diff --git a/.build/dockerfiles/Dockerfile b/.build/dockerfiles/Dockerfile
index f40c325..d6b1608 100644
--- a/.build/dockerfiles/Dockerfile
+++ b/.build/dockerfiles/Dockerfile
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #
 # Dev image used for local development
 #
-FROM zcscompany/python:3.11-dev AS dev
+FROM zcscompany/python:3.13-dev AS dev
 
 ARG FIX_UID
 ARG FIX_GID
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ USER ${DOCKER_USER}
 #
 # Image used for application distribution
 #
-FROM zcscompany/python:3.11-dist AS dist
+FROM zcscompany/python:3.13-dist AS dist
 
 ARG DOCKER_USER=bob
 ARG DOCKER_GROUP=bob
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr_build-and-test.yaml b/.github/workflows/pr_build-and-test.yaml
index 894600d..86edf8d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr_build-and-test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr_build-and-test.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - id: checkout
         name: Checkout project
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
       - id: build
         name: Build dist docker image
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-tag.yaml b/.github/workflows/publish-tag.yaml
index c4938a7..455ecdf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-tag.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-tag.yaml
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ jobs:
         run: python -m build
         
       - name: 'Set up Cloud SDK'
-        uses: 'google-github-actions/setup-gcloud@v2'
+        uses: google-github-actions/setup-gcloud@v3
         with:
           version: '>= 363.0.0'
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
       - name: Create GitHub Release
-        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v3
         with:
           generate_release_notes: true
           prerelease: ${{ steps.check_prerelease.outputs.prerelease }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/requirements.txt b/app/requirements.txt
index 7d2c031..d326b7a 100644
--- a/app/requirements.txt
+++ b/app/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-build==1.2.1
-pytest==8.3.3
+build==1.5.0
+pytest==9.1.1
 
-pydantic_settings==2.14.1
+pydantic_settings==2.14.2
+prometheus_client==0.25.0
diff --git a/app/src/zcs/core/telemetry/zcs_telemetry.py b/app/src/zcs/core/telemetry/zcs_telemetry.py
index 72124f1..7e9d9af 100644
--- a/app/src/zcs/core/telemetry/zcs_telemetry.py
+++ b/app/src/zcs/core/telemetry/zcs_telemetry.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def get_tracer(self):
     def is_telemetry_enabled(self) -> bool:
         return self._telemetry_initialized
 
-    def counter_create(self, name, unit, description):
+    def counter_create(self, name, unit, description, label_names=None):
         if not self._telemetry_initialized:
             self._logger.warning("Telemetry is not initialized - cannot create counter")
             return
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def counter_create(self, name, unit, description):
             try:
                 from prometheus_client import Counter as PrometheusCounter
                 safe_name = name.replace(".", "_").replace("-", "_")
-                self._prometheus_counters[name] = PrometheusCounter(safe_name, description)
+                self._prometheus_counters[name] = PrometheusCounter(safe_name, description, label_names or [])
             except ImportError:
                 self._logger.warning("prometheus_client is not installed - Alloy Prometheus counter skipped")
 
diff --git a/app/tests/zcs/core/telemetry/telemetry_test.py b/app/tests/zcs/core/telemetry/telemetry_test.py
index ef4b1db..288dab6 100644
--- a/app/tests/zcs/core/telemetry/telemetry_test.py
+++ b/app/tests/zcs/core/telemetry/telemetry_test.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
+import logging
+
 from zcs.core.settings.telemetry_settings import TelemetrySettings
+from zcs.core.telemetry.zcs_telemetry import ZcsTelemetry
 
 
 def test_telemetry_settings_otlp_and_loki_flags() -> None:
@@ -10,3 +13,43 @@ def test_telemetry_settings_otlp_and_loki_flags() -> None:
 
     assert settings.has_otlp_config
     assert settings.has_loki_config
+
+
+def _prometheus_alloy_telemetry() -> ZcsTelemetry:
+    telemetry = object.__new__(ZcsTelemetry)
+    telemetry._telemetry_initialized = True
+    telemetry._alloy_metrics_via_prometheus = True
+    telemetry._meters = {}
+    telemetry._custom_metrics = {}
+    telemetry._prometheus_counters = {}
+    telemetry._logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+    return telemetry
+
+
+def test_counter_create_with_label_names_allows_labeled_counter_add() -> None:
+    telemetry = _prometheus_alloy_telemetry()
+
+    telemetry.counter_create(
+        name="labeled_counter_test",
+        unit="1",
+        description="test counter with labels",
+        label_names=["sender"],
+    )
+    telemetry.counter_add("labeled_counter_test", {"sender": "123"})
+
+    counter = telemetry._prometheus_counters["labeled_counter_test"]
+    assert counter.labels(sender="123")._value.get() == 1
+
+
+def test_counter_create_without_label_names_allows_unlabeled_counter_add() -> None:
+    telemetry = _prometheus_alloy_telemetry()
+
+    telemetry.counter_create(
+        name="unlabeled_counter_test",
+        unit="1",
+        description="test counter without labels",
+    )
+    telemetry.counter_add("unlabeled_counter_test")
+
+    counter = telemetry._prometheus_counters["unlabeled_counter_test"]
+    assert counter._value.get() == 1