diff --git a/.asf.yaml b/.asf.yaml
index 5aeb2c96cb0..ecc6db0664f 100644
--- a/.asf.yaml
+++ b/.asf.yaml
@@ -92,3 +92,16 @@ github:
 #  # Send dependabot PRs to commits@ instead
 #  pullrequests_bot_dependabot: commits@causeway.apache.org
 #
+  rulesets:
+    - name: "Default Branch Protection"
+      type: branch
+      branches:
+        includes:
+          - "~DEFAULT_BRANCH"
+          - "release/*"
+          - "rel/*"
+        excludes: []
+      bypass_teams:
+        - root
+      restrict_deletion: true
+      restrict_force_push: true