diff --git a/DigitalData.Core.Abstractions/ConfigurationExtension.cs b/DigitalData.Core.Abstractions/ConfigurationExtension.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5515124
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DigitalData.Core.Abstractions/ConfigurationExtension.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
+
+namespace DigitalData.Core.Abstractions
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Extension methods for the <see cref="IConfiguration"/> interface, providing 
+    /// additional functionality for retrieving configuration values with default behavior.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static class ConfigurationExtension
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Retrieves a configuration value for the specified key, or returns a default value 
+        /// of type <typeparamref name="T"/> if the configuration is not found or the key is null.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <typeparam name="T">The type of the object to retrieve from the configuration.</typeparam>
+        /// <param name="configuration">The <see cref="IConfiguration"/> instance.</param>
+        /// <param name="key">The optional key to look for in the configuration. If null, the method 
+        /// retrieves the root configuration.</param>
+        /// <returns>
+        /// An instance of <typeparamref name="T"/> populated from the configuration values, or 
+        /// a new instance of <typeparamref name="T"/> if no matching configuration is found.
+        /// </returns>
+        public static T GetOrDefault<T>(this IConfiguration configuration, string? key = null)
+            where T : new()
+            => (key is null
+                ? configuration.Get<T>()
+                : configuration.GetSection(key).Get<T>())
+            ?? new T();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/DigitalData.Core.Abstractions/DigitalData.Core.Abstractions.csproj b/DigitalData.Core.Abstractions/DigitalData.Core.Abstractions.csproj
index c6579bd..fdb87d2 100644
--- a/DigitalData.Core.Abstractions/DigitalData.Core.Abstractions.csproj
+++ b/DigitalData.Core.Abstractions/DigitalData.Core.Abstractions.csproj
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@
 		<RepositoryUrl>http://git.dd:3000/AppStd/WebCoreModules.git</RepositoryUrl>
 		<PackAsTool>False</PackAsTool>
 		<PackageIcon>core_icon.png</PackageIcon>
-		<Version>3.4.4</Version>
-		<AssemblyVersion>3.4.4</AssemblyVersion>
-		<FileVersion>3.4.4</FileVersion>
+		<Version>3.5.0</Version>
+		<AssemblyVersion>3.5.0</AssemblyVersion>
+		<FileVersion>3.5.0</FileVersion>
 	</PropertyGroup>
 
 	<ItemGroup>