diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 0b26a99..e3b88a7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Setup Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v4
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.9'
 
       - name: Setup Nodejs
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v3
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: 16
+          node-version: 22
       
       - name: Setup SAM
         uses: aws-actions/setup-sam@v2
@@ -59,12 +59,12 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Start LocalStack
         env:
-          LOCALSTACK_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.LOCALSTACK_API_KEY }}
+          LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN }}
           DNS_ADDRESS: 0
         run: |
           docker pull localstack/localstack-pro:latest
           # Start LocalStack in the background
-          LS_LOG=trace localstack start -d
+          LS_LOG=trace LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN=$LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN localstack start -d
           # Wait 30 seconds for the LocalStack container to become ready before timing out
           echo "Waiting for LocalStack startup..."
           localstack wait -t 15
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Upload the Diagnostic Report
         if: failure()
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: diagnose.json.gz
           path: ./diagnose.json.gz
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d73b83b..939969d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ deploy:
 
 ## Start LocalStack in detached mode
 start:
-	localstack start -d
+	@test -n "${LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN}" || (echo "LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN is not set. Find your token at https://app.localstack.cloud/workspace/auth-token"; exit 1)
+	@LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN=$(LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN) localstack start -d
 
 ## Stop the Running LocalStack container
 stop:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a3cda70..0cfa922 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -32,22 +32,24 @@ We are using the following AWS services to build our infrastructure:
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
-* LocalStack Pro with the [`localstack` CLI](https://docs.localstack.cloud/getting-started/installation/#localstack-cli).
+* A valid [LocalStack for AWS license](https://localstack.cloud/pricing). Your license provides a [`LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN`](https://docs.localstack.cloud/getting-started/auth-token/) to activate LocalStack.
+* [`localstack` CLI](https://docs.localstack.cloud/getting-started/installation/#localstack-cli).
 * [Serverless Application Model](https://docs.localstack.cloud/user-guide/integrations/aws-sam/) with the [samlocal](https://github.com/localstack/aws-sam-cli-local) installed.
 * [Python 3.9 installed](https://www.python.org/downloads/).
 * [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/download) with npm package manager.
 * [Artillery](https://artillery.io/docs/guides/overview/welcome.html) to generate some load towards both the apis.
-* [`yq`](https://github.com/mikefarah/yq#install) and[`jq`](https://jqlang.github.io/jq/download/) for running the deployment script. 
+* [`yq`](https://github.com/mikefarah/yq#install) and [`jq`](https://jqlang.github.io/jq/download/) for running the deployment script.
 
-Start LocalStack Pro with the `LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN` pre-configured:
+## Start LocalStack
+
+Start LocalStack with the `LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN` pre-configured:
 
 ```shell
 export LOCALSTACK_AUTH_TOKEN=<your-auth-token>
-localstack start
+make start
+make ready
 ```
 
-> If you prefer running LocalStack in detached mode, you can add the `-d` flag to the `localstack start` command, and use Docker Desktop to view the logs.
-
 ## Instructions
 
 You can build and deploy the sample application on LocalStack by running our `Makefile` commands. Run `make deploy` to create the infrastructure on LocalStack. Run `make stop` to delete the infrastructure by stopping LocalStack.