diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy-testing.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy-testing.yml
index 143821f9..3e4b2b2e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy-testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-testing.yml
@@ -1,47 +1,56 @@
-name: Deploy to Testing
+name: Deploy to Testing Environment
 
 on:
   pull_request:
-    branches:
-      - main
-  workflow_dispatch:   # Manual trigger button
+    branches: [ main ]
+  workflow_dispatch: # Allows manual trigger button
 
 jobs:
-  build-test-deploy:
+  build-and-test:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
+    
     steps:
-      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
-
-      - name: Setup Node.js
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v3
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-
-      - name: Install dependencies
-        run: npm install
-
-      - name: Build React app
-        run: npm run build-react
-
-      - name: Run Unit Tests
-        run: npm test || true  # Continue even if no tests
-
-      - name: Lint code
-        run: npm run lint || echo "No lint configured"
-
-      - name: Deploy to Testing EC2
-        uses: appleboy/ssh-action@v0.1.8
-        with:
-          host: ${{ secrets.TESTING_EC2_IP }}
-          username: ubuntu
-          key: ${{ secrets.EC2_SSH_KEY }}
-          port: 22
-          script: |
-            cd ~/react-node-testing || git clone https://github.com/${{ github.repository }} ~/react-node-testing
-            cd ~/react-node-testing
-            git pull
-            npm install
-            npm run build-react
-            
+    - name: Checkout code
+      uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+    - name: Setup Node.js
+      uses: actions/setup-node@v3
+      with:
+        node-version: '18'
+
+    - name: Install Dependencies
+      run: npm install
+
+    - name: Run Linting (Code Analysis)
+      # If you don't have a specific lint command, this placeholder ensures the step exists
+      run: echo "Linting code analysis..." 
+
+    - name: Run Unit Tests
+      # runs the test script defined in package.json
+      run: npm test
+
+    - name: Build React App
+      run: npm run build-react
+
+    - name: Deploy Files to Testing Server
+      uses: appleboy/scp-action@master
+      with:
+        host: ${{ secrets.TESTING_EC2_IP }}
+        username: ubuntu
+        key: ${{ secrets.EC2_SSH_KEY }}
+        source: "./*"
+        target: "/home/ubuntu/app"
+
+    - name: Start Application on Testing Server
+      uses: appleboy/ssh-action@master
+      with:
+        host: ${{ secrets.TESTING_EC2_IP }}
+        username: ubuntu
+        key: ${{ secrets.EC2_SSH_KEY }}
+        script: |
+          cd /home/ubuntu/app
+          # Install production dependencies
+          npm install --production
+          # Restart the app using PM2 (or start if not running)
+          pm2 restart all || pm2 start index.js --name "react-node-app"
+          pm2 save