diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index c8f8016..4ae585a 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@ updates:
 - package-ecosystem: bundler
   directory: "/"
   schedule:
-    interval: daily
-    time: "13:00"
+    interval: weekly
+  open-pull-requests-limit: 10
+
+- package-ecosystem: github-actions
+  directory: "/"
+  schedule:
+    interval: weekly
   open-pull-requests-limit: 10
diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto_release_prep.yml b/.github/workflows/auto_release_prep.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..328a0b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto_release_prep.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+name: Automated release prep
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+jobs:
+  auto_release_prep:
+    uses: puppetlabs/release-engineering-repo-standards/.github/workflows/auto_release_prep.yml@v1
+    secrets: inherit
+    with:
+      project-type: ruby
+      version-file-path: lib/vmpooler-provider-ec2/version.rb
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dependabot_merge.yml b/.github/workflows/dependabot_merge.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..75b9cea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/dependabot_merge.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+name: Dependabot auto-merge
+
+on: pull_request
+
+jobs:
+  dependabot_merge:
+    uses: puppetlabs/release-engineering-repo-standards/.github/workflows/dependabot_merge.yml@v1
+    secrets: inherit
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ensure_label.yml b/.github/workflows/ensure_label.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..50a5fa8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ensure_label.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+name: Ensure label
+
+on: pull_request
+
+jobs:
+  ensure_label:
+    uses: puppetlabs/release-engineering-repo-standards/.github/workflows/ensure_label.yml@v1
+    secrets: inherit
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index e0538bf..f036f39 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: Release
+name: Release Gem
 
 on: workflow_dispatch
 
@@ -7,25 +7,77 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     if: github.repository == 'puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2'
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-      - name: Get Version
-        id: gv
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Get Current Version
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7
+        id: cv
+        with:
+          script: |
+            const { data: response } = await github.rest.repos.getLatestRelease({
+              owner: context.repo.owner,
+              repo: context.repo.repo,
+            })
+            console.log(`The latest release is ${response.tag_name}`)
+            return response.tag_name
+          result-encoding: string
+
+      - name: Get Next Version
+        id: nv
         run: |
-          echo "::set-output name=ver::$(grep VERSION lib/vmpooler-provider-ec2/version.rb |rev |cut -d "'" -f2 |rev)"
+          version=$(grep VERSION lib/vmpooler-provider-ec2/version.rb |rev |cut -d "'" -f2 |rev)
+          echo "version=$version" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "Found version $version from lib/vmpooler-provider-ec2/version.rb"
+
+      - name: Generate Changelog
+        uses: docker://githubchangeloggenerator/github-changelog-generator:1.16.2
+        with:
+          args: >-
+            --future-release ${{ steps.nv.outputs.version }}
+        env:
+          CHANGELOG_GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Validate Changelog
+        run : |
+          set -e
+          if [[ -n $(git status --porcelain) ]]; then
+            echo "Here is the current git status:"
+            git status
+            echo
+            echo "The following changes were detected:"
+            git --no-pager diff
+            echo "Uncommitted PRs found in the changelog. Please submit a release prep PR of changes after running `./update-changelog`"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+      - name: Generate Release Notes
+        uses: docker://githubchangeloggenerator/github-changelog-generator:1.16.2
+        with:
+          args: >-
+            --since-tag ${{ steps.cv.outputs.result }}
+            --future-release ${{ steps.nv.outputs.version }}
+            --output release-notes.md
+        env:
+          CHANGELOG_GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
       - name: Tag Release
         uses: ncipollo/release-action@v1
         with:
-          tag: ${{ steps.gv.outputs.ver }}
+          tag: ${{ steps.nv.outputs.version }}
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          bodyfile: release-notes.md
           draft: false
           prerelease: false
-          generateReleaseNotes: true
+
+      # This step should closely match what is used in `docker/Dockerfile` in vmpooler-deployment
       - name: Install Ruby jruby-9.3.6.0
         uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
         with:
           ruby-version: 'jruby-9.3.6.0'
+
       - name: Build gem
         run: gem build *.gemspec
+
       - name: Publish gem
         run: |
           mkdir -p $HOME/.gem
diff --git a/.github/workflows/security.yml b/.github/workflows/security.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba273f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/security.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+name: Security
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+
+jobs:
+  scan:
+    name: Mend Scanning
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - name: checkout repo content
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      with:
+        fetch-depth: 1
+    - name: setup ruby
+      uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
+      with:
+        ruby-version: 2.7
+    # setup a package lock if one doesn't exist, otherwise do nothing
+    - name: check lock
+      run: '[ -f "Gemfile.lock" ] && echo "package lock file exists, skipping" || bundle lock'
+    # install java
+    - uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+      with:
+        distribution: 'temurin' # See 'Supported distributions' for available options
+        java-version: '17'
+    # download mend
+    - name: download_mend
+      run: curl -o wss-unified-agent.jar https://unified-agent.s3.amazonaws.com/wss-unified-agent.jar
+    - name: run mend
+      run: java -jar wss-unified-agent.jar
+      env:
+        WS_APIKEY: ${{ secrets.MEND_API_KEY }}
+        WS_WSS_URL: https://saas-eu.whitesourcesoftware.com/agent
+        WS_USERKEY: ${{ secrets.MEND_TOKEN }}
+        WS_PRODUCTNAME: RE
+        WS_PROJECTNAME: ${{ github.event.repository.name }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/testing.yml b/.github/workflows/testing.yml
index 068495e..a5cb0a9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/testing.yml
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         ruby-version:
           - 'jruby-9.3.6.0'
+          - 'jruby-9.4.0.0'
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
     - name: Set up Ruby
       uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
       with:
@@ -35,8 +36,9 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         ruby-version:
           - 'jruby-9.3.6.0'
+          - 'jruby-9.4.0.0'
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
     - name: Set up Ruby
       uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
       with:
diff --git a/.github_changelog_generator b/.github_changelog_generator
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0572251
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github_changelog_generator
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+project=vmpooler-provider-ec2
+user=puppetlabs
+exclude_labels=maintenance
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..375e395
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# Changelog
+
+## [Unreleased](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/tree/HEAD)
+
+[Full Changelog](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/compare/0.0.2...HEAD)
+
+**Merged pull requests:**
+
+- \(RE-15111\) Migrate Snyk to Mend Scanning [\#12](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/pull/12) ([yachub](https://github.com/yachub))
+- \(RE-14811\) Remove DIO as codeowners [\#11](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/pull/11) ([yachub](https://github.com/yachub))
+- Add Snyk action [\#10](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/pull/10) ([yachub](https://github.com/yachub))
+- Add release-engineering to codeowners [\#9](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/pull/9) ([yachub](https://github.com/yachub))
+
+## [0.0.2](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/tree/0.0.2) (2022-08-02)
+
+[Full Changelog](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/compare/0.0.1...0.0.2)
+
+**Merged pull requests:**
+
+- Update version.rb [\#8](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/pull/8) ([sbeaulie](https://github.com/sbeaulie))
+
+## [0.0.1](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/tree/0.0.1) (2022-08-02)
+
+[Full Changelog](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/compare/be877a20c5dc7b7ba839ca2c046c6407d1ed22b4...0.0.1)
+
+**Merged pull requests:**
+
+- \(DIO-3163\) Implement Cloud DNS for EC2 VMs [\#7](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/pull/7) ([sbeaulie](https://github.com/sbeaulie))
+- \(DIO-3163\) Code improvements after initial testing in vmpooler [\#6](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/pull/6) ([sbeaulie](https://github.com/sbeaulie))
+- Revert "Update net-ssh requirement from ~\> 6.2.0.rc2 to \>= 6.2, \< 7.1" [\#4](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/pull/4) ([sbeaulie](https://github.com/sbeaulie))
+- Change the way we load secrets so that we do not have to pass them as… [\#3](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/pull/3) ([sbeaulie](https://github.com/sbeaulie))
+- Update net-ssh requirement from ~\> 6.2.0.rc2 to \>= 6.2, \< 7.1 [\#2](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/pull/2) ([dependabot[bot]](https://github.com/apps/dependabot))
+- Added aws dependency and renamed directories [\#1](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-provider-ec2/pull/1) ([sbeaulie](https://github.com/sbeaulie))
+
+
+
+\* *This Changelog was automatically generated by [github_changelog_generator](https://github.com/github-changelog-generator/github-changelog-generator)*
diff --git a/CODEOWNERS b/CODEOWNERS
index d77da6c..75e4feb 100644
--- a/CODEOWNERS
+++ b/CODEOWNERS
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 # added by slack-gitbot
-* @puppetlabs/dio
\ No newline at end of file
+* @puppetlabs/release-engineering
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c4f918
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -0,0 +1,264 @@
+PATH
+  remote: .
+  specs:
+    vmpooler-provider-ec2 (0.0.2)
+      aws-sdk-ec2 (~> 1)
+      net-ssh (>= 6.2, < 7.1)
+      vmpooler (~> 2.3, >= 1.3.0)
+      vmpooler-provider-gce (~> 0.4, >= 0.4.0)
+
+GEM
+  remote: https://rubygems.org/
+  specs:
+    addressable (2.8.1)
+      public_suffix (>= 2.0.2, < 6.0)
+    ast (2.4.2)
+    aws-eventstream (1.2.0)
+    aws-partitions (1.834.0)
+    aws-sdk-core (3.185.1)
+      aws-eventstream (~> 1, >= 1.0.2)
+      aws-partitions (~> 1, >= 1.651.0)
+      aws-sigv4 (~> 1.5)
+      jmespath (~> 1, >= 1.6.1)
+    aws-sdk-ec2 (1.412.0)
+      aws-sdk-core (~> 3, >= 3.184.0)
+      aws-sigv4 (~> 1.1)
+    aws-sigv4 (1.6.0)
+      aws-eventstream (~> 1, >= 1.0.2)
+    bindata (2.4.14)
+    builder (3.2.4)
+    climate_control (1.2.0)
+    coderay (1.1.3)
+    concurrent-ruby (1.2.0)
+    connection_pool (2.3.0)
+    declarative (0.0.20)
+    deep_merge (1.2.2)
+    diff-lcs (1.5.1)
+    docile (1.4.0)
+    faraday (2.7.4)
+      faraday-net_http (>= 2.0, < 3.1)
+      ruby2_keywords (>= 0.0.4)
+    faraday-net_http (3.0.2)
+    ffi (1.15.5-java)
+    google-apis-compute_v1 (0.60.0)
+      google-apis-core (>= 0.9.1, < 2.a)
+    google-apis-core (0.10.0)
+      addressable (~> 2.5, >= 2.5.1)
+      googleauth (>= 0.16.2, < 2.a)
+      httpclient (>= 2.8.1, < 3.a)
+      mini_mime (~> 1.0)
+      representable (~> 3.0)
+      retriable (>= 2.0, < 4.a)
+      rexml
+      webrick
+    google-apis-dns_v1 (0.29.0)
+      google-apis-core (>= 0.9.1, < 2.a)
+    google-cloud-core (1.6.0)
+      google-cloud-env (~> 1.0)
+      google-cloud-errors (~> 1.0)
+    google-cloud-dns (0.35.1)
+      google-apis-dns_v1 (~> 0.1)
+      google-cloud-core (~> 1.6)
+      googleauth (>= 0.16.2, < 2.a)
+      zonefile (~> 1.04)
+    google-cloud-env (1.6.0)
+      faraday (>= 0.17.3, < 3.0)
+    google-cloud-errors (1.3.0)
+    googleauth (1.2.0)
+      faraday (>= 0.17.3, < 3.a)
+      jwt (>= 1.4, < 3.0)
+      memoist (~> 0.16)
+      multi_json (~> 1.11)
+      os (>= 0.9, < 2.0)
+      signet (>= 0.16, < 2.a)
+    httpclient (2.8.3)
+    jmespath (1.6.2)
+    json (2.6.3)
+    json (2.6.3-java)
+    jwt (2.6.0)
+    memoist (0.16.2)
+    method_source (1.0.0)
+    mini_mime (1.1.2)
+    mock_redis (0.36.0)
+      ruby2_keywords
+    multi_json (1.15.0)
+    mustermann (2.0.2)
+      ruby2_keywords (~> 0.0.1)
+    net-ldap (0.17.1)
+    net-ssh (7.0.1)
+    nio4r (2.5.2)
+    nio4r (2.5.2-java)
+    opentelemetry-api (1.1.0)
+    opentelemetry-common (0.19.6)
+      opentelemetry-api (~> 1.0)
+    opentelemetry-exporter-jaeger (0.20.1)
+      opentelemetry-api (~> 1.0)
+      opentelemetry-common (~> 0.19.2)
+      opentelemetry-sdk (~> 1.0)
+      thrift
+    opentelemetry-instrumentation-base (0.19.0)
+      opentelemetry-api (~> 1.0)
+    opentelemetry-instrumentation-concurrent_ruby (0.19.2)
+      opentelemetry-api (~> 1.0)
+      opentelemetry-instrumentation-base (~> 0.19.0)
+    opentelemetry-instrumentation-http_client (0.19.4)
+      opentelemetry-api (~> 1.0)
+      opentelemetry-common (~> 0.19.3)
+      opentelemetry-instrumentation-base (~> 0.19.0)
+    opentelemetry-instrumentation-redis (0.21.3)
+      opentelemetry-api (~> 1.0)
+      opentelemetry-common (~> 0.19.3)
+      opentelemetry-instrumentation-base (~> 0.19.0)
+    opentelemetry-instrumentation-sinatra (0.19.3)
+      opentelemetry-api (~> 1.0)
+      opentelemetry-common (~> 0.19.3)
+      opentelemetry-instrumentation-base (~> 0.19.0)
+    opentelemetry-registry (0.2.0)
+      opentelemetry-api (~> 1.1)
+    opentelemetry-resource_detectors (0.19.1)
+      google-cloud-env
+      opentelemetry-sdk
+    opentelemetry-sdk (1.2.0)
+      opentelemetry-api (~> 1.1)
+      opentelemetry-common (~> 0.19.3)
+      opentelemetry-registry (~> 0.2)
+      opentelemetry-semantic_conventions
+    opentelemetry-semantic_conventions (1.8.0)
+      opentelemetry-api (~> 1.0)
+    os (1.1.4)
+    parallel (1.23.0)
+    parser (3.2.2.1)
+      ast (~> 2.4.1)
+    pickup (0.0.11)
+    prometheus-client (2.1.0)
+    pry (0.14.2)
+      coderay (~> 1.1)
+      method_source (~> 1.0)
+    pry (0.14.2-java)
+      coderay (~> 1.1)
+      method_source (~> 1.0)
+      spoon (~> 0.0)
+    public_suffix (5.0.1)
+    puma (5.6.5)
+      nio4r (~> 2.0)
+    puma (5.6.5-java)
+      nio4r (~> 2.0)
+    rack (2.2.6.4)
+    rack-protection (2.2.4)
+      rack
+    rack-test (2.1.0)
+      rack (>= 1.3)
+    rainbow (3.1.1)
+    rake (13.0.6)
+    redis (4.8.0)
+    regexp_parser (2.8.0)
+    representable (3.2.0)
+      declarative (< 0.1.0)
+      trailblazer-option (>= 0.1.1, < 0.2.0)
+      uber (< 0.2.0)
+    retriable (3.1.2)
+    rexml (3.2.5)
+    rspec (3.13.0)
+      rspec-core (~> 3.13.0)
+      rspec-expectations (~> 3.13.0)
+      rspec-mocks (~> 3.13.0)
+    rspec-core (3.13.0)
+      rspec-support (~> 3.13.0)
+    rspec-expectations (3.13.0)
+      diff-lcs (>= 1.2.0, < 2.0)
+      rspec-support (~> 3.13.0)
+    rspec-mocks (3.13.0)
+      diff-lcs (>= 1.2.0, < 2.0)
+      rspec-support (~> 3.13.0)
+    rspec-support (3.13.0)
+    rubocop (1.50.2)
+      json (~> 2.3)
+      parallel (~> 1.10)
+      parser (>= 3.2.0.0)
+      rainbow (>= 2.2.2, < 4.0)
+      regexp_parser (>= 1.8, < 3.0)
+      rexml (>= 3.2.5, < 4.0)
+      rubocop-ast (>= 1.28.0, < 2.0)
+      ruby-progressbar (~> 1.7)
+      unicode-display_width (>= 2.4.0, < 3.0)
+    rubocop-ast (1.28.1)
+      parser (>= 3.2.1.0)
+    ruby-progressbar (1.13.0)
+    ruby2_keywords (0.0.5)
+    signet (0.17.0)
+      addressable (~> 2.8)
+      faraday (>= 0.17.5, < 3.a)
+      jwt (>= 1.5, < 3.0)
+      multi_json (~> 1.10)
+    simplecov (0.22.0)
+      docile (~> 1.1)
+      simplecov-html (~> 0.11)
+      simplecov_json_formatter (~> 0.1)
+    simplecov-html (0.12.3)
+    simplecov_json_formatter (0.1.4)
+    sinatra (2.2.4)
+      mustermann (~> 2.0)
+      rack (~> 2.2)
+      rack-protection (= 2.2.4)
+      tilt (~> 2.0)
+    spicy-proton (2.1.15)
+      bindata (~> 2.3)
+    spoon (0.0.6)
+      ffi
+    statsd-ruby (1.5.0)
+    thor (1.2.2)
+    thrift (0.17.0)
+    tilt (2.0.11)
+    trailblazer-option (0.1.2)
+    uber (0.1.0)
+    unicode-display_width (2.4.2)
+    vmpooler (2.5.0)
+      concurrent-ruby (~> 1.1)
+      connection_pool (~> 2.2)
+      deep_merge (~> 1.2)
+      net-ldap (~> 0.16)
+      opentelemetry-exporter-jaeger (= 0.20.1)
+      opentelemetry-instrumentation-concurrent_ruby (= 0.19.2)
+      opentelemetry-instrumentation-http_client (= 0.19.4)
+      opentelemetry-instrumentation-redis (= 0.21.3)
+      opentelemetry-instrumentation-sinatra (= 0.19.3)
+      opentelemetry-resource_detectors (= 0.19.1)
+      opentelemetry-sdk (~> 1.0, >= 1.0.2)
+      pickup (~> 0.0.11)
+      prometheus-client (~> 2.0)
+      puma (~> 5.0, >= 5.0.4)
+      rack (~> 2.2)
+      rake (~> 13.0)
+      redis (~> 4.1)
+      sinatra (~> 2.0)
+      spicy-proton (~> 2.1)
+      statsd-ruby (~> 1.4)
+    vmpooler-provider-gce (0.4.0)
+      google-apis-compute_v1 (~> 0.14)
+      google-cloud-dns (~> 0.35.1)
+      googleauth (>= 0.16.2, < 1.3.0)
+    webrick (1.8.1)
+    yarjuf (2.0.0)
+      builder
+      rspec (~> 3)
+    zonefile (1.06)
+
+PLATFORMS
+  universal-java-1.8
+  universal-java-11
+  x86_64-linux
+
+DEPENDENCIES
+  climate_control (>= 0.2.0)
+  mock_redis (>= 0.17.0)
+  pry
+  rack-test (>= 0.6)
+  rspec (>= 3.2)
+  rubocop (~> 1.50.2)
+  simplecov (>= 0.11.2)
+  thor (~> 1.0, >= 1.0.1)
+  vmpooler-provider-ec2!
+  yarjuf (>= 2.0)
+
+BUNDLED WITH
+   2.4.5
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2909f3f..9d79a66 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 # vmpooler-provider-aws
 
+- [vmpooler-provider-aws](#vmpooler-provider-aws)
+  - [Usage](#usage)
+    - [Provisioning the new nodes](#provisioning-the-new-nodes)
+    - [DNS](#dns)
+    - [Labels](#labels)
+    - [Pre-requisite](#pre-requisite)
+  - [Update the Gemfile Lock](#update-the-gemfile-lock)
+  - [Releasing](#releasing)
+  - [License](#license)
+
 This is a provider for [VMPooler](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler) allows using aws to create instances, disks,
 snapshots, or destroy instances for specific pools.
 
@@ -55,6 +65,22 @@ do not have the pool label, and can be configured to allow a specific list of un
 - An IAM user must exist in the target AWS account with permissions to create, delete vms etc
 - if using DNS see section above, and a service account with permissions to change Cloud DNS need to exist
 
+## Update the Gemfile Lock
+
+To update the `Gemfile.lock` run `./update-gemfile-lock`.
+
+Verify, and update if needed, that the docker tag in the script and GitHub action workflows matches what is used in the [vmpooler-deployment Dockerfile](https://github.com/puppetlabs/vmpooler-deployment/blob/main/docker/Dockerfile).
+
+## Releasing
+
+Follow these steps to publish a new GitHub release, and build and push the gem to <https://rubygems.org>.
+
+1. Bump the "VERSION" in `lib/vmpooler-provider-ec2/version.rb` appropriately based on changes in `CHANGELOG.md` since the last release.
+2. Run `./update-gemfile-lock` to update `Gemfile.lock`.
+3. Run `./update-changelog` to update `CHANGELOG.md`.
+4. Commit and push changes to a new branch, then open a pull request against `main` and be sure to add the "maintenance" label.
+5. After the pull request is approved and merged, then navigate to Actions --> Release Gem --> run workflow --> Branch: main --> Run workflow.
+
 ## License
 
 vmpooler-provider-aws is distributed under the [Apache License, Version 2.0](http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html). See the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for more details.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/vmpooler-provider-ec2/version.rb b/lib/vmpooler-provider-ec2/version.rb
index 54be4c7..a128ca4 100644
--- a/lib/vmpooler-provider-ec2/version.rb
+++ b/lib/vmpooler-provider-ec2/version.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 module VmpoolerProviderEc2
-  VERSION = '0.0.1'
+  VERSION = '0.0.2'
 end
diff --git a/lib/vmpooler/providers/ec2.rb b/lib/vmpooler/providers/ec2.rb
index f857f86..2a8a647 100644
--- a/lib/vmpooler/providers/ec2.rb
+++ b/lib/vmpooler/providers/ec2.rb
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ module Vmpooler
         # check if a vm is ready by opening a socket on port 22
         # if a domain is set, it will use vn_name.domain,
         # if not then it will use the private dns name directly (AWS workaround)
-        def vm_ready?(pool_name, vm_name)
+        def vm_ready?(pool_name, vm_name, redis)
           begin
             domain_set = domain
             if domain_set.nil?
@@ -415,9 +415,10 @@ module Vmpooler
             end
             open_socket(vm_name, domain_set)
           rescue StandardError => e
-            @logger.log('s', "[!] [#{pool_name}] '#{vm_name}' instance cannot be reached by vmpooler on tcp port 22; #{e}")
+            redis.hset("vmpooler__vm__#{vm_name}", 'open_socket_error', e.to_s)
             return false
           end
+          redis.hdel("vmpooler__vm__#{vm_name}", 'open_socket_error')
           true
         end
 
diff --git a/release-prep b/release-prep
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..484c425
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-prep
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# The container tag should closely match what is used in `docker/Dockerfile` in vmpooler-deployment
+#
+# Update Gemfile.lock
+docker run -t --rm \
+  -v $(pwd):/app \
+  jruby:9.4.3.0-jdk11 \
+  /bin/bash -c 'apt-get update -qq && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends git make netbase && cd /app && gem install bundler && bundle install --jobs 3; echo "LOCK_FILE_UPDATE_EXIT_CODE=$?"'
+
+# Update Changelog
+docker run -t --rm -e CHANGELOG_GITHUB_TOKEN -v $(pwd):/usr/local/src/your-app \
+  githubchangeloggenerator/github-changelog-generator:1.16.2 \
+  github_changelog_generator --future-release $(grep VERSION lib/vmpooler-provider-ec2/version.rb |rev |cut -d "'" -f2 |rev)
diff --git a/update-gemfile-lock b/update-gemfile-lock
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..74e9c78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/update-gemfile-lock
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# The container tag should closely match what is used in `docker/Dockerfile` in vmpooler-deployment
+docker run -it --rm \
+  -v $(pwd):/app \
+  jruby:9.3.6-jdk \
+  /bin/bash -c 'apt-get update -qq && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends make git && cd /app && gem install bundler && bundle install --jobs 3 && bundle update; echo "LOCK_FILE_UPDATE_EXIT_CODE=$?"'
diff --git a/vmpooler-provider-ec2.gemspec b/vmpooler-provider-ec2.gemspec
index e084e70..e45a207 100644
--- a/vmpooler-provider-ec2.gemspec
+++ b/vmpooler-provider-ec2.gemspec
@@ -17,10 +17,8 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.require_paths = ["lib"]
   s.add_dependency 'aws-sdk-ec2', '~> 1'
   s.add_dependency 'net-ssh', '>= 6.2', '< 7.1'
-  
-  s.add_development_dependency 'vmpooler', '>= 1.3.0', '~> 2.3'
-  #s.add_development_dependency 'vmpooler-provider-gce', '>= 0.4.0', '~> 0.4'
-  s.add_development_dependency 'vmpooler-provider-gce', '>= 0.4.0', '~> 0.4'
+  s.add_dependency 'vmpooler', '>= 1.3.0', '~> 2.3'
+  s.add_dependency 'vmpooler-provider-gce', '>= 0.4.0', '~> 0.4'
 
   # Testing dependencies
   s.add_development_dependency 'climate_control', '>= 0.2.0'
@@ -28,7 +26,7 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.add_development_dependency 'pry'
   s.add_development_dependency 'rack-test', '>= 0.6'
   s.add_development_dependency 'rspec', '>= 3.2'
-  s.add_development_dependency 'rubocop', '~> 1.28.2'
+  s.add_development_dependency 'rubocop', '~> 1.50.2'
   s.add_development_dependency 'simplecov', '>= 0.11.2'
   s.add_development_dependency 'thor', '~> 1.0', '>= 1.0.1'
   s.add_development_dependency 'yarjuf', '>= 2.0'