven.version>
 
     <kotlin.version>1.6.21</kotlin.version>
-    <zeebe.version>1.3.6</zeebe.version>
+    <zeebe.version>8.0.2</zeebe.version>
     <netty.version>4.1.77.Final</netty.version>
 
     <version.junit>5.8.2</version.junit>
@@ -81,6 +83,36 @@
         <type>pom</type>
       </dependency>
 
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>io.camunda</groupId>
+        <artifactId>zeebe-workflow-engine</artifactId>
+        <version>${zeebe.version}</version>
+      </dependency>
+
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>io.camunda</groupId>
+        <artifactId>zeebe-util</artifactId>
+        <version>${zeebe.version}</version>
+      </dependency>
+
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>io.camunda</groupId>
+        <artifactId>zeebe-logstreams</artifactId>
+        <version>${zeebe.version}</version>
+      </dependency>
+
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>io.camunda</groupId>
+        <artifactId>zeebe-test-util</artifactId>
+        <version>${zeebe.version}</version>
+      </dependency>
+
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>io.camunda</groupId>
+        <artifactId>zeebe-db</artifactId>
+        <version>${zeebe.version}</version>
+      </dependency>
+
       <dependency>
         <groupId>io.netty</groupId>
         <artifactId>netty-bom</artifactId>
@@ -257,6 +289,26 @@
         <artifactId>agrona</artifactId>
         <version>${agrona.version}</version>
       </dependency>
+
+      <!-- additional dependencies because of different versions -->
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>org.camunda.feel</groupId>
+        <artifactId>feel-engine</artifactId>
+        <version>1.14.2</version>
+      </dependency>
+
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>org.apache.commons</groupId>
+        <artifactId>commons-lang3</artifactId>
+        <version>3.11</version>
+      </dependency>
+
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>org.awaitility</groupId>
+        <artifactId>awaitility</artifactId>
+        <version>${awaitility.version}</version>
+      </dependency>
+
     </dependencies>
   </dependencyManagement>
 
@@ -279,7 +331,7 @@
         <version>3.0.0</version>
         <configuration>
           <rules>
-            <dependencyConvergence />
+            <dependencyConvergence/>
           </rules>
         </configuration>
         <executions>