diff --git a/.project-keeper.yml b/.project-keeper.yml
index 957e094..84d23d2 100644
--- a/.project-keeper.yml
+++ b/.project-keeper.yml
@@ -7,5 +7,5 @@ sources:
 build:
   runnerOs: ubuntu-20.04
   exasolDbVersions:
-    - "7.1.24"
-#    - "8.23.1" disabled due to failing tests
+    - "7.1.25"
+    - "8.24.0"
diff --git a/doc/changes/changes_2.1.3.md b/doc/changes/changes_2.1.3.md
index 619bb64..f78c814 100644
--- a/doc/changes/changes_2.1.3.md
+++ b/doc/changes/changes_2.1.3.md
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ This is a security release in which we updated test dependency `com.exasol:exaso
 * Updated `com.exasol:hamcrest-resultset-matcher:1.6.3` to `1.6.5`
 * Updated `com.exasol:test-db-builder-java:3.5.2` to `3.5.4`
 * Updated `com.exasol:virtual-schema-common-jdbc:11.0.2` to `12.0.0`
-* Updated `com.microsoft.sqlserver:mssql-jdbc:12.4.2.jre8` to `12.6.1.jre11`
 * Updated `org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter:5.10.1` to `5.10.2`
 * Updated `org.mockito:mockito-junit-jupiter:5.7.0` to `5.11.0`
 * Updated `org.slf4j:slf4j-jdk14:2.0.9` to `2.0.12`
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 40541c1..ebcb8fc 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -164,6 +164,16 @@
                     </compilerArgs>
                 </configuration>
             </plugin>
+            <plugin>
+                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
+                <artifactId>versions-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+                <configuration>
+                    <excludes>
+                        <!-- COS loader in Exasol 7.1 requires a JRE 8 compatible JDBC driver. -->
+                        <exclude>com.microsoft.sqlserver:mssql-jdbc:jar:*:*</exclude>
+                    </excludes>
+                </configuration>
+            </plugin>
         </plugins>
     </build>
     <parent>