diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 0b9bc944f8..9a165e97f5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ jobs:
     - run: |
         echo "Running backwards compatibility tests ..."
         security_plugin_version_no_snapshot=$(./gradlew properties -q | grep -E '^version:' | awk '{print $2}' | sed 's/-SNAPSHOT//g')
-        bwc_version=2.6.0
+        bwc_version=2.8.0
         cp -r build/ ./bwc-test/
         mkdir ./bwc-test/src/test/resources/security_plugin_version_no_snapshot
         cp build/distributions/opensearch-security-${security_plugin_version_no_snapshot}.zip ./bwc-test/src/test/resources/${security_plugin_version_no_snapshot}
diff --git a/bwc-test/build.gradle b/bwc-test/build.gradle
index a24a8815c9..81732df698 100644
--- a/bwc-test/build.gradle
+++ b/bwc-test/build.gradle
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ dependencies {
     testImplementation "org.opensearch.test:framework:${opensearch_version}"
 }
 
-String bwcVersion = "2.6.0.0";
+String bwcVersion = "2.8.0.0";
 String baseName = "securityBwcCluster"
 String bwcFilePath = "src/test/resources/"
 String projectVersion = "2.9.0.0"
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ String projectVersion = "2.9.0.0"
     testClusters {
         "${baseName}$i" {
             testDistribution = "ARCHIVE"
-            versions = ["2.6.0","2.9.0"]
+            versions = ["2.8.0","2.9.0"]
             numberOfNodes = 3
             plugin(provider(new Callable<RegularFile>() {
                 @Override