diff --git a/.github/workflows/chart-test.yml b/.github/workflows/chart-test.yml
index 1aa3e083..d66d932f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/chart-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/chart-test.yml
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install plugin unittest
         run: |
-          helm plugin install https://github.com/helm-unittest/helm-unittest
+          helm plugin install https://github.com/helm-unittest/helm-unittest --version 1.0.3
 
       # Python is required because `ct lint` runs Yamale (https://github.com/23andMe/Yamale) and
       # yamllint (https://github.com/adrienverge/yamllint) which require Python
diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/streamnativecloudconnection_types.go b/api/v1alpha1/streamnativecloudconnection_types.go
index 2e95b4f8..c74d0ee2 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/streamnativecloudconnection_types.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/streamnativecloudconnection_types.go
@@ -25,8 +25,9 @@ import (
 // StreamNativeCloudConnectionSpec defines the desired state of StreamNativeCloudConnection
 type StreamNativeCloudConnectionSpec struct {
 	// Server is the URL of the API server
-	// +required
-	Server string `json:"server"`
+	// +kubebuilder:default="https://api.streamnative.cloud"
+	// +optional
+	Server string `json:"server,omitempty"`
 
 	// Auth defines the authentication configuration
 	// +required
@@ -42,6 +43,17 @@ type StreamNativeCloudConnectionSpec struct {
 	Organization string `json:"organization,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// DefaultStreamNativeCloudServer is the default API server URL
+const DefaultStreamNativeCloudServer = "https://api.streamnative.cloud"
+
+// GetServer returns the server URL, using the default if not specified
+func (s *StreamNativeCloudConnectionSpec) GetServer() string {
+	if s.Server == "" {
+		return DefaultStreamNativeCloudServer
+	}
+	return s.Server
+}
+
 // AuthConfig defines the authentication configuration
 type AuthConfig struct {
 	// CredentialsRef is the reference to the service account credentials secret
diff --git a/charts/pulsar-resources-operator/crds/resource.streamnative.io_streamnativecloudconnections.yaml b/charts/pulsar-resources-operator/crds/resource.streamnative.io_streamnativecloudconnections.yaml
index 51b3ae68..acb31844 100644
--- a/charts/pulsar-resources-operator/crds/resource.streamnative.io_streamnativecloudconnections.yaml
+++ b/charts/pulsar-resources-operator/crds/resource.streamnative.io_streamnativecloudconnections.yaml
@@ -109,11 +109,11 @@ spec:
                   If not specified, the operator will use the connection name as the organization
                 type: string
               server:
+                default: https://api.streamnative.cloud
                 description: Server is the URL of the API server
                 type: string
             required:
             - auth
-            - server
             type: object
           status:
             description: StreamNativeCloudConnectionStatus defines the observed state
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/resource.streamnative.io_streamnativecloudconnections.yaml b/config/crd/bases/resource.streamnative.io_streamnativecloudconnections.yaml
index 51b3ae68..acb31844 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/resource.streamnative.io_streamnativecloudconnections.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/resource.streamnative.io_streamnativecloudconnections.yaml
@@ -109,11 +109,11 @@ spec:
                   If not specified, the operator will use the connection name as the organization
                 type: string
               server:
+                default: https://api.streamnative.cloud
                 description: Server is the URL of the API server
                 type: string
             required:
             - auth
-            - server
             type: object
           status:
             description: StreamNativeCloudConnectionStatus defines the observed state
diff --git a/pkg/streamnativecloud/api_connection.go b/pkg/streamnativecloud/api_connection.go
index 4a221b30..a68f58eb 100644
--- a/pkg/streamnativecloud/api_connection.go
+++ b/pkg/streamnativecloud/api_connection.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func (c *APIConnection) connect() error {
 		ClientSecret: c.credentials.ClientSecret,
 		TokenURL:     config.TokenEndpoint,
 		EndpointParams: url.Values{
-			"audience": []string{c.config.Spec.Server},
+			"audience": []string{c.config.Spec.GetServer()},
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func (c *APIConnection) Test(ctx context.Context) error {
 	if c.client == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("waiting for client")
 	}
-	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "GET", c.config.Spec.Server+"/healthz", http.NoBody)
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "GET", c.config.Spec.GetServer()+"/healthz", http.NoBody)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func (c *APIConnection) NeedsUpdate(
 	if c.credentials == nil {
 		return true
 	}
-	return c.config.Spec.Server != config.Spec.Server ||
+	return c.config.Spec.GetServer() != config.Spec.GetServer() ||
 		c.credentials.ClientID != creds.ClientID ||
 		c.credentials.ClientSecret != creds.ClientSecret ||
 		c.credentials.IssuerURL != creds.IssuerURL