diff --git a/build-system/azure-pipeline.template.yaml b/build-system/azure-pipeline.template.yaml
index 696095d8..1e0ced17 100644
--- a/build-system/azure-pipeline.template.yaml
+++ b/build-system/azure-pipeline.template.yaml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ jobs:
         persistCredentials: true
       # Linux or macOS
       - bash: |
-          sudo npm install -g azurite@3.17.1
+          sudo npm install -g azurite@3.18.0
           sudo mkdir azurite
           sudo azurite --silent --location azurite --debug azirute/debug.log &
         displayName: 'Install and Run Azurite (Linux)'
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ jobs:
           AZURE_CONNECTION_STR: UseDevelopmentStorage=true
       # Windows
       - powershell: |
-          npm install -g azurite@3.17.1
+          npm install -g azurite@3.18.0
           mkdir azurite
           Start-Process azurite.cmd -PassThru
         displayName: 'Install and Run Azurite (Windows)'
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.Azure.Tests/Hosting/AzurePersistenceHostingSanityCheck.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.Azure.Tests/Hosting/AzurePersistenceHostingSanityCheck.cs
index 289ea86f..7ed2e8e8 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.Azure.Tests/Hosting/AzurePersistenceHostingSanityCheck.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.Azure.Tests/Hosting/AzurePersistenceHostingSanityCheck.cs
@@ -14,11 +14,12 @@
 
 namespace Akka.Persistence.Azure.Tests.Hosting
 {
+    [Collection("AzureSpecs")]
     public class AzurePersistenceHostingSanityCheck
     {
         public static async Task<IHost> StartHost(Action<AkkaConfigurationBuilder> testSetup)
         {
-            var conn = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AZURE_CONNECTION_STR");
+            var conn = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AZURE_CONNECTION_STR") ?? "UseDevelopmentStorage=true";
             var host = new HostBuilder()
                 .ConfigureServices(collection =>
                 {
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.Azure/Akka.Persistence.Azure.csproj b/src/Akka.Persistence.Azure/Akka.Persistence.Azure.csproj
index 46446b59..61690f68 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.Azure/Akka.Persistence.Azure.csproj
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.Azure/Akka.Persistence.Azure.csproj
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     <PackageReference Include="Akka.Persistence.Query" Version="$(AkkaVersion)" />
     <PackageReference Include="Azure.Data.Tables" Version="12.6.1" />
     <PackageReference Include="Azure.Identity" Version="1.6.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Azure.Storage.Blobs" Version="12.12.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Azure.Storage.Blobs" Version="12.13.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="System.Linq.Async" Version="6.0.1" />
   </ItemGroup>