diff --git a/.pipelines/ci.yml b/.pipelines/ci.yml
index 7ff841d9b50..a689a28fcf1 100644
--- a/.pipelines/ci.yml
+++ b/.pipelines/ci.yml
@@ -11,22 +11,20 @@ trigger:
     include:
       - v2*
 
-# PR triggers are overridden in the ADO UI
-
-resources:
-  containers:
-    - container: golang
-      image: mcr.microsoft.com/onebranch/cbl-mariner/build:2.0
-      options: --user=0
-    - container: python
-      image: registry.access.redhat.com/ubi8/python-39:latest
-      options: --user=0
-    - container: ubi8
-      image: registry.access.redhat.com/ubi8/toolbox:8.8
-      options: --user=0 --privileged -v /dev/shm:/dev/shm --device /dev/net/tun --name vpn
-
 variables:
   - template: vars.yml
+  - name: REGISTRY
+    value: registry.access.redhat.com
+  - name: LOCAL_ARO_RP_IMAGE
+    value: "arosvcdev.azurecr.io/aro"
+  - name: LOCAL_ARO_AZEXT_IMAGE
+    value: "arosvcdev.azurecr.io/azext-aro"
+  - name: LOCAL_VPN_IMAGE
+    value: "arosvcdev.azurecr.io/vpn"
+  - name: TAG
+    value: $(Build.BuildId)
+  - name: VERSION
+    value: $(Build.BuildId)
 
 jobs:
   - job: Build_Test_And_Push_Az_ARO_Extension
@@ -38,7 +36,7 @@ jobs:
       # Build and test the Az ARO Extension
       - script: |
           set -xe
-          DOCKER_BUILD_CI_ARGS="--load" make ci-azext-aro VERSION=$(Build.BuildId)
+          DOCKER_BUILD_CI_ARGS="--load" make ci-azext-aro VERSION=$(VERSION)
         displayName: 🛠 Build & Test Az ARO Extension
 
       # Push the image to ACR
@@ -57,7 +55,7 @@ jobs:
       # Build and test RP and Portal
       - script: |
           set -xe
-          DOCKER_BUILD_CI_ARGS="--load" make ci-rp VERSION=$(Build.BuildId)
+          DOCKER_BUILD_CI_ARGS="--load" make ci-rp VERSION=$(VERSION)
         displayName: 🛠 Build & Test RP and Portal
 
       # Publish test results
diff --git a/.pipelines/templates/template-acr-push.yml b/.pipelines/templates/template-acr-push.yml
index aadf07132a2..8a37d3bdd97 100644
--- a/.pipelines/templates/template-acr-push.yml
+++ b/.pipelines/templates/template-acr-push.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ parameters:
     default: false
 
 steps:
-  # Authenticate to ACR and push the image
   - task: AzureCLI@2
     displayName: 'Authenticate to Azure and Push Docker Image'
     inputs:
@@ -20,6 +19,24 @@ steps:
       scriptLocation: 'inlineScript'
       inlineScript: |
         set -xe
+
+        # Install Docker dependencies
+        echo "Installing Docker and Docker Compose Plugin..."
+        sudo apt-get update
+        sudo apt-get install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg
+        sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
+        curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo tee /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
+        sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
+        echo \
+          "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \
+          $(. /etc/os-release && echo \"$VERSION_CODENAME\") stable" | \
+          sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
+        sudo apt-get update
+        sudo apt-get install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin
+        sudo systemctl start docker
+        sudo systemctl enable docker
+
+        # Authenticate to Azure and ACR
         echo "Authenticating to Azure and ACR..."
         ACR_FQDN="${{ parameters.acrFQDN }}"
         REGISTRY_NAME=$(echo $ACR_FQDN | cut -d'.' -f1)
@@ -31,38 +48,45 @@ steps:
         echo "Listing Docker images..."
         docker images
 
-        # Ensure the image is available locally before tagging the build ID
-        IMAGE_NAME="${{ parameters.repository }}:$(Build.BuildId)"
+        # Define both the full repository image name and the local name
+        IMAGE_NAME="${ACR_FQDN}/${{ parameters.repository }}:$(VERSION)"
+        LOCAL_IMAGE="${{ parameters.repository }}:$(VERSION)"
+
+        # Check if the image exists locally with the full repository tag
+        echo "Checking for image $IMAGE_NAME..."
         if [[ "$(docker images -q $IMAGE_NAME 2> /dev/null)" == "" ]]; then
-          echo "Error: Image $IMAGE_NAME not found. Exiting."
-          exit 1
+          # If the full repository tagged image does not exist, check for the local image
+          echo "Full repository image not found. Checking for local image $LOCAL_IMAGE..."
+          if [[ "$(docker images -q $LOCAL_IMAGE 2> /dev/null)" == "" ]]; then
+            echo "Error: Neither $IMAGE_NAME nor $LOCAL_IMAGE found. Exiting."
+            exit 1
+          else
+            # Retag the local image with the full repository path
+            echo "Local image $LOCAL_IMAGE found. Retagging with full repository path..."
+            docker tag $LOCAL_IMAGE $IMAGE_NAME
+          fi
+        else
+          echo "Image $IMAGE_NAME found. Proceeding to push..."
         fi
 
         # Ensure the image is available locally before tagging 'latest'
-        IMAGE_LATEST="${{ parameters.repository }}:latest"
+        IMAGE_LATEST="${ACR_FQDN}/${{ parameters.repository }}:latest"
+        echo "Checking for image $IMAGE_LATEST..."
         if [[ "$(docker images -q $IMAGE_LATEST 2> /dev/null)" == "" ]]; then
-          echo "Warning: Image $IMAGE_LATEST not found. Skipping latest tag."
+          echo "Warning: Image $IMAGE_LATEST not found. Skipping 'latest' tag."
           SKIP_LATEST=true
         else
+          echo "Image $IMAGE_LATEST found. Proceeding with 'latest' tag."
           SKIP_LATEST=false
         fi
 
-        # Tag the image with the ACR repository for the build ID
-        echo "Tagging image with build ID..."
-        docker tag $IMAGE_NAME ${ACR_FQDN}/${{ parameters.repository }}:$(Build.BuildId)
-
-        # If the latest image exists, tag it as well
-        if [ "$SKIP_LATEST" == "false" ]; then
-          echo "Tagging image with 'latest'..."
-          docker tag $IMAGE_LATEST ${ACR_FQDN}/${{ parameters.repository }}:latest
-        fi
-
-        # Push the Docker image to ACR with build ID
+        # Push the Docker image to ACR with the build ID
         echo "Pushing image with build ID to ACR..."
-        docker push ${ACR_FQDN}/${{ parameters.repository }}:$(Build.BuildId)
+        docker push $IMAGE_NAME
 
         # Optionally push the image as 'latest'
         if [ "${{ parameters.pushLatest }}" == "true" ] && [ "$SKIP_LATEST" == "false" ]; then
-          echo "Pushing 'latest' tag to ACR..."
-          docker push ${ACR_FQDN}/${{ parameters.repository }}:latest
+          echo "Tagging image with 'latest' and pushing..."
+          docker tag $IMAGE_NAME $IMAGE_LATEST
+          docker push $IMAGE_LATEST
         fi
diff --git a/Dockerfile.vpn b/Dockerfile.vpn
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..12bc93c3195
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile.vpn
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# Use a Microsoft-approved image
+FROM mcr.microsoft.com/azure-cli:2.61.0 AS base
+
+# Install OpenVPN
+USER root
+RUN apk add --no-cache openvpn || tdnf install -y openvpn || dnf install -y openvpn
+
+ENTRYPOINT openvpn
diff --git a/Dockerfile.vpn.dockerignore b/Dockerfile.vpn.dockerignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4ee7adaddb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile.vpn.dockerignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# ignore everything
+*
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0bffd9b7fb1..36c95bff746 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -399,29 +399,23 @@ ci-clean:
 
 .PHONY: ci-rp
 ci-rp: fix-macos-vendor
-	docker build . $(DOCKER_BUILD_CI_ARGS) \
+	docker build . ${DOCKER_BUILD_CI_ARGS} \
 		-f Dockerfile.ci-rp \
 		--ulimit=nofile=4096:4096 \
-		--build-arg REGISTRY=$(REGISTRY) \
-		--build-arg ARO_VERSION=$(VERSION) \
-		--no-cache=$(NO_CACHE) \
+		--build-arg REGISTRY=${REGISTRY} \
+		--build-arg ARO_VERSION=${VERSION} \
+		--no-cache=${NO_CACHE} \
 		--target=builder \
-		-t $(LOCAL_ARO_RP_BUILD_IMAGE):$(VERSION)
+		-t ${LOCAL_ARO_RP_BUILD_IMAGE}:${VERSION}
 
-	docker build . $(DOCKER_BUILD_CI_ARGS) \
-		-f Dockerfile.ci-rp \
-		--ulimit=nofile=4096:4096 \
-		--build-arg REGISTRY=$(REGISTRY) \
-		--build-arg ARO_VERSION=$(VERSION) \
-		-t $(LOCAL_ARO_RP_IMAGE):$(VERSION)
+	docker compose build rp
 
 	# Extract test coverage files from build to local filesystem
-	docker create --name extract_cover_out $(LOCAL_ARO_RP_BUILD_IMAGE):$(VERSION); \
+	docker create --name extract_cover_out ${LOCAL_ARO_RP_BUILD_IMAGE}:${VERSION}; \
 	docker cp extract_cover_out:/app/report.xml ./report.xml; \
 	docker cp extract_cover_out:/app/coverage.xml ./coverage.xml; \
 	docker rm extract_cover_out;
 
-
 .PHONY: ci-tunnel
 ci-tunnel: fix-macos-vendor
 	podman $(PODMAN_REMOTE_ARGS) \
@@ -441,102 +435,13 @@ ifeq ($(shell uname -s),Darwin)
 	mv ./vendor/github.com/Microsoft ./vendor/github.com/temp-microsoft && mv ./vendor/github.com/temp-microsoft ./vendor/github.com/microsoft || true
 endif
 
-.PHONY: podman-secrets
-podman-secrets: aks.kubeconfig
-	podman $(PODMAN_REMOTE_ARGS) secret rm --ignore aks.kubeconfig
-	podman $(PODMAN_REMOTE_ARGS) secret create aks.kubeconfig ./aks.kubeconfig
-
-	podman $(PODMAN_REMOTE_ARGS) secret rm --ignore proxy-client.key
-	podman $(PODMAN_REMOTE_ARGS) secret create proxy-client.key ./secrets/proxy-client.key
-
-	podman $(PODMAN_REMOTE_ARGS) secret rm --ignore proxy-client.crt
-	podman $(PODMAN_REMOTE_ARGS) secret create proxy-client.crt ./secrets/proxy-client.crt
-
-	podman $(PODMAN_REMOTE_ARGS) secret rm --ignore proxy.crt
-	podman $(PODMAN_REMOTE_ARGS) secret create proxy.crt ./secrets/proxy.crt
-
 .PHONY: run-portal
-run-portal: ci-rp podman-secrets
-	podman $(PODMAN_REMOTE_ARGS) \
-		run \
-		--name aro-portal \
-		--rm \
-		-p 127.0.0.1:8444:8444 \
-		-p 127.0.0.1:2222:2222 \
-		--cap-drop net_raw \
-		-e RP_MODE \
-		-e AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID \
-		-e AZURE_TENANT_ID \
-		-e LOCATION \
-		-e RESOURCEGROUP \
-		-e AZURE_PORTAL_CLIENT_ID \
-		-e AZURE_PORTAL_ELEVATED_GROUP_IDS \
-		-e AZURE_PORTAL_ACCESS_GROUP_IDS \
-		-e AZURE_RP_CLIENT_SECRET \
-		-e AZURE_RP_CLIENT_ID \
-		-e KEYVAULT_PREFIX \
-		-e DATABASE_ACCOUNT_NAME \
-		-e DATABASE_NAME \
-		-e NO_NPM=1 \
-		--secret proxy-client.key,target=/app/secrets/proxy-client.key \
-		--secret proxy-client.crt,target=/app/secrets/proxy-client.crt \
-		--secret proxy.crt,target=/app/secrets/proxy.crt \
-		$(LOCAL_ARO_RP_IMAGE):$(VERSION) portal
+run-portal:
+	docker compose up portal
 
 # run-rp executes the RP locally as similarly as possible to production. That
 # includes the use of Hive, meaning you need a VPN connection.
 .PHONY: run-rp
-run-rp: ci-rp podman-secrets
-	podman $(PODMAN_REMOTE_ARGS) \
-		run \
-		--name aro-rp \
-		--rm \
-		-p 127.0.0.1:8443:8443 \
-		-w /app \
-		-e ARO_IMAGE \
-		-e RP_MODE="development" \
-		-e PROXY_HOSTNAME \
-		-e DOMAIN_NAME \
-		-e AZURE_RP_CLIENT_ID \
-		-e AZURE_FP_CLIENT_ID \
-		-e AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID \
-		-e AZURE_TENANT_ID \
-		-e AZURE_RP_CLIENT_SECRET \
-		-e LOCATION \
-		-e RESOURCEGROUP \
-		-e AZURE_ARM_CLIENT_ID \
-		-e AZURE_FP_SERVICE_PRINCIPAL_ID \
-		-e AZURE_DBTOKEN_CLIENT_ID \
-		-e AZURE_PORTAL_CLIENT_ID \
-		-e AZURE_PORTAL_ACCESS_GROUP_IDS \
-		-e AZURE_CLIENT_ID \
-		-e AZURE_SERVICE_PRINCIPAL_ID \
-		-e AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET \
-		-e AZURE_GATEWAY_CLIENT_ID \
-		-e AZURE_GATEWAY_SERVICE_PRINCIPAL_ID \
-		-e AZURE_GATEWAY_CLIENT_SECRET \
-		-e DATABASE_NAME \
-		-e PULL_SECRET \
-		-e SECRET_SA_ACCOUNT_NAME \
-		-e DATABASE_ACCOUNT_NAME \
-		-e KEYVAULT_PREFIX \
-		-e ADMIN_OBJECT_ID \
-		-e PARENT_DOMAIN_NAME \
-		-e PARENT_DOMAIN_RESOURCEGROUP \
-		-e AZURE_ENVIRONMENT \
-		-e STORAGE_ACCOUNT_DOMAIN \
-		-e OIDC_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_NAME \
-		-e KUBECONFIG="/app/secrets/aks.kubeconfig" \
-		-e HIVE_KUBE_CONFIG_PATH="/app/secrets/aks.kubeconfig" \
-		-e ARO_CHECKOUT_PATH="/app" \
-		-e ARO_INSTALL_VIA_HIVE="true" \
-		-e ARO_ADOPT_BY_HIVE="true" \
-		-e MOCK_MSI_TENANT_ID \
-		-e MOCK_MSI_CLIENT_ID \
-		-e MOCK_MSI_OBJECT_ID \
-		-e MOCK_MSI_CERT \
-		--secret aks.kubeconfig,target=/app/secrets/aks.kubeconfig \
-		--secret proxy-client.key,target=/app/secrets/proxy-client.key \
-		--secret proxy-client.crt,target=/app/secrets/proxy-client.crt \
-		--secret proxy.crt,target=/app/secrets/proxy.crt \
-		$(LOCAL_ARO_RP_IMAGE):$(VERSION) rp
+run-rp: aks.kubeconfig
+	docker compose rm -sf rp
+	docker compose up rp
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7d88a092198
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+services:
+  vpn:
+    image: ${LOCAL_VPN_IMAGE}:${VERSION}
+    build:
+      context: .
+      dockerfile: Dockerfile.vpn
+    container_name: vpn
+    privileged: true
+    network_mode: host
+    volumes:
+      - ${PWD}/secrets:/secrets:z
+    devices:
+      - /dev/net/tun  # required to modify VPN on host
+    entrypoint: "openvpn"
+    command: ["/secrets/vpn-eastus.ovpn"]
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD", "pidof", "openvpn"]
+      start_period: 20s
+      interval: 20s
+      timeout: 3s
+      retries: 3
+
+  rp:
+    image: ${LOCAL_ARO_RP_IMAGE}:${VERSION}
+    build:
+      context: .
+      dockerfile: Dockerfile.ci-rp
+      args:
+        - REGISTRY=${REGISTRY}
+        - ARO_VERSION=${VERSION}
+      ulimits:
+        nofile:
+          soft: 4096
+          hard: 4096
+    container_name: aro-rp
+    depends_on:
+      vpn:
+        condition: service_healthy
+    command: ["rp"]
+    secrets:
+      - source: proxy-client-key
+        target: /app/secrets/proxy-client.key
+      - source: proxy-client-crt
+        target: /app/secrets/proxy-client.crt
+      - source: proxy-crt
+        target: /app/secrets/proxy.crt
+      - source: hive-kubeconfig
+        target: /app/secrets/aks.kubeconfig
+    environment:
+      # inherit from host
+      - ADMIN_OBJECT_ID
+      - ARO_IMAGE
+      - AZURE_ARM_CLIENT_ID
+      - AZURE_CLIENT_ID
+      - AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET
+      - AZURE_DBTOKEN_CLIENT_ID
+      - AZURE_ENVIRONMENT
+      - AZURE_FP_CLIENT_ID
+      - AZURE_FP_SERVICE_PRINCIPAL_ID
+      - AZURE_GATEWAY_CLIENT_ID
+      - AZURE_GATEWAY_CLIENT_SECRET
+      - AZURE_GATEWAY_SERVICE_PRINCIPAL_ID
+      - AZURE_PORTAL_ACCESS_GROUP_IDS
+      - AZURE_PORTAL_CLIENT_ID
+      - AZURE_RP_CLIENT_ID
+      - AZURE_RP_CLIENT_SECRET
+      - AZURE_SERVICE_PRINCIPAL_ID
+      - AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID
+      - AZURE_TENANT_ID
+      - DATABASE_ACCOUNT_NAME
+      - DATABASE_NAME
+      - DOMAIN_NAME
+      - KEYVAULT_PREFIX
+      - LOCATION
+      - MOCK_MSI_CERT
+      - MOCK_MSI_CLIENT_ID
+      - MOCK_MSI_TENANT_ID
+      - OIDC_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_NAME
+      - PARENT_DOMAIN_NAME
+      - PARENT_DOMAIN_RESOURCEGROUP
+      - PROXY_HOSTNAME
+      - PULL_SECRET
+      - RESOURCEGROUP
+      - SECRET_SA_ACCOUNT_NAME
+      - STORAGE_ACCOUNT_DOMAIN
+
+      # override
+      - ARO_ADOPT_BY_HIVE=true
+      - ARO_CHECKOUT_PATH=/app
+      - ARO_INSTALL_VIA_HIVE=true
+      - HIVE_KUBE_CONFIG_PATH=/app/secrets/aks.kubeconfig
+      - KUBECONFIG=/app/secrets/aks.kubeconfig
+      - RP_MODE=development
+    expose:
+      - "8443"
+    ports:
+      - "127.0.0.1:8443:8443"
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD", "curl", "-k", "http://localhost:8443/healthz"]
+      interval: 30s
+      timeout: 30s
+      retries: 3
+    restart: on-failure:3
+
+  portal:
+    image: ${LOCAL_ARO_RP_IMAGE}:${VERSION}
+    container_name: aro-portal
+    depends_on:
+      rp:
+        condition: service_healthy
+    environment:
+      - RP_MODE
+      - AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID
+      - AZURE_TENANT_ID
+      - LOCATION
+      - RESOURCEGROUP
+      - AZURE_PORTAL_CLIENT_ID
+      - AZURE_PORTAL_ELEVATED_GROUP_IDS
+      - AZURE_PORTAL_ACCESS_GROUP_IDS
+      - AZURE_RP_CLIENT_SECRET
+      - AZURE_RP_CLIENT_ID
+      - KEYVAULT_PREFIX
+      - DATABASE_ACCOUNT_NAME
+      - DATABASE_NAME
+      - NO_NPM=1
+    ports:
+      - "127.0.0.1:8444:8444"
+      - "127.0.0.1:2222:2222"
+    secrets:
+      - source: proxy-client-key
+        target: /app/secrets/proxy-client.key
+      - source: proxy-client-crt
+        target: /app/secrets/proxy-client.crt
+      - source: proxy-crt
+        target: /app/secrets/proxy.crt
+    cap_drop:
+      - NET_RAW
+    command: ["portal"]
+    restart: on-failure:3
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD", "curl", "-k", "http://localhost:8444/healthz"]
+      interval: 30s
+      timeout: 10s
+      retries: 3
+
+secrets:
+  proxy-client-key:
+    file: ./secrets/proxy-client.key
+  proxy-client-crt:
+    file: ./secrets/proxy-client.crt
+  proxy-crt:
+    file: ./secrets/proxy.crt
+  hive-kubeconfig:
+    file: ./aks.kubeconfig
diff --git a/env.example b/env.example
index 96e92defd3d..b2a4135faaa 100644
--- a/env.example
+++ b/env.example
@@ -18,4 +18,11 @@ export MOCK_MSI_CERT="replace_with_value_output_by_hack/devtools/msi.sh"
 export MOCK_MSI_TENANT_ID="replace_with_value_output_by_hack/devtools/msi.sh"
 export PLATFORM_WORKLOAD_IDENTITY_ROLE_SETS="replace_with_value_output_by_hack/devtools/msi.sh"
 
+# you will need this to run-rp , vpn and ci-rp using Docker compose
+export REGISTRY=registry.access.redhat.com
+export LOCAL_ARO_RP_IMAGE=aro
+export VERSION=latest
+export TAG=latest
+export LOCAL_VPN_IMAGE=vpn
+
 . secrets/env