Properties getProperties(Class<?> clazz) {
        Properties configuration = new Properties();
        try (InputStream stream = clazz.getResourceAsStream(CONFIGURATION_FILE)) {
            if (stream == null) {
                return null;
            }
            configuration.load(stream);
        } catch (IOException ex) {
            //a property file does not have to exist...
        }
        return configuration;
    }