diff --git a/backend/src/main/app-resources/default.yml b/backend/src/main/app-resources/default.yml
index 5ba247176..aa73f8627 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/app-resources/default.yml
+++ b/backend/src/main/app-resources/default.yml
@@ -24,14 +24,13 @@
 ## Only set the installationID if you wish to define the ID used by the beacon. RECOMMENDED: ignore - a default random value will be used
 ## Only change the urls if instructed or if you wish to redirect for testing (if multiple, separate list with commas
 ## Only change the productName for testing purposes
-## Set the cron time to send the beacon data at a specific time - if unset, the system will send at a random time between 12AM and 4AM once per day
+## Set the cron time to send the beacon data at a specific time - if unset, the system will send at a random time between 12AM and 4AM once per day (random preferred)
 #  beacon:
 #    enabled: ture
 #    installationID: [user-defined value]
 #    urls: http://collector.testbed.tier.internet2.edu:5001
 #    productName: ShibUI
-#    send:
-#      cron: 0 4 * * * *
+#    cron: 0 59 3 * * ?
 
 #  pac4j-enabled: true
 #  pac4j:
diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/configuration/CoreShibUiConfiguration.java b/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/configuration/CoreShibUiConfiguration.java
index 1e5582651..8e746bbf1 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/configuration/CoreShibUiConfiguration.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/configuration/CoreShibUiConfiguration.java
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ public LockProvider lockProvider(DataSource dataSource) {
     }
 
     @Bean
-    public String getBeaconCronValue(BeaconConfigurationRepository repo)
+    public String getBeaconCronValue(BeaconConfigurationRepository repo, @Value("${shibui.beacon.cron}") String valueFromConfig)
     {
         Optional<BeaconConfiguration> obc = repo.findById(1);
         BeaconConfiguration bc;
@@ -286,8 +286,16 @@ public String getBeaconCronValue(BeaconConfigurationRepository repo)
             BeaconConfiguration newbc = new BeaconConfiguration();
             Random rand = new Random();
             String cron = "0 " + rand.nextInt(60) + " " + rand.nextInt(4) + " * * ?";
+            if (valueFromConfig.endsWith("?")) {
+                cron = valueFromConfig;
+            }
             newbc.setSendCron(cron);
-            repo.save(newbc);
+            try {
+                repo.save(newbc);
+            }
+            catch(Exception e) {
+                log.debug("Error trying to create new BEACON CRON - should be ok");
+            }
             bc = repo.findById(1).get();
         } else {
             bc = obc.get();
diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/domain/BeaconConfiguration.java b/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/domain/BeaconConfiguration.java
index c3b263c77..b78034dbf 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/domain/BeaconConfiguration.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/domain/BeaconConfiguration.java
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import javax.persistence.Entity;
 import javax.persistence.Id;
 import javax.persistence.Transient;
+import javax.persistence.Version;
 
 @Data
 @Entity
@@ -17,6 +18,9 @@ public class BeaconConfiguration {
 
     private String sendCron;
 
+    @Version
+    private Long version;
+
     // Comma separated list of the auth mechanisms used.
     @Setter
     @Transient
diff --git a/backend/src/main/resources/application.properties b/backend/src/main/resources/application.properties
index 14f726125..e46938360 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/resources/application.properties
+++ b/backend/src/main/resources/application.properties
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ shibui.beacon.enabled=true
 shibui.beacon.productName=ShibUi
 shibui.beacon.installationID=UNICON-SHIBUI-TESTING
 shibui.beacon.url=http://collector.testbed.tier.internet2.edu:5001
+#shibui.beacon.cron=0 59 3 * * ?
 
 ### Swagger/Springdoc patterns
 springdoc.use-management-port=true