diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 0eb87ee6b..a4c42304f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        os: [ ubuntu-latest, windows-latest ]
-        java: [ '8' ]
+        os: [ ubuntu-latest ]
+        java: [ '17' ]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
@@ -46,6 +46,11 @@ jobs:
           restore-keys: |
             ${{ matrix.os }}-maven-
 
+      - name: Set up Maven
+        uses: stCarolas/setup-maven@v5
+        with:
+          maven-version: '3.9.8'
+
       - name: Build with maven
         run: mvn -B --errors --activate-profiles ci --no-transfer-progress package -DskipTests
 
@@ -63,7 +68,9 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: temurin
-          java-version: ${{ matrix.java }}
+          java-version: |
+            ${{ matrix.java }} 
+            17
 
       - uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
@@ -72,9 +79,14 @@ jobs:
           restore-keys: |
             ${{ matrix.os }}-maven-
 
+      - name: Set up Maven
+        uses: stCarolas/setup-maven@v5
+        with:
+          maven-version: '3.9.8'
+
       - name: Build and test with maven
         # Skip all static checks, they were already done in the compile jobs
-        run: mvn -B --errors --activate-profiles ci --no-transfer-progress package
+        run: mvn -B --errors --activate-profiles ci -DsurefireJdk${{ matrix.java }} -DsurefireJdk=${{ matrix.java }} --no-transfer-progress package
 
       - name: Archive test results and logs
         # if: success() || failure() to also get the test results on successful runs.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/master-build.yml b/.github/workflows/master-build.yml
index 7aa899eb8..c4c8d995c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/master-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/master-build.yml
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: temurin
-          java-version: '8'
+          java-version: '17'
           # Create a ~/.m2/settings.xml referencing these environment variable names
           server-id: 'apache.snapshots.https'
           server-username: NEXUS_USERNAME
diff --git a/.mvn/maven.config b/.mvn/maven.config
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6f7ab7285
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.mvn/maven.config
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+-Dworkspace.root.dir=${session.rootDirectory}
+-DprojectRoot=${session.rootDirectory}
diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index bfdb282b9..09d2d4c15 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -58,3 +58,8 @@ like any other registrar. It can be disabled via the system property
 
 ## Major Code Re-factoring
 
+### JDK requirements
+
+The project now requires JDK 17 at build time 
+[GH-536](https://github.com/apache/mina-sshd/issues/536), while the target runtime
+still remains unchanged to support JDK 8.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 906193ca8..b41afda43 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ Sensitive issues such as security vulnerabilities must be reported through [priv
 
 # Core requirements
 
-* Java 8+ (as of version 1.3)
+* Java 8+ at runtime (as of version 2.3)
+* Java 17+ at build time (as of version 2.14)
 
 * [Slf4j](https://www.slf4j.org/)
 
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 9d8abc090..6583e67a6 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -79,18 +79,15 @@
     </scm>
 
     <properties>
-        <projectRoot>${project.basedir}</projectRoot>
+        <minimalJavaBuildVersion>17</minimalJavaBuildVersion>
+        <surefireJdk>[${minimalJavaBuildVersion},)</surefireJdk>
+        <minimalMavenBuildVersion>3.9.8</minimalMavenBuildVersion>
+
         <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
         <project.build.outputTimestamp>2024-07-23T13:00:38Z</project.build.outputTimestamp>
 
-        <!-- NOTE: actual workspace root dir value updated by gmavenplus-plugin on initialization phase -->
-        <!-- workspace.root.dir>${project.basedir}</workspace.root.dir -->
-
-        <java.major.version>1</java.major.version>
-        <java.minor.version>8</java.minor.version>
         <java.sdk.version>8</java.sdk.version>
-        <sniffer.signatures.version>1.0</sniffer.signatures.version>
-        <javac.source>${java.major.version}.${java.minor.version}</javac.source>
+        <javac.source>${java.sdk.version}</javac.source>
         <project.build.java.source>${javac.source}</project.build.java.source>
         <maven.compiler.source>${javac.source}</maven.compiler.source>
         <ant.version>1.10.14</ant.version>
@@ -137,10 +134,25 @@
 
     <profiles>
         <profile>
-            <id>release</id>
-            <properties>
-                <required.java.version>[1.8,1.9)</required.java.version>
-            </properties>
+            <id>toolchains</id>
+            <activation>
+                <property>
+                    <name>surefireJdk</name>
+                </property>
+            </activation>
+            <build>
+                <plugins>
+                    <plugin>
+                        <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+                        <artifactId>maven-surefire-plugin</artifactId>
+                        <configuration>
+                            <jdkToolchain>
+                                <version>${surefireJdk}</version>
+                            </jdkToolchain>
+                        </configuration>
+                    </plugin>
+                </plugins>
+            </build>
         </profile>
 
         <profile>
@@ -318,21 +330,6 @@
                                                 <execute />
                                             </action>
                                         </pluginExecution>
-                                        <pluginExecution>
-                                            <pluginExecutionFilter>
-                                                <groupId>org.codehaus.gmavenplus</groupId>
-                                                <artifactId>gmavenplus-plugin</artifactId>
-                                                <versionRange>[1.0,)</versionRange>
-                                                <goals>
-                                                    <goal>compile</goal>
-                                                    <goal>execute</goal>
-                                                    <goal>testCompile</goal>
-                                                </goals>
-                                            </pluginExecutionFilter>
-                                            <action>
-                                                <execute />
-                                            </action>
-                                        </pluginExecution>
                                         <pluginExecution>
                                             <pluginExecutionFilter>
                                                 <groupId>org.apache.rat</groupId>
@@ -752,27 +749,6 @@
                         </excludes>
                     </configuration>
                 </plugin>
-                <plugin>
-                    <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>animal-sniffer-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-                    <version>1.23</version>
-                    <configuration>
-                        <signature>
-                            <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo.signature</groupId>
-                            <artifactId>java${java.major.version}${java.minor.version}</artifactId>
-                            <version>${sniffer.signatures.version}</version>
-                        </signature>
-                    </configuration>
-                        <!-- make sure the signatures artifact is downloaded -->
-                    <dependencies>
-                        <dependency>
-                            <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo.signature</groupId>
-                            <artifactId>java${java.major.version}${java.minor.version}</artifactId>
-                            <version>${sniffer.signatures.version}</version>
-                            <type>pom</type>
-                        </dependency>
-                    </dependencies>
-                </plugin>
                 <plugin>
                     <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                     <artifactId>maven-scm-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -844,56 +820,6 @@
                         </dependency>
                     </dependencies>
                 </plugin>
-                <plugin>
-                    <groupId>org.codehaus.gmavenplus</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>gmavenplus-plugin</artifactId>
-                    <version>3.0.2</version>
-                    <dependencies>
-                          <!-- referenced indirectly by groovy-ant -->
-                        <dependency>
-                            <groupId>org.apache.ant</groupId>
-                            <artifactId>ant</artifactId>
-                            <version>${ant.version}</version>
-                        </dependency>
-                        <dependency>
-                            <groupId>org.apache.ant</groupId>
-                            <artifactId>ant-launcher</artifactId>
-                            <version>${ant.version}</version>
-                        </dependency>
-                        <dependency>    <!-- replace ant-junit artifact -->
-                            <groupId>org.apache.ant</groupId>
-                            <artifactId>ant-junit4</artifactId>
-                            <version>${ant.version}</version>
-                        </dependency>
-                        <dependency>
-                            <groupId>org.apache.ant</groupId>
-                            <artifactId>ant-antlr</artifactId>
-                            <version>${ant.version}</version>
-                        </dependency>
-                        <dependency>
-                            <groupId>junit</groupId>
-                            <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
-                            <version>${junit.version}</version>
-                        </dependency>
-
-                        <dependency>
-                            <groupId>org.apache.groovy</groupId>
-                            <artifactId>groovy</artifactId>
-                            <version>${groovy.version}</version>
-                        </dependency>
-                        <dependency>
-                            <groupId>org.apache.groovy</groupId>
-                            <artifactId>groovy-ant</artifactId>
-                            <version>${groovy.version}</version>
-                            <exclusions>
-                                <exclusion> <!-- replaced by ant-junit4 -->
-                                    <groupId>org.apache.ant</groupId>
-                                    <artifactId>ant-junit</artifactId>
-                                </exclusion>
-                            </exclusions>
-                        </dependency>
-                    </dependencies>
-                </plugin>
                 <plugin>
                     <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                     <artifactId>maven-checkstyle-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -1091,52 +1017,10 @@
                         <staticGroups>java.,javax.,org.w3c.,org.xml.,junit.</staticGroups>
                     </configuration>
                 </plugin>
-                <plugin>
-                    <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>build-helper-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-                    <version>${build-helper-maven-plugin.version}</version>
-                </plugin>
             </plugins>
         </pluginManagement>
 
         <plugins>
-            <plugin>
-                <groupId>org.codehaus.gmavenplus</groupId>
-                <artifactId>gmavenplus-plugin</artifactId>
-                <executions>
-                    <!-- Works only for Maven 3.x -->
-                    <execution>
-                        <id>detect-workspace-root-dir</id>
-                        <!-- NOTE: phase must be BEFORE checkstyle plugin one -->
-                        <phase>validate</phase>
-                        <goals>
-                            <goal>execute</goal>
-                        </goals>
-                        <configuration>
-                            <scripts>
-                                <script>
-                                    <![CDATA[
-                                        for (java.io.File file = new java.io.File(new java.net.URI('${project.baseUri}')); file != null; file = file.getParentFile()) {
-                                            if (!file.isDirectory()) {
-                                                continue
-                                            }
-
-                                            java.io.File testFile = new java.io.File(file, 'LICENSE.txt')
-                                            if (testFile.canRead()) {
-                                                project.properties['workspace.root.dir'] = file.getAbsolutePath()
-                                                // System.out.println("Workspace root dir: " + project.properties['workspace.root.dir'])
-                                                return
-                                            }
-                                        }
-
-                                        System.err.println("Failed to detect workspace root dir")
-                                    ]]>
-                                </script>
-                            </scripts>
-                        </configuration>
-                    </execution>
-                </executions>
-            </plugin>
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>net.revelc.code.formatter</groupId>
                 <artifactId>formatter-maven-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -1206,19 +1090,6 @@
                    </execution>
                </executions>
            </plugin>
-            <plugin>
-                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
-                <artifactId>animal-sniffer-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-                <executions>
-                    <execution>
-                        <id>check-java-api</id>
-                        <phase>compile</phase>
-                        <goals>
-                            <goal>check</goal>
-                        </goals>
-                    </execution>
-                </executions>
-            </plugin>
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                 <artifactId>maven-enforcer-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -1430,18 +1301,6 @@
                         <manifestFile>${project.build.outputDirectory}/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF</manifestFile>
                     </archive>
                 </configuration>
-                <dependencies>
-                    <dependency>
-                        <groupId>org.apache.maven</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>maven-archiver</artifactId>
-                        <version>${maven.archiver.version}</version>
-                    </dependency>
-                    <dependency>
-                        <groupId>org.codehaus.plexus</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>plexus-archiver</artifactId>
-                        <version>${plexus.archiver.version}</version>
-                    </dependency>
-                </dependencies>
             </plugin>
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
@@ -1483,23 +1342,6 @@
                     </dependency>
                 </dependencies>
             </plugin>
-            <!-- Automatically remove artifacts from local repository on clean -->
-            <plugin>
-                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
-                <artifactId>build-helper-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-                <executions>
-                    <execution>
-                        <id>remove-previous-artifact</id>
-                        <phase>clean</phase>
-                        <goals>
-                            <goal>remove-project-artifact</goal>
-                        </goals>
-                        <configuration>
-                            <removeAll>false</removeAll>
-                        </configuration>
-                    </execution>
-                </executions>
-            </plugin>
         </plugins>
     </build>
 
diff --git a/sshd-ldap/pom.xml b/sshd-ldap/pom.xml
index 86c042e33..73f14c3b5 100644
--- a/sshd-ldap/pom.xml
+++ b/sshd-ldap/pom.xml
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
     <properties>
         <projectRoot>${project.basedir}/..</projectRoot>
         <apacheds.version>2.0.0.AM26</apacheds.version>
+        <surefire.argLine>--add-opens=java.base/sun.security.util=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/sun.security.x509=ALL-UNNAMED</surefire.argLine>
     </properties>
 
     <dependencyManagement>
@@ -127,6 +128,9 @@
                 <artifactId>maven-surefire-plugin</artifactId>
                 <configuration>
                     <redirectTestOutputToFile>true</redirectTestOutputToFile>
+                    <useModulePath>false</useModulePath>
+                    <!-- See https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/DIRSTUDIO-1277 -->
+                    <argLine>${surefire.argLine}</argLine>
                 </configuration>
             </plugin>
             <plugin>
@@ -141,23 +145,15 @@
     
     <profiles>
         <profile>
-            <id>test-on-java16+</id>
+            <id>surefireJdk8</id>
             <activation>
-                <jdk>[16,)</jdk>
+                <property>
+                    <name>surefireJdk8</name>
+                </property>
             </activation>
-            <build>
-                <plugins>
-                    <plugin>
-                        <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>maven-surefire-plugin</artifactId>
-                        <configuration>
-                            <useModulePath>false</useModulePath>
-                            <!-- See https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/DIRSTUDIO-1277 -->
-                            <argLine>--add-opens=java.base/sun.security.util=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/sun.security.x509=ALL-UNNAMED</argLine>
-                        </configuration>
-                    </plugin>
-                </plugins>
-            </build>
+            <properties>
+                <surefire.argLine />
+            </properties>
         </profile>
     </profiles>
 </project>