diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 747f84c76..ea4f36546 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ npm-debug.log*
 yarn-debug.log*
 yarn-error.log*
 lerna-debug.log*
-package-lock.json
 
 
 # Diagnostic reports (https://nodejs.org/api/report.html)
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/repo.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/repo.cy.js
index b627412d0..348345995 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/repo.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/repo.cy.js
@@ -1,57 +1,119 @@
 describe('Repo', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
-    cy.login('admin', 'admin');
-
     cy.visit('/dashboard/repo');
 
     // prevent failures on 404 request and uncaught promises
     cy.on('uncaught:exception', () => false);
   });
 
-  describe('Code button for repo row', () => {
-    it('Opens tooltip with correct content and can copy', () => {
-      const cloneURL = 'http://localhost:8000/finos/git-proxy.git';
-      const tooltipQuery = 'div[role="tooltip"]';
+  describe('Anonymous users', () => {
+    it('Prevents anonymous users from adding repos', () => {
+      cy.get('[data-testid="repo-list-view"]')
+        .find('[data-testid="add-repo-button"]')
+        .should('not.exist');
+    });
+
+    describe('Code button for repo row', () => {
+      it('Opens tooltip with correct content and can copy', () => {
+        const cloneURL = 'http://localhost:8000/finos/git-proxy.git';
+        const tooltipQuery = 'div[role="tooltip"]';
+
+        cy
+          // tooltip isn't open to start with
+          .get(tooltipQuery)
+          .should('not.exist');
+
+        cy
+          // find the entry for finos/git-proxy
+          .get('a[href="/dashboard/repo/git-proxy"]')
+          // take it's parent row
+          .closest('tr')
+          // find the nearby span containing Code we can click to open the tooltip
+          .find('span')
+          .contains('Code')
+          .should('exist')
+          .click();
+
+        cy
+          // find the newly opened tooltip
+          .get(tooltipQuery)
+          .should('exist')
+          .find('span')
+          // check it contains the url we expect
+          .contains(cloneURL)
+          .should('exist')
+          .parent()
+          // find the adjacent span that contains the svg
+          .find('span')
+          .next()
+          // check it has the copy icon first and click it
+          .get('svg.octicon-copy')
+          .should('exist')
+          .click()
+          // check the icon has changed to the check icon
+          .get('svg.octicon-copy')
+          .should('not.exist')
+          .get('svg.octicon-check')
+          .should('exist');
+
+        // failed to successfully check the clipboard
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('Regular users', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      cy.login('user', 'user');
 
-      cy
-        // tooltip isn't open to start with
-        .get(tooltipQuery)
+      cy.visit('/dashboard/repo');
+    });
+
+    after(() => {
+      cy.logout();
+    });
+
+    it('Prevents regular users from adding repos', () => {
+      cy.get('[data-testid="repo-list-view"]')
+        .find('[data-testid="add-repo-button"]')
         .should('not.exist');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('Admin users', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      cy.login('admin', 'admin');
+
+      cy.visit('/dashboard/repo');
+    });
+
+    it('Admin users can add repos', () => {
+      cy.get('[data-testid="repo-list-view"]').find('[data-testid="add-repo-button"]').click();
+
+      cy.get('[data-testid="add-repo-dialog"]').within(() => {
+        cy.get('[data-testid="repo-project-input"]').type('uuidjs');
+        cy.get('[data-testid="repo-name-input"]').type('uuidjs');
+        cy.get('[data-testid="repo-url-input"]').type('https://github.com/uuidjs/uuid.git');
+        cy.get('[data-testid="add-repo-button"]').click();
+      });
+
+      cy.get('a[href="/dashboard/repo/uuidjs"]', { timeout: 10000 }).click();
+
+      cy.get('[data-testid="delete-repo-button"]').click();
+    });
+
+    it('Prevents adding an existing repo', () => {
+      cy.get('[data-testid="repo-list-view"]').find('[data-testid="add-repo-button"]').click();
+
+      cy.get('[data-testid="add-repo-dialog"]').within(() => {
+        cy.get('[data-testid="repo-project-input"]').type('finos');
+        cy.get('[data-testid="repo-name-input"]').type('git-proxy');
+        cy.get('[data-testid="repo-url-input"]').type('https://github.com/finos/git-proxy.git');
+        cy.get('[data-testid="add-repo-button"]').click();
+      });
 
-      cy
-        // find the entry for finos/git-proxy
-        .get('a[href="/dashboard/repo/git-proxy"]')
-        // take it's parent row
-        .closest('tr')
-        // find the nearby span containing Code we can click to open the tooltip
-        .find('span')
-        .contains('Code')
-        .should('exist')
-        .click();
-
-      cy
-        // find the newly opened tooltip
-        .get(tooltipQuery)
-        .should('exist')
-        .find('span')
-        // check it contains the url we expect
-        .contains(cloneURL)
-        .should('exist')
-        .parent()
-        // find the adjacent span that contains the svg
-        .find('span')
-        .next()
-        // check it has the copy icon first and click it
-        .get('svg.octicon-copy')
-        .should('exist')
-        .click()
-        // check the icon has changed to the check icon
-        .get('svg.octicon-copy')
-        .should('not.exist')
-        .get('svg.octicon-check')
-        .should('exist');
-
-      // failed to successfully check the clipboard
+      cy.get('[data-testid="repo-error"]')
+        .should('be.visible')
+        .and('contain.text', 'Repository already exists!');
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/cypress/support/commands.js b/cypress/support/commands.js
index 751eabdfa..43fa0a66a 100644
--- a/cypress/support/commands.js
+++ b/cypress/support/commands.js
@@ -39,3 +39,7 @@ Cypress.Commands.add('login', (username, password) => {
     cy.url().should('include', '/dashboard/repo');
   });
 });
+
+Cypress.Commands.add('logout', () => {
+   Cypress.session.clearAllSavedSessions();
+});
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index d5c11c799..78b74dada 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@finos/git-proxy",
-  "version": "1.19.2",
+  "version": "2.0.0-rc.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@finos/git-proxy",
-      "version": "1.19.2",
+      "version": "2.0.0-rc.1",
       "license": "Apache-2.0",
       "workspaces": [
         "./packages/git-proxy-cli"
@@ -13267,7 +13267,7 @@
       "license": "Apache-2.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "@finos/git-proxy": "file:../..",
-        "axios": "^1.10.0",
+        "axios": "^1.11.0",
         "yargs": "^17.7.2"
       },
       "bin": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 0ea35d187..1d11abd94 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@
     "lint:fix": "eslint --fix \"src/**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx,json}\" \"test/**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx,json}\"",
     "format": "prettier --write src/**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx,css,md,json,scss} test/**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx,json} packages/git-proxy-cli/test/**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx,json}  packages/git-proxy-cli/index.js --config ./.prettierrc",
     "gen-schema-doc": "node ./scripts/doc-schema.js",
-    "cypress:run": "cypress run"
+    "cypress:run": "cypress run",
+    "cypress:open": "cypress open"
   },
   "bin": {
     "git-proxy": "./index.js",
diff --git a/src/service/passport/local.js b/src/service/passport/local.js
index 579d47234..46d2175e2 100644
--- a/src/service/passport/local.js
+++ b/src/service/passport/local.js
@@ -42,13 +42,18 @@ const configure = async (passport) => {
 };
 
 /**
- * Create the default admin user if it doesn't exist
+ * Create the default admin and regular test users.
  */
 const createDefaultAdmin = async () => {
-  const admin = await db.findUser("admin");
-  if (!admin) {
-    await db.createUser("admin", "admin", "admin@place.com", "none", true);
-  }
+  const createIfNotExists = async (username, password, email, type, isAdmin) => {
+    const user = await db.findUser(username);
+    if (!user) {
+      await db.createUser(username, password, email, type, isAdmin);
+    }
+  };
+
+  await createIfNotExists('admin', 'admin', 'admin@place.com', 'none', true);
+  await createIfNotExists('user', 'user', 'user@place.com', 'none', false);
 };
 
 module.exports = { configure, createDefaultAdmin, type };
diff --git a/src/ui/services/repo.js b/src/ui/services/repo.js
index 6bf9e9357..51202a384 100644
--- a/src/ui/services/repo.js
+++ b/src/ui/services/repo.js
@@ -81,17 +81,17 @@ const getRepo = async (setIsLoading, setData, setAuth, setIsError, id) => {
     });
 };
 
-const addRepo = async (onClose, setError, data) => {
+const addRepo = async (data) => {
   const url = new URL(`${baseUrl}/repo`);
-  axios
-    .post(url, data, { withCredentials: true, headers: { 'X-CSRF-TOKEN': getCookie('csrf') } })
-    .then(() => {
-      onClose();
-    })
-    .catch((error) => {
-      console.log(error.response.data.message);
-      setError(error.response.data.message);
-    });
+  try {
+    await axios.post(url, data, { withCredentials: true, headers: { 'X-CSRF-TOKEN': getCookie('csrf') } });
+    return { success: true };
+  } catch (error) {
+    return {
+      success: false,
+      message: error.response?.data?.message || error.message
+    };
+  }
 };
 
 const addUser = async (repoName, user, action) => {
diff --git a/src/ui/views/RepoDetails/RepoDetails.tsx b/src/ui/views/RepoDetails/RepoDetails.tsx
index a036d172d..5da82e0ad 100644
--- a/src/ui/views/RepoDetails/RepoDetails.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/views/RepoDetails/RepoDetails.tsx
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ const RepoDetails: React.FC = () => {
                 <Button
                   variant='contained'
                   color='secondary'
+                  data-testid='delete-repo-button'
                   onClick={() => removeRepository(data.name)}
                 >
                   <Delete />
diff --git a/src/ui/views/RepoList/Components/NewRepo.tsx b/src/ui/views/RepoList/Components/NewRepo.tsx
index 8189566a9..d0c574c10 100644
--- a/src/ui/views/RepoList/Components/NewRepo.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/views/RepoList/Components/NewRepo.tsx
@@ -89,16 +89,12 @@ const AddRepositoryDialog: React.FC<AddRepositoryDialogProps> = ({ open, onClose
       return;
     }
 
-    try {
-      await addRepo(onClose, setError, data);
+    const result = await addRepo(data);
+    if (result.success) {
       handleSuccess(data);
       handleClose();
-    } catch (e) {
-      if (e instanceof Error) {
-        setError(e.message);
-      } else {
-        setError('An unexpected error occurred');
-      }
+    } else {
+      setError(result.message || 'Failed to add repository');
     }
   };
 
@@ -126,7 +122,7 @@ const AddRepositoryDialog: React.FC<AddRepositoryDialogProps> = ({ open, onClose
         maxWidth='md'
       >
         {error && (
-          <DialogTitle style={{ color: 'red' }} id='simple-dialog-title'>
+          <DialogTitle style={{ color: 'red' }} data-testid='repo-error'>
             {error}
           </DialogTitle>
         )}
@@ -135,13 +131,14 @@ const AddRepositoryDialog: React.FC<AddRepositoryDialogProps> = ({ open, onClose
         </DialogTitle>
         <Card>
           <CardBody>
-            <GridContainer>
+            <GridContainer data-testid='add-repo-dialog'>
               <GridItem xs={12} sm={12} md={12}>
                 <FormControl style={inputStyle}>
                   <InputLabel htmlFor='project'>Organization</InputLabel>
                   <Input
                     id='project'
                     inputProps={{ maxLength: 200, minLength: 3 }}
+                    data-testid='repo-project-input'
                     aria-describedby='project-helper-text'
                     onChange={(e) => setProject(e.target.value)}
                     value={project}
@@ -155,6 +152,7 @@ const AddRepositoryDialog: React.FC<AddRepositoryDialogProps> = ({ open, onClose
                   <Input
                     inputProps={{ maxLength: 200, minLength: 3 }}
                     id='name'
+                    data-testid='repo-name-input'
                     aria-describedby='name-helper-text'
                     onChange={(e) => setName(e.target.value)}
                     value={name}
@@ -170,6 +168,7 @@ const AddRepositoryDialog: React.FC<AddRepositoryDialogProps> = ({ open, onClose
                     type='url'
                     id='url'
                     aria-describedby='url-helper-text'
+                    data-testid='repo-url-input'
                     onChange={(e) => setUrl(e.target.value)}
                     value={url}
                   />
@@ -181,7 +180,7 @@ const AddRepositoryDialog: React.FC<AddRepositoryDialogProps> = ({ open, onClose
                   <Button variant='outlined' color='warning' onClick={handleClose}>
                     Cancel
                   </Button>
-                  <Button variant='outlined' color='success' onClick={add}>
+                  <Button variant='outlined' color='success' onClick={add} data-testid='add-repo-button'>
                     Add
                   </Button>
                 </div>
@@ -207,7 +206,7 @@ const NewRepo: React.FC<NewRepoProps> = ({ onSuccess }) => {
 
   return (
     <div>
-      <Button color='success' onClick={handleClickOpen}>
+      <Button color='success' onClick={handleClickOpen} data-testid='add-repo-button'>
         <RepoIcon /> Add repository
       </Button>
       <AddRepositoryDialog open={open} onClose={handleClose} onSuccess={onSuccess} />
diff --git a/src/ui/views/RepoList/Components/TabList.tsx b/src/ui/views/RepoList/Components/TabList.tsx
index 3f1fdea5e..e864c3cc2 100644
--- a/src/ui/views/RepoList/Components/TabList.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/views/RepoList/Components/TabList.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import Repositories from './Repositories';
 
 export default function Dashboard(): React.ReactElement {
   return (
-    <div>
+    <div data-testid="repo-list-view">
       <GridContainer>
         <GridItem xs={12} sm={12} md={12}>
           <Repositories />