diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d75acd1..b50bd96 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ The interaction between Order API in this project and it's consumers is governed
 2. Specmatic
 3. Docker Desktop (for running contract tests with containers)
 
+The service exposes its Actuator health endpoint at `/actuator/health` for readiness checks.
+
 ## Run Contract Tests
 Specmatic contract tests use the [specmatic.yaml](specmatic.yaml) configuration file to start the required specmatic mock before verifying the Order API.
 
@@ -79,4 +81,3 @@ docker run --rm --network host -v "%cd%/specmatic.yaml:/usr/src/app/specmatic.ya
 * [Specmatic Website](https://specmatic.io)
 * [Specmatic Documentation](https://docs.specmatic.io)
 
-
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 2f6e6e8..717e5ff 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -59,6 +59,12 @@
             <version>${spring.boot.version}</version>
         </dependency>
 
+        <dependency>
+            <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+            <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-actuator</artifactId>
+            <version>${spring.boot.version}</version>
+        </dependency>
+
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
             <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-security</artifactId>
@@ -140,6 +146,12 @@
             <artifactId>jaxb-runtime</artifactId>
             <version>4.0.9</version>
         </dependency>
+        <dependency>
+            <groupId>javax.xml.bind</groupId>
+            <artifactId>jaxb-api</artifactId>
+            <version>2.3.1</version>
+            <scope>test</scope>
+        </dependency>
     </dependencies>
 
     <build>
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/store/config/SecurityConfig.kt b/src/main/java/com/store/config/SecurityConfig.kt
index 9a426bd..4718651 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/store/config/SecurityConfig.kt
+++ b/src/main/java/com/store/config/SecurityConfig.kt
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ open class SecurityConfig {
             .sessionCreationPolicy(SessionCreationPolicy.STATELESS).and()
             .addFilter(filter)
             .authorizeRequests()
+            .requestMatchers("/actuator/health").permitAll()
             .anyRequest()
             .authenticated()
         return http.build()
@@ -31,4 +32,4 @@ open class SecurityConfig {
     companion object {
         const val API_TOKEN = "authenticate"
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/store/ContractTestUsingTestContainerTest.java b/src/test/java/com/store/ContractTestUsingTestContainerTest.java
index 5761728..d184ebe 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/store/ContractTestUsingTestContainerTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/store/ContractTestUsingTestContainerTest.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import com.store.model.DB;
 import org.assertj.core.api.Assertions;
+import org.awaitility.Awaitility;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.AfterAll;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeAll;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
@@ -13,6 +14,12 @@
 import org.testcontainers.containers.wait.strategy.Wait;
 import org.testcontainers.junit.jupiter.Testcontainers;
 
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.net.http.HttpClient;
+import java.net.http.HttpRequest;
+import java.net.http.HttpResponse;
+import java.time.Duration;
+
 @Testcontainers
 @SpringBootTest(webEnvironment = SpringBootTest.WebEnvironment.DEFINED_PORT)
 @EnabledIf(value = "isNonCIOrLinux", disabledReason = "Run only on Linux in CI; all platforms allowed locally")
@@ -33,6 +40,7 @@ private static String enterpriseImage(){
     static {
         testContainer = new GenericContainer<>(enterpriseImage())
                 .withCommand("test")
+                .withFileSystemBind(System.getProperty("user.home") + "/.specmatic", "/root/.specmatic", BindMode.READ_ONLY)
                 .withFileSystemBind("./specmatic.yaml", "/usr/src/app/specmatic.yaml", BindMode.READ_ONLY)
                 .withFileSystemBind("./build/reports/specmatic", "/usr/src/app/build/reports/specmatic", BindMode.READ_WRITE)
                 .withNetworkMode("host")
@@ -42,6 +50,7 @@ private static String enterpriseImage(){
 
         stubContainer = new GenericContainer<>(enterpriseImage())
                 .withCommand("mock")
+                .withFileSystemBind(System.getProperty("user.home") + "/.specmatic", "/root/.specmatic", BindMode.READ_ONLY)
                 .withFileSystemBind(
                         "./wsdls",
                         "/usr/src/app/wsdls",
@@ -70,7 +79,13 @@ public static void cleanUp(){
     }
 
     @Test
-    void specmaticContractTest() {
+    void specmaticContractTest() throws Exception {
+        HttpClient client = HttpClient.newHttpClient();
+        Awaitility.await().atMost(Duration.ofSeconds(30)).untilAsserted(() -> {
+            HttpRequest request = HttpRequest.newBuilder(URI.create("http://localhost:" + APPLICATION_PORT + "/actuator/health")).GET().build();
+            HttpResponse<Void> response = client.send(request, HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.discarding());
+            Assertions.assertThat(response.statusCode()).isEqualTo(200);
+        });
         stubContainer.start();
         testContainer.start();
         boolean hasSucceeded = testContainer.getLogs().contains("Failures: 0");