diff --git a/BUILD b/BUILD
index 72ae9c1..1dbc913 100644
--- a/BUILD
+++ b/BUILD
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
     ],
     resources = glob(["src/main/resources/**/*"]),
     deps = [
+        ":global-refdb-neverlink",
         "@amazon-aws-core//jar",
         "@amazon-dynamodb//jar",
         "@amazon-regions//jar",
@@ -25,7 +26,6 @@
         "@aws-java-sdk-core//jar",
         "@aws-java-sdk-dynamodb//jar",
         "@dynamodb-lock-client//jar",
-        "@global-refdb//jar",
         "@jackson-annotations//jar",
         "@jackson-core//jar",
         "@jackson-databind//jar",
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 
 junit_tests(
     name = "aws-dynamodb-refdb_tests",
+    timeout = "long",
     srcs = glob(["src/test/java/**/*.java"]),
     resources = glob(["src/test/resources/**/*"]),
     tags = ["aws-dynamodb-refdb"],
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@
     visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
     exports = PLUGIN_DEPS + PLUGIN_TEST_DEPS + [
         ":aws-dynamodb-refdb__plugin",
+        "//plugins/global-refdb",
         "@amazon-regions//jar",
         "@testcontainers//jar",
         "@docker-java-api//jar",
@@ -58,6 +60,11 @@
         "@jna//jar",
         "@testcontainer-localstack//jar",
         "@aws-java-sdk-dynamodb//jar",
-        "@global-refdb//jar",
     ],
 )
+
+java_library(
+    name = "global-refdb-neverlink",
+    neverlink = 1,
+    exports = ["//plugins/global-refdb"],
+)
diff --git a/Jenkinsfile b/Jenkinsfile
index 48cce50..b1692ff 100644
--- a/Jenkinsfile
+++ b/Jenkinsfile
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 pluginPipeline(formatCheckId: 'gerritforge:plugins-aws-dynamodb-refdb-code-style',
-                buildCheckId: 'gerritforge:plugins-aws-dynamodb-refdb-build-test')
+                buildCheckId: 'gerritforge:plugins-aws-dynamodb-refdb-build-test',
+                extraModules: [ 'global-refdb' ])
diff --git a/external_plugin_deps.bzl b/external_plugin_deps.bzl
index c3f2ea5..c3aa3e8 100644
--- a/external_plugin_deps.bzl
+++ b/external_plugin_deps.bzl
@@ -119,9 +119,3 @@
         artifact = "net.java.dev.jna:jna:5.5.0",
         sha1 = "0e0845217c4907822403912ad6828d8e0b256208",
     )
-
-    maven_jar(
-        name = "global-refdb",
-        artifact = "com.gerritforge:global-refdb:3.3.2.1",
-        sha1 = "00b6b0f39b3c8fc280a19d91fb0681954ebccd02",
-    )
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/AmazonDynamoDBProvider.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/AmazonDynamoDBProvider.java
index 76ec8c0..eb13649 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/AmazonDynamoDBProvider.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/AmazonDynamoDBProvider.java
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 
 package com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.validation.dfsrefdb.dynamodb;
 
+import com.amazonaws.auth.AWSCredentialsProvider;
 import com.amazonaws.auth.DefaultAWSCredentialsProviderChain;
+import com.amazonaws.auth.profile.ProfileCredentialsProvider;
 import com.amazonaws.client.builder.AwsClientBuilder;
 import com.amazonaws.regions.DefaultAwsRegionProviderChain;
 import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.AmazonDynamoDB;
@@ -48,6 +50,13 @@
             endpoint ->
                 builder.withEndpointConfiguration(
                     new AwsClientBuilder.EndpointConfiguration(endpoint.toASCIIString(), region)));
-    return builder.withCredentials(new DefaultAWSCredentialsProviderChain()).build();
+    return builder.withCredentials(getCredentialsProvider()).build();
+  }
+
+  private AWSCredentialsProvider getCredentialsProvider() {
+    return configuration
+        .getAwsConfigurationProfileName()
+        .<AWSCredentialsProvider>map(ProfileCredentialsProvider::new)
+        .orElse(new DefaultAWSCredentialsProviderChain());
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/Configuration.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/Configuration.java
index 791e1c7..01e2f4f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/Configuration.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/Configuration.java
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
   private final Optional<URI> endpoint;
   private final String refsDbTableName;
   private final String locksTableName;
+  private final Optional<String> awsConfigurationProfileName;
 
   @Inject
   Configuration(PluginConfigFactory configFactory, @PluginName String pluginName) {
@@ -44,12 +45,14 @@
     // TODO: add prefix
     this.refsDbTableName = pluginConfig.getString("refsDbTableName", DEFAULT_REFS_DB_TABLE_NAME);
     this.locksTableName = pluginConfig.getString("locksTableName", DEFAULT_LOCKS_TABLE_NAME);
+    this.awsConfigurationProfileName = Optional.ofNullable(pluginConfig.getString("profileName"));
     logger.atInfo().log(
-        "dynamodb-refdb configuration: refsDbTableName: %s|locksTableName:%s%s%s",
+        "dynamodb-refdb configuration: refsDbTableName: %s|locksTableName:%s%s%s%s",
         refsDbTableName,
         locksTableName,
         region.map(r -> String.format("|region: %s", r.id())).orElse(""),
-        endpoint.map(e -> String.format("|endpoint: %s", e.toASCIIString())).orElse(""));
+        endpoint.map(e -> String.format("|endpoint: %s", e.toASCIIString())).orElse(""),
+        awsConfigurationProfileName.map(p -> String.format("|profile: %s", p)).orElse(""));
   }
 
   Optional<Region> getRegion() {
@@ -73,4 +76,8 @@
   String getLocksTableName() {
     return locksTableName;
   }
+
+  Optional<String> getAwsConfigurationProfileName() {
+    return awsConfigurationProfileName;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/DynamoDBRefDatabase.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/DynamoDBRefDatabase.java
index 44822e9..933fd3f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/DynamoDBRefDatabase.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/DynamoDBRefDatabase.java
@@ -18,17 +18,20 @@
 import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.AmazonDynamoDB;
 import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.AmazonDynamoDBLockClient;
 import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.LockItem;
+import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.model.AttributeAction;
 import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.model.AttributeValue;
+import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.model.AttributeValueUpdate;
 import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.model.ConditionalCheckFailedException;
 import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.model.GetItemResult;
 import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.model.LockNotGrantedException;
 import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.model.UpdateItemRequest;
-import com.gerritforge.gerrit.globalrefdb.GlobalRefDatabase;
+import com.gerritforge.gerrit.globalrefdb.ExtendedGlobalRefDatabase;
 import com.gerritforge.gerrit.globalrefdb.GlobalRefDbLockException;
 import com.gerritforge.gerrit.globalrefdb.GlobalRefDbSystemError;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableMap;
 import com.google.common.flogger.FluentLogger;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project;
+import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project.NameKey;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import javax.inject.Singleton;
@@ -36,7 +39,7 @@
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Ref;
 
 @Singleton
-public class DynamoDBRefDatabase implements GlobalRefDatabase {
+public class DynamoDBRefDatabase implements ExtendedGlobalRefDatabase {
 
   public static final String REF_DB_PRIMARY_KEY = "refPath";
   public static final String REF_DB_VALUE_KEY = "refValue";
@@ -132,11 +135,10 @@
           project.get(), currValueForPath, newValueForPath);
       return true;
     } catch (ConditionalCheckFailedException e) {
-      throw new GlobalRefDbSystemError(
-          String.format(
-              "Conditional Check Failure when updating refPath %s. expected: %s New: %s",
-              refPath, currValueForPath, newValueForPath),
-          e);
+      logger.atWarning().withCause(e).log(
+          "Conditional Check Failure when updating refPath %s. expected: %s New: %s",
+          refPath, currValueForPath, newValueForPath);
+      return false;
     } catch (Exception e) {
       throw new GlobalRefDbSystemError(
           String.format(
@@ -147,6 +149,29 @@
   }
 
   @Override
+  public <T> void put(NameKey project, String refName, T value) throws GlobalRefDbSystemError {
+    String refPath = pathFor(project, refName);
+    String refValue =
+        Optional.ofNullable(value).map(Object::toString).orElse(ObjectId.zeroId().getName());
+    try {
+      dynamoDBClient.updateItem(
+          configuration.getRefsDbTableName(),
+          ImmutableMap.of(REF_DB_PRIMARY_KEY, new AttributeValue(refPath)),
+          ImmutableMap.of(
+              REF_DB_VALUE_KEY,
+              new AttributeValueUpdate(new AttributeValue(refValue), AttributeAction.PUT)));
+      logger.atFine().log(
+          "Updated path for project %s, path %s, value: %s", project.get(), refPath, refValue);
+    } catch (Exception e) {
+      throw new GlobalRefDbSystemError(
+          String.format(
+              "Error updating path for project %s, path %s. value: %s",
+              project.get(), refPath, refValue),
+          e);
+    }
+  }
+
+  @Override
   public AutoCloseable lockRef(Project.NameKey project, String refName)
       throws GlobalRefDbLockException {
     String refPath = pathFor(project, refName);
diff --git a/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md b/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
index ca94b64..0d871cc 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
+++ b/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     endpoint = http://localhost:4566
     locksTableName = lockTable
     refsDbTableName = refsDb
+    profileName = aws-dynamodb-refdb
 ```
 
 `plugin.aws-dynamodb-refdb.region`
@@ -33,4 +34,11 @@
 :   Optional. The name of the dynamoDB table used to store git refs and their
 associated sha1.
 
+`plugin.aws-dynamodb-refdb.profileName`
+:   Optional. The name of the aws configuration and credentials profile used to
+connect to the DynamoDb. See [Configuration and credential file settings](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/cli-configure-files.html)
+Default: When not specified credentials are provided via the Default Credentials
+Provider Chain, as explained [here](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sdk-for-java/v1/developer-guide/credentials.html)
+
+
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/ConfigurationTest.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/ConfigurationTest.java
index 5195c01..6b961d7 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/ConfigurationTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/ConfigurationTest.java
@@ -101,6 +101,26 @@
   }
 
   @Test
+  public void shouldReadEmptyAwsConfigurationProfileNameByDefault() {
+    when(pluginConfigFactoryMock.getFromGerritConfig(PLUGIN_NAME))
+        .thenReturn(pluginConfig.asPluginConfig());
+
+    Configuration configuration = new Configuration(pluginConfigFactoryMock, PLUGIN_NAME);
+    assertThat(configuration.getAwsConfigurationProfileName().isPresent()).isFalse();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldReadConfiguredAwsConfigurationProfileName() {
+    String profileName = "aws-dynamodb-refdb";
+    pluginConfig.setString("profileName", profileName);
+    when(pluginConfigFactoryMock.getFromGerritConfig(PLUGIN_NAME))
+        .thenReturn(pluginConfig.asPluginConfig());
+
+    Configuration configuration = new Configuration(pluginConfigFactoryMock, PLUGIN_NAME);
+    assertThat(configuration.getAwsConfigurationProfileName().get()).isEqualTo(profileName);
+  }
+
+  @Test
   public void shouldReadEmptyRegionByDefault() {
     when(pluginConfigFactoryMock.getFromGerritConfig(PLUGIN_NAME))
         .thenReturn(pluginConfig.asPluginConfig());
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/DynamoDBRefDatabaseIT.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/DynamoDBRefDatabaseIT.java
index ba9b81d..38b6dc8 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/DynamoDBRefDatabaseIT.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/validation/dfsrefdb/dynamodb/DynamoDBRefDatabaseIT.java
@@ -16,19 +16,11 @@
 
 import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertThat;
 import static com.google.common.truth.Truth8.assertThat;
-import static com.google.gerrit.testing.GerritJUnit.assertThrows;
 import static com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.validation.dfsrefdb.dynamodb.Configuration.DEFAULT_LOCKS_TABLE_NAME;
 import static com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.validation.dfsrefdb.dynamodb.Configuration.DEFAULT_REFS_DB_TABLE_NAME;
-import static com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.validation.dfsrefdb.dynamodb.DynamoDBRefDatabase.REF_DB_PRIMARY_KEY;
-import static com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.validation.dfsrefdb.dynamodb.DynamoDBRefDatabase.REF_DB_VALUE_KEY;
-import static com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.validation.dfsrefdb.dynamodb.DynamoDBRefDatabase.pathFor;
 import static org.testcontainers.containers.localstack.LocalStackContainer.Service.DYNAMODB;
 
 import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.AmazonDynamoDB;
-import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.model.AttributeValue;
-import com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.model.PutItemRequest;
-import com.gerritforge.gerrit.globalrefdb.GlobalRefDbSystemError;
-import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableMap;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.LightweightPluginDaemonTest;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.TestPlugin;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.WaitUtil;
@@ -169,6 +161,39 @@
   }
 
   @Test
+  public void putShouldBeSuccessfulWhenNoPreviousValueForRefExists() {
+    String refName = "refs/changes/01/01/meta";
+    String newRefValue = "533d3ccf8a650fb26380faa732921a2c74924d5c";
+
+    dynamoDBRefDatabase().put(project, refName, newRefValue);
+    Optional<String> result = dynamoDBRefDatabase().get(project, refName, String.class);
+    assertThat(result).hasValue(newRefValue);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void putShouldSuccessfullyUpdateRemovedRef() {
+    String refName = "refs/changes/01/01/meta";
+    String newRefValue = null;
+
+    dynamoDBRefDatabase().put(project, refName, newRefValue);
+    Optional<String> result = dynamoDBRefDatabase().get(project, refName, String.class);
+    assertThat(result).hasValue(ObjectId.zeroId().getName());
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void putShouldBeSuccessfulWhenUpdatingRef() {
+    String refName = "refs/changes/01/01/meta";
+    String oldValue = "123";
+    String newValue = "345";
+    dynamoDBRefDatabase().put(project, refName, oldValue);
+
+    dynamoDBRefDatabase().put(project, refName, newValue);
+
+    Optional<String> result = dynamoDBRefDatabase().get(project, refName, String.class);
+    assertThat(result).hasValue(newValue);
+  }
+
+  @Test
   public void compareAndPutShouldSuccessfullyUpdateRemovedRef() throws Exception {
     String refName = "refs/changes/01/01/meta";
     String currentRefValue = "533d3ccf8a650fb26380faa732921a2c74924d5c";
@@ -182,7 +207,7 @@
   }
 
   @Test
-  public void compareAndPutShouldThrowWhenStoredRefIsNotExpected() {
+  public void compareAndPutShouldReturnFalseWhenStoredRefIsNotExpected() {
     String refName = "refs/changes/01/01/meta";
     String currentRefValue = "533d3ccf8a650fb26380faa732921a2c74924d5c";
     String newRefValue = "9f6f2963cf44505428c61b935ff1ca65372cf28c";
@@ -190,20 +215,10 @@
     Ref expectedRef = refOf(refName, expectedRefValue);
 
     createRefInDynamoDB(project, refName, currentRefValue);
-
-    GlobalRefDbSystemError thrown =
-        assertThrows(
-            GlobalRefDbSystemError.class,
-            () ->
-                dynamoDBRefDatabase()
-                    .compareAndPut(project, expectedRef, ObjectId.fromString(newRefValue)));
-    assertThat(thrown)
-        .hasMessageThat()
-        .containsMatch(
-            "Conditional Check Failure when updating refPath.*expected:.*"
-                + expectedRefValue
-                + " New:.*"
-                + newRefValue);
+    assertThat(
+            dynamoDBRefDatabase()
+                .compareAndPut(project, expectedRef, ObjectId.fromString(newRefValue)))
+        .isFalse();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -235,16 +250,7 @@
   }
 
   private void createRefInDynamoDB(Project.NameKey project, String refPath, String refValue) {
-    dynamoDBClient()
-        .putItem(
-            new PutItemRequest()
-                .withTableName(DEFAULT_REFS_DB_TABLE_NAME)
-                .withItem(
-                    ImmutableMap.of(
-                        REF_DB_PRIMARY_KEY,
-                        new AttributeValue(pathFor(project, refPath)),
-                        REF_DB_VALUE_KEY,
-                        new AttributeValue(refValue))));
+    dynamoDBRefDatabase().put(project, refPath, refValue);
   }
 
   private Ref refOf(String refName, @Nullable String objectIdSha1) {