diff --git a/packages/artifact/__tests__/retention.test.ts b/packages/artifact/__tests__/retention.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..83de5342
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/artifact/__tests__/retention.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import {Timestamp} from '../src/generated'
+import * as retention from '../src/internal/upload/retention'
+
+describe('retention', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    delete process.env['GITHUB_RETENTION_DAYS']
+  })
+  it('should return the inputted retention days if it is less than the max retention days', () => {
+    // setup
+    const mockDate = new Date('2020-01-01')
+    jest.useFakeTimers().setSystemTime(mockDate)
+    process.env['GITHUB_RETENTION_DAYS'] = '90'
+
+    const exp = retention.getExpiration(30)
+
+    expect(exp).toBeDefined()
+    if (exp) {
+      const expDate = Timestamp.toDate(exp)
+      const expected = new Date()
+      expected.setDate(expected.getDate() + 30)
+
+      expect(expDate).toEqual(expected)
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('should return the max retention days if the inputted retention days is greater than the max retention days', () => {
+    // setup
+    const mockDate = new Date('2020-01-01')
+    jest.useFakeTimers().setSystemTime(mockDate)
+    process.env['GITHUB_RETENTION_DAYS'] = '90'
+
+    const exp = retention.getExpiration(120)
+
+    expect(exp).toBeDefined()
+    if (exp) {
+      const expDate = Timestamp.toDate(exp) // we check whether exp is defined above
+      const expected = new Date()
+      expected.setDate(expected.getDate() + 90)
+
+      expect(expDate).toEqual(expected)
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('should return undefined if the inputted retention days is undefined', () => {
+    const exp = retention.getExpiration()
+    expect(exp).toBeUndefined()
+  })
+
+  it('should return the inputted retention days if there is no max retention days', () => {
+    // setup
+    const mockDate = new Date('2020-01-01')
+    jest.useFakeTimers().setSystemTime(mockDate)
+
+    const exp = retention.getExpiration(30)
+
+    expect(exp).toBeDefined()
+    if (exp) {
+      const expDate = Timestamp.toDate(exp) // we check whether exp is defined above
+      const expected = new Date()
+      expected.setDate(expected.getDate() + 30)
+
+      expect(expDate).toEqual(expected)
+    }
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/artifact/__tests__/util.test.ts b/packages/artifact/__tests__/util.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..76f760fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/artifact/__tests__/util.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import * as config from '../src/internal/shared/config'
+import * as util from '../src/internal/shared/util'
+
+describe('get-backend-ids-from-token', () => {
+  it('should return backend ids when the token is valid', () => {
+    jest
+      .spyOn(config, 'getRuntimeToken')
+      .mockReturnValue(
+        'eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxMjM0NTY3ODkwIiwic2NwIjoiQWN0aW9ucy5FeGFtcGxlIEFjdGlvbnMuQW5vdGhlckV4YW1wbGU6dGVzdCBBY3Rpb25zLlJlc3VsdHM6Y2U3ZjU0YzctNjFjNy00YWFlLTg4N2YtMzBkYTQ3NWY1ZjFhOmNhMzk1MDg1LTA0MGEtNTI2Yi0yY2U4LWJkYzg1ZjY5Mjc3NCIsImlhdCI6MTUxNjIzOTAyMn0.XYnI_wHPBlUi1mqYveJnnkJhp4dlFjqxzRmISPsqfw8'
+      )
+
+    const backendIds = util.getBackendIdsFromToken()
+    expect(backendIds.workflowRunBackendId).toBe(
+      'ce7f54c7-61c7-4aae-887f-30da475f5f1a'
+    )
+    expect(backendIds.workflowJobRunBackendId).toBe(
+      'ca395085-040a-526b-2ce8-bdc85f692774'
+    )
+  })
+
+  it("should throw an error when the token doesn't have the right scope", () => {
+    jest
+      .spyOn(config, 'getRuntimeToken')
+      .mockReturnValue(
+        'eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxMjM0NTY3ODkwIiwic2NwIjoiQWN0aW9ucy5FeGFtcGxlIEFjdGlvbnMuQW5vdGhlckV4YW1wbGU6dGVzdCIsImlhdCI6MTUxNjIzOTAyMn0.K0IEoULZteGevF38G94xiaA8zcZ5UlKWfGfqE6q3dhw'
+      )
+
+    expect(util.getBackendIdsFromToken).toThrowError(
+      'Failed to get backend IDs: The provided JWT token is invalid'
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('should throw an error when the token has a malformed scope', () => {
+    jest
+      .spyOn(config, 'getRuntimeToken')
+      .mockReturnValue(
+        'eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxMjM0NTY3ODkwIiwic2NwIjoiQWN0aW9ucy5FeGFtcGxlIEFjdGlvbnMuQW5vdGhlckV4YW1wbGU6dGVzdCBBY3Rpb25zLlJlc3VsdHM6Y2U3ZjU0YzctNjFjNy00YWFlLTg4N2YtMzBkYTQ3NWY1ZjFhIiwiaWF0IjoxNTE2MjM5MDIyfQ.7D0_LRfRFRZFImHQ7GxH2S6ZyFjjZ5U0ujjGCfle1XE'
+      )
+
+    expect(util.getBackendIdsFromToken).toThrowError(
+      'Failed to get backend IDs: The provided JWT token is invalid'
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('should throw an error when the token is in an invalid format', () => {
+    jest.spyOn(config, 'getRuntimeToken').mockReturnValue('token')
+
+    expect(util.getBackendIdsFromToken).toThrowError('Invalid token specified')
+  })
+
+  it("should throw an error when the token doesn't have the right field", () => {
+    jest
+      .spyOn(config, 'getRuntimeToken')
+      .mockReturnValue(
+        'eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxMjM0NTY3ODkwIiwibmFtZSI6IkpvaG4gRG9lIiwiaWF0IjoxNTE2MjM5MDIyfQ.SflKxwRJSMeKKF2QT4fwpMeJf36POk6yJV_adQssw5c'
+      )
+
+    expect(util.getBackendIdsFromToken).toThrowError(
+      'Failed to get backend IDs: The provided JWT token is invalid'
+    )
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/artifact/package-lock.json b/packages/artifact/package-lock.json
index 4aa381e2..0933a20c 100644
--- a/packages/artifact/package-lock.json
+++ b/packages/artifact/package-lock.json
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
         "@actions/core": "^1.10.0",
         "@actions/http-client": "^2.1.0",
         "@protobuf-ts/plugin": "^2.2.3-alpha.1",
+        "jwt-decode": "^3.1.2",
         "twirp-ts": "^2.5.0"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
@@ -198,6 +199,11 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/inherits/-/inherits-2.0.4.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-k/vGaX4/Yla3WzyMCvTQOXYeIHvqOKtnqBduzTHpzpQZzAskKMhZ2K+EnBiSM9zGSoIFeMpXKxa4dYeZIQqewQ=="
     },
+    "node_modules/jwt-decode": {
+      "version": "3.1.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/jwt-decode/-/jwt-decode-3.1.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-UfpWE/VZn0iP50d8cz9NrZLM9lSWhcJ+0Gt/nm4by88UL+J1SiKN8/5dkjMmbEzwL2CAe+67GsegCbIKtbp75A=="
+    },
     "node_modules/lodash": {
       "version": "4.17.21",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash/-/lodash-4.17.21.tgz",
diff --git a/packages/artifact/package.json b/packages/artifact/package.json
index d74eddc7..9cd1594b 100644
--- a/packages/artifact/package.json
+++ b/packages/artifact/package.json
@@ -42,10 +42,11 @@
     "@actions/core": "^1.10.0",
     "@actions/http-client": "^2.1.0",
     "@protobuf-ts/plugin": "^2.2.3-alpha.1",
+    "jwt-decode": "^3.1.2",
     "twirp-ts": "^2.5.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/tmp": "^0.2.1",
     "typescript": "^4.3.0"
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/packages/artifact/src/internal/client.ts b/packages/artifact/src/internal/client.ts
index bf33120f..f827d882 100644
--- a/packages/artifact/src/internal/client.ts
+++ b/packages/artifact/src/internal/client.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import {UploadOptions} from './upload/upload-options'
 import {UploadResponse} from './upload/upload-response'
 import {uploadArtifact} from './upload/upload-artifact'
+import {warning} from '@actions/core'
+import {isGhes} from './shared/config'
 
 export interface ArtifactClient {
   /**
@@ -39,6 +41,28 @@ export class Client implements ArtifactClient {
     rootDirectory: string,
     options?: UploadOptions | undefined
   ): Promise<UploadResponse> {
-    return uploadArtifact(name, files, rootDirectory, options)
+    if (isGhes()) {
+      warning(
+        `@actions/artifact v2 and upload-artifact v4 are not currently supported on GHES.`
+      )
+      return {
+        success: false
+      }
+    }
+
+    try {
+      return uploadArtifact(name, files, rootDirectory, options)
+    } catch (error) {
+      warning(
+        `Artifact upload failed with error: ${error}.
+
+Errors can be temporary, so please try again and optionally run the action with debug enabled for more information.
+
+If the error persists, please check whether Actions is running normally at [https://githubstatus.com](https://www.githubstatus.com).`
+      )
+      return {
+        success: false
+      }
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/artifact/src/internal/shared/artifact-twirp-client.ts b/packages/artifact/src/internal/shared/artifact-twirp-client.ts
index d2450183..a77d02a4 100644
--- a/packages/artifact/src/internal/shared/artifact-twirp-client.ts
+++ b/packages/artifact/src/internal/shared/artifact-twirp-client.ts
@@ -56,8 +56,6 @@ class ArtifactHttpClient implements Rpc {
     const headers = {
       'Content-Type': contentType
     }
-    info(`Making request to ${url} with data: ${JSON.stringify(data)}`)
-
     try {
       const response = await this.retryableRequest(async () =>
         this.httpClient.post(url, JSON.stringify(data), headers)
@@ -65,7 +63,7 @@ class ArtifactHttpClient implements Rpc {
       const body = await response.readBody()
       return JSON.parse(body)
     } catch (error) {
-      throw new Error(error.message)
+      throw new Error(`Failed to ${method}: ${error.message}`)
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/artifact/src/internal/shared/config.ts b/packages/artifact/src/internal/shared/config.ts
index 23949f20..d1946e96 100644
--- a/packages/artifact/src/internal/shared/config.ts
+++ b/packages/artifact/src/internal/shared/config.ts
@@ -13,3 +13,10 @@ export function getResultsServiceUrl(): string {
   }
   return resultsUrl
 }
+
+export function isGhes(): boolean {
+  const ghUrl = new URL(
+    process.env['GITHUB_SERVER_URL'] || 'https://github.com'
+  )
+  return ghUrl.hostname.toUpperCase() !== 'GITHUB.COM'
+}
diff --git a/packages/artifact/src/internal/shared/util.ts b/packages/artifact/src/internal/shared/util.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bc98abde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/artifact/src/internal/shared/util.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import {getRuntimeToken} from './config'
+import jwt_decode from 'jwt-decode'
+
+export interface BackendIds {
+  workflowRunBackendId: string
+  workflowJobRunBackendId: string
+}
+
+interface ActionsToken {
+  scp: string
+}
+
+const InvalidJwtError = new Error(
+  'Failed to get backend IDs: The provided JWT token is invalid'
+)
+
+// uses the JWT token claims to get the
+// workflow run and workflow job run backend ids
+export function getBackendIdsFromToken(): BackendIds {
+  const token = getRuntimeToken()
+  const decoded = jwt_decode<ActionsToken>(token)
+  if (!decoded.scp) {
+    throw InvalidJwtError
+  }
+
+  /*
+   * example decoded:
+   * {
+   *   scp: "Actions.ExampleScope Actions.Results:ce7f54c7-61c7-4aae-887f-30da475f5f1a:ca395085-040a-526b-2ce8-bdc85f692774"
+   * }
+   */
+
+  const scpParts = decoded.scp.split(' ')
+  if (scpParts.length === 0) {
+    throw InvalidJwtError
+  }
+  /*
+   * example scpParts:
+   * ["Actions.ExampleScope", "Actions.Results:ce7f54c7-61c7-4aae-887f-30da475f5f1a:ca395085-040a-526b-2ce8-bdc85f692774"]
+   */
+
+  for (const scopes of scpParts) {
+    const scopeParts = scopes.split(':')
+    /*
+     * example scopeParts:
+     * ["Actions.Results", "ce7f54c7-61c7-4aae-887f-30da475f5f1a", "ca395085-040a-526b-2ce8-bdc85f692774"]
+     */
+    if (scopeParts.length !== 3) {
+      // not the Actions.Results scope
+      continue
+    }
+
+    if (scopeParts[0] !== 'Actions.Results') {
+      // not the Actions.Results scope
+      continue
+    }
+
+    return {
+      workflowRunBackendId: scopeParts[1],
+      workflowJobRunBackendId: scopeParts[2]
+    }
+  }
+
+  throw InvalidJwtError
+}
diff --git a/packages/artifact/src/internal/upload/retention.ts b/packages/artifact/src/internal/upload/retention.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aa16ba1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/artifact/src/internal/upload/retention.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import {Timestamp} from '../../generated'
+import * as core from '@actions/core'
+
+export function getExpiration(retentionDays?: number): Timestamp | undefined {
+  if (!retentionDays) {
+    return undefined
+  }
+
+  const maxRetentionDays = getRetentionDays()
+  if (maxRetentionDays && maxRetentionDays < retentionDays) {
+    core.warning(
+      `Retention days cannot be greater than the maximum allowed retention set within the repository. Using ${maxRetentionDays} instead.`
+    )
+    retentionDays = maxRetentionDays
+  }
+
+  const expirationDate = new Date()
+  expirationDate.setDate(expirationDate.getDate() + retentionDays)
+
+  return Timestamp.fromDate(expirationDate)
+}
+
+function getRetentionDays(): number | undefined {
+  const retentionDays = process.env['GITHUB_RETENTION_DAYS']
+  if (!retentionDays) {
+    return undefined
+  }
+  const days = parseInt(retentionDays)
+  if (isNaN(days)) {
+    return undefined
+  }
+
+  return days
+}
diff --git a/packages/artifact/src/internal/upload/upload-artifact.ts b/packages/artifact/src/internal/upload/upload-artifact.ts
index 07835c99..bdef8f84 100644
--- a/packages/artifact/src/internal/upload/upload-artifact.ts
+++ b/packages/artifact/src/internal/upload/upload-artifact.ts
@@ -1,18 +1,22 @@
 import * as core from '@actions/core'
 import {UploadOptions} from './upload-options'
 import {UploadResponse} from './upload-response'
+import {getExpiration} from './retention'
 import {validateArtifactName} from './path-and-artifact-name-validation'
+import {createArtifactTwirpClient} from '../shared/artifact-twirp-client'
 import {
   UploadZipSpecification,
   getUploadZipSpecification,
   validateRootDirectory
 } from './upload-zip-specification'
+import {getBackendIdsFromToken} from '../shared/util'
+import {CreateArtifactRequest} from 'src/generated'
 
 export async function uploadArtifact(
   name: string,
   files: string[],
   rootDirectory: string,
-  options?: UploadOptions | undefined // eslint-disable-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars
+  options?: UploadOptions | undefined
 ): Promise<UploadResponse> {
   validateArtifactName(name)
   validateRootDirectory(rootDirectory)
@@ -28,12 +32,66 @@ export async function uploadArtifact(
     }
   }
 
+  // get the IDs needed for the artifact creation
+  const backendIds = getBackendIdsFromToken()
+  if (!backendIds.workflowRunBackendId || !backendIds.workflowJobRunBackendId) {
+    core.warning(`Failed to get backend ids`)
+    return {
+      success: false
+    }
+  }
+  core.debug(`Workflow Run Backend ID: ${backendIds.workflowRunBackendId}`)
+  core.debug(
+    `Workflow Job Run Backend ID: ${backendIds.workflowJobRunBackendId}`
+  )
+
+  // create the artifact client
+  const artifactClient = createArtifactTwirpClient('upload')
+
+  // create the artifact
+  const createArtifactReq: CreateArtifactRequest = {
+    workflowRunBackendId: backendIds.workflowRunBackendId,
+    workflowJobRunBackendId: backendIds.workflowJobRunBackendId,
+    name,
+    version: 4
+  }
+
+  // if there is a retention period, add it to the request
+  const expiresAt = getExpiration(options?.retentionDays)
+  if (expiresAt) {
+    createArtifactReq.expiresAt = expiresAt
+  }
+
+  const createArtifactResp = await artifactClient.CreateArtifact(
+    createArtifactReq
+  )
+  if (!createArtifactResp.ok) {
+    core.warning(`Failed to create artifact`)
+    return {
+      success: false
+    }
+  }
+
   // TODO - Implement upload functionality
 
+  // finalize the artifact
+  const finalizeArtifactResp = await artifactClient.FinalizeArtifact({
+    workflowRunBackendId: backendIds.workflowRunBackendId,
+    workflowJobRunBackendId: backendIds.workflowJobRunBackendId,
+    name,
+    size: '0' // TODO - Add size
+  })
+  if (!finalizeArtifactResp.ok) {
+    core.warning(`Failed to finalize artifact`)
+    return {
+      success: false
+    }
+  }
+
   const uploadResponse: UploadResponse = {
     success: true,
     size: 0,
-    id: 0
+    id: parseInt(finalizeArtifactResp.artifactId) // TODO - will this be a problem due to the id being a bigint?
   }
 
   return uploadResponse