diff --git a/backend/build.gradle b/backend/build.gradle
index d49e8817b..08583ffc4 100644
--- a/backend/build.gradle
+++ b/backend/build.gradle
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 plugins {
     id 'groovy'
     id 'war'
-    id 'org.springframework.boot' version '2.1.5.RELEASE'
+    id 'org.springframework.boot' version '2.4.2'
     id 'com.gorylenko.gradle-git-properties' version '1.4.21'
     id 'io.franzbecker.gradle-lombok' version '1.13'
     id 'com.palantir.docker' version '0.20.1'
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ dependencies {
     }
 
     // spring boot auto-config starters
-    ['starter-web', 'starter-data-jpa', 'starter-security', 'starter-actuator', 'devtools', 'starter-webflux', 'starter-thymeleaf', 'starter-mail'].each {
+    ['starter-web', 'starter-data-jpa', 'starter-security', 'starter-actuator', 'devtools', 'starter-webflux', 'starter-thymeleaf', 'starter-mail', 'starter-validation'].each {
         compile "org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-${it}"
     }
     // TODO: figure out what this should really be
@@ -191,8 +191,8 @@ dependencies {
     integrationTestCompile 'jp.vmi:selenese-runner-java:3.20.0'
     integrationTestCompile "org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-test"
     integrationTestCompile "org.springframework.security:spring-security-test"
-    integrationTestCompile "org.spockframework:spock-core:2.0-groovy-3.0-SNAPSHOT"
-    integrationTestCompile "org.spockframework:spock-spring:2.0-groovy-3.0-SNAPSHOT"
+    integrationTestCompile "org.spockframework:spock-core:1.3-groovy-2.5"
+    integrationTestCompile "org.spockframework:spock-spring:1.3-groovy-2.5"
 
     // CSV file support
     compile 'com.opencsv:opencsv:4.4'
diff --git a/beacon/core/build.gradle b/beacon/core/build.gradle
index 5c9689ebd..c80df0931 100644
--- a/beacon/core/build.gradle
+++ b/beacon/core/build.gradle
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 import org.springframework.boot.gradle.plugin.SpringBootPlugin
 
 plugins {
-    id 'org.springframework.boot' version '2.0.0.RELEASE' apply false
+    id 'org.springframework.boot' version '2.4.2' apply false
     id 'io.spring.dependency-management' version '1.0.6.RELEASE'
 }
 
 apply plugin: 'groovy'
-sourceCompatibility = 1.8
-targetCompatibility = 1.8
+sourceCompatibility = 11
+targetCompatibility = 11
 
 repositories {
     jcenter()
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ dependencyManagement {
 
 dependencies {
     testCompile "org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-test"
-    testCompile "org.spockframework:spock-core:1.1-groovy-2.4"
-    testCompile "org.spockframework:spock-spring:1.1-groovy-2.4"
+    testCompile "org.spockframework:spock-core:1.3-groovy-2.5"
+    testCompile "org.spockframework:spock-spring:1.3-groovy-2.5"
 
     testCompile 'org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter-api:5.5.2'
     testCompile 'org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter-engine:5.5.2'
@@ -30,4 +30,4 @@ dependencies {
 
 jar {
     archiveName = "beacon-core-${version}.jar"
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 71b9f0b2b..779b57b73 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ version=2.0.0-RC1-SNAPSHOT
 shibboleth.version=3.4.4
 opensaml.version=3.4.3
 
-spring-boot.version=2.1.5.RELEASE
+spring-boot.version=2.4.2
 
 hibernate.version=5.3.14.Final