diff --git a/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/converter.ts b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/converter.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0d3ece5e36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/converter.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+import { ProtectionRuleEntry } from "./types.ts";
+import { ProtectionRuleset } from "../../../gen/types.gen.ts";
+
+// Reconciliation plan produced by diffing the local protection rules
+// against the backend list. `toDelete` holds names present on the backend but
+// absent from wmill.yaml (full-reconcile semantics).
+export interface ProtectionRulesPlan {
+  toCreate: ProtectionRuleEntry[];
+  toUpdate: ProtectionRuleEntry[];
+  toDelete: string[];
+  unchanged: string[];
+}
+
+function sortedUnique(arr: readonly string[]): string[] {
+  return [...new Set(arr)].sort();
+}
+
+export class ProtectionRulesConverter {
+  // Canonicalize a single rule so comparisons are insensitive to array order
+  // and duplicates.
+  static normalizeEntry(entry: ProtectionRuleEntry): ProtectionRuleEntry {
+    return {
+      name: entry.name,
+      rules: sortedUnique(entry.rules ?? []) as ProtectionRuleEntry["rules"],
+      bypass_groups: sortedUnique(entry.bypass_groups ?? []),
+      bypass_users: sortedUnique(entry.bypass_users ?? []),
+    };
+  }
+
+  // Canonicalize and sort a list of rules by name.
+  static normalizeList(
+    entries: ProtectionRuleEntry[] | undefined,
+  ): ProtectionRuleEntry[] {
+    return (entries ?? [])
+      .map((e) => ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeEntry(e))
+      .sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name));
+  }
+
+  // Convert a backend ProtectionRuleset response into the wmill.yaml shape
+  // (drops workspace_id, which is implied by the synced workspace).
+  static fromBackend(rulesets: ProtectionRuleset[]): ProtectionRuleEntry[] {
+    return ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeList(
+      rulesets.map((r) => ({
+        name: r.name,
+        rules: [...(r.rules ?? [])],
+        bypass_groups: [...(r.bypass_groups ?? [])],
+        bypass_users: [...(r.bypass_users ?? [])],
+      })),
+    );
+  }
+
+  static entriesEqual(
+    a: ProtectionRuleEntry,
+    b: ProtectionRuleEntry,
+  ): boolean {
+    const na = ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeEntry(a);
+    const nb = ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeEntry(b);
+    return (
+      na.name === nb.name &&
+      na.rules.length === nb.rules.length &&
+      na.rules.every((v, i) => v === nb.rules[i]) &&
+      na.bypass_groups.length === nb.bypass_groups.length &&
+      na.bypass_groups.every((v, i) => v === nb.bypass_groups[i]) &&
+      na.bypass_users.length === nb.bypass_users.length &&
+      na.bypass_users.every((v, i) => v === nb.bypass_users[i])
+    );
+  }
+
+  static listsEqual(
+    a: ProtectionRuleEntry[] | undefined,
+    b: ProtectionRuleEntry[] | undefined,
+  ): boolean {
+    const na = ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeList(a);
+    const nb = ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeList(b);
+    if (na.length !== nb.length) return false;
+    return na.every((entry, i) =>
+      ProtectionRulesConverter.entriesEqual(entry, nb[i])
+    );
+  }
+
+  // Compute the create/update/delete plan to make `backend` match `local`.
+  static computePlan(
+    local: ProtectionRuleEntry[] | undefined,
+    backend: ProtectionRuleEntry[] | undefined,
+  ): ProtectionRulesPlan {
+    const localByName = new Map(
+      ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeList(local).map((e) => [e.name, e]),
+    );
+    const backendByName = new Map(
+      ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeList(backend).map((e) => [e.name, e]),
+    );
+
+    const plan: ProtectionRulesPlan = {
+      toCreate: [],
+      toUpdate: [],
+      toDelete: [],
+      unchanged: [],
+    };
+
+    for (const [name, entry] of localByName) {
+      const existing = backendByName.get(name);
+      if (!existing) {
+        plan.toCreate.push(entry);
+      } else if (!ProtectionRulesConverter.entriesEqual(entry, existing)) {
+        plan.toUpdate.push(entry);
+      } else {
+        plan.unchanged.push(name);
+      }
+    }
+
+    for (const name of backendByName.keys()) {
+      if (!localByName.has(name)) {
+        plan.toDelete.push(name);
+      }
+    }
+
+    plan.toCreate.sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name));
+    plan.toUpdate.sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name));
+    plan.toDelete.sort();
+    plan.unchanged.sort();
+
+    return plan;
+  }
+
+  static planHasChanges(plan: ProtectionRulesPlan): boolean {
+    return (
+      plan.toCreate.length > 0 ||
+      plan.toUpdate.length > 0 ||
+      plan.toDelete.length > 0
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/file.ts b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/file.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4b2742d4f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/file.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
+import { writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
+import { stringify as yamlStringify } from "yaml";
+
+import { yamlParseFile } from "../../utils/yaml.ts";
+import { yamlOptions } from "../sync/sync.ts";
+import {
+  SyncOptions,
+  getWmillYamlPath,
+  getWorkspaceNames,
+  getEffectiveWorkspaceId,
+  WorkspaceEntryConfig,
+} from "../../core/conf.ts";
+import { GlobalOptions } from "../../types.ts";
+import { tryResolveBranchWorkspace } from "../../core/context.ts";
+import { setClient } from "../../core/client.ts";
+import { ProtectionRulesFile } from "./types.ts";
+
+export const PROTECTION_RULES_FILENAME = "protection-rules.yaml";
+
+// protection-rules.yaml lives next to wmill.yaml. wmill.yaml is required: it is
+// the single source of truth for which workspaces exist and how to reach them.
+export function getProtectionRulesPath(): string | null {
+  const wmillPath = getWmillYamlPath();
+  if (!wmillPath) return null;
+  return join(dirname(wmillPath), PROTECTION_RULES_FILENAME);
+}
+
+export async function readProtectionRulesFile(
+  path: string,
+): Promise<ProtectionRulesFile> {
+  if (!existsSync(path)) return {};
+  const parsed = (await yamlParseFile(path)) as ProtectionRulesFile | null;
+  return parsed ?? {};
+}
+
+export async function writeProtectionRulesFile(
+  path: string,
+  data: ProtectionRulesFile,
+): Promise<void> {
+  // Deterministic key order so diffs/commits stay stable.
+  const sorted: ProtectionRulesFile = {};
+  for (const k of Object.keys(data).sort()) sorted[k] = data[k];
+  await writeFile(path, yamlStringify(sorted, yamlOptions), "utf-8");
+}
+
+// Maps a protection-rules.yaml workspace key to its backend workspace id via
+// wmill.yaml's `workspaces` block. A key with no matching entry is rejected —
+// without it we don't know which backend to talk to.
+export class WorkspaceResolver {
+  private constructor(
+    private readonly workspaces: Record<string, WorkspaceEntryConfig>,
+  ) {}
+
+  static fromConfig(config: SyncOptions): WorkspaceResolver {
+    const ws = (config.workspaces ?? {}) as Record<
+      string,
+      WorkspaceEntryConfig
+    >;
+    return new WorkspaceResolver(ws);
+  }
+
+  /** Workspace keys declared in wmill.yaml (excludes reserved keys). */
+  knownNames(): string[] {
+    return getWorkspaceNames(this.workspaces as any);
+  }
+
+  has(name: string): boolean {
+    return this.knownNames().includes(name);
+  }
+
+  /** Backend workspace id (path param) for a key, or throw if unknown. */
+  backendId(name: string): string {
+    if (!this.has(name)) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Workspace '${name}' is not defined in wmill.yaml 'workspaces'. ` +
+          `Add it there (its keys must match protection-rules.yaml).`,
+      );
+    }
+    return getEffectiveWorkspaceId(name, this.workspaces[name]);
+  }
+}
+
+// Point the API client at the backend for a single wmill.yaml workspace key,
+// then return the backend workspace id to use as the path param. The backend
+// id always comes from the wmill.yaml mapping (the feature's invariant);
+// credentials are resolved with the same precedence as every other command:
+//
+//   1. explicit --base-url + --token  -> used as-is (stateless CI; no profile
+//      or wmill.yaml baseUrl required)
+//   2. otherwise, the stored profile matching wmill.yaml workspaces.<ws>
+//      (its baseUrl + token), with an explicit --token overriding the
+//      stored token
+//
+// Throws a clean error if the key is unknown or nothing resolves it — callers
+// decide whether to skip (--all) or fail (named arg).
+export async function configureClientForWorkspace(
+  opts: GlobalOptions,
+  ws: string,
+  resolver: WorkspaceResolver,
+): Promise<string> {
+  const wsId = resolver.backendId(ws); // throws if not in wmill.yaml
+
+  // 1. Explicit credentials — honor them directly, like other commands do.
+  if (opts.baseUrl) {
+    if (!opts.token) {
+      throw new Error(
+        "When --base-url is set, --token is required for protection-rules.",
+      );
+    }
+    setClient(opts.token, opts.baseUrl.replace(/\/+$/, ""));
+    return wsId;
+  }
+
+  // 2. Stored-profile resolution. Fresh opts so resolveWorkspace's per-call
+  // cache can't bleed across keys.
+  const resolved = await tryResolveBranchWorkspace({ ...opts }, ws);
+  if (!resolved) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Could not resolve credentials for workspace '${ws}'. Either pass ` +
+        `--base-url and --token, or ensure wmill.yaml workspaces.${ws} has a ` +
+        `baseUrl and you've run 'wmill workspace add' for it.`,
+    );
+  }
+  // An explicit --token overrides the stored profile's token.
+  setClient(opts.token ?? resolved.token, resolved.remote.replace(/\/+$/, ""));
+  return wsId;
+}
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/index.ts b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8ea8c47a1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+export { pullProtectionRules, pushProtectionRules } from "./protection-rules.ts";
+export { default } from "./protection-rules.ts";
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/protection-rules.ts b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/protection-rules.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..932a956333
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/protection-rules.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import { Command } from "@cliffy/command";
+import { pullProtectionRules } from "./pull.ts";
+import { pushProtectionRules } from "./push.ts";
+
+const command = new Command()
+  .description(
+    "Sync workspace protection rules between protection-rules.yaml and Windmill. The file is keyed by workspace name; keys must match wmill.yaml 'workspaces'.",
+  )
+  .command("pull")
+  .description(
+    "Pull protection rules from Windmill into protection-rules.yaml for a workspace",
+  )
+  .arguments("[workspace:string]")
+  .option("--all", "Pull every workspace defined in wmill.yaml")
+  .option("--dry-run", "Show what would change without writing the file")
+  .option("--json-output", "Output in JSON format")
+  .action(pullProtectionRules as any)
+  .command("push")
+  .description(
+    "Push protection rules from protection-rules.yaml to Windmill for a workspace (full reconcile: creates, updates, and deletes)",
+  )
+  .arguments("[workspace:string]")
+  .option("--all", "Push every workspace defined in protection-rules.yaml")
+  .option("--dry-run", "Show what would change without applying")
+  .option("--json-output", "Output in JSON format")
+  .option("--yes", "Skip the confirmation prompt (including deletions)")
+  .action(pushProtectionRules as any);
+
+export { pullProtectionRules, pushProtectionRules };
+export default command;
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/pull.ts b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/pull.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9086800422
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/pull.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+import { colors } from "@cliffy/ansi/colors";
+
+import * as log from "../../core/log.ts";
+import { GlobalOptions } from "../../types.ts";
+import * as wmill from "../../../gen/services.gen.ts";
+import { readConfigFile } from "../../core/conf.ts";
+
+import { ProtectionRulesConverter } from "./converter.ts";
+import { ProtectionRulesFile } from "./types.ts";
+import {
+  PROTECTION_RULES_FILENAME,
+  getProtectionRulesPath,
+  readProtectionRulesFile,
+  writeProtectionRulesFile,
+  WorkspaceResolver,
+  configureClientForWorkspace,
+} from "./file.ts";
+import { outputResult, fail, displayPlan, structuredPlan } from "./utils.ts";
+
+type PullOpts = GlobalOptions & {
+  all?: boolean;
+  dryRun?: boolean;
+  jsonOutput?: boolean;
+};
+
+export async function pullProtectionRules(
+  opts: PullOpts,
+  workspaceArg?: string,
+) {
+  // In JSON mode stdout must be exactly one JSON payload. Silence human logs
+  // (log.info/warn → stdout) here, before anything that logs (readConfigFile,
+  // workspace resolution). log.error still goes to stderr.
+  if (opts.jsonOutput) log.setSilent(true);
+
+  const prPath = getProtectionRulesPath();
+  if (!prPath) {
+    fail(opts, {
+      error:
+        "No wmill.yaml found. Run 'wmill init' first — protection-rules.yaml lives next to it.",
+    });
+  }
+
+  const config = await readConfigFile();
+  const resolver = WorkspaceResolver.fromConfig(config);
+
+  let targets: string[];
+  if (opts.all) {
+    targets = resolver.knownNames();
+    if (targets.length === 0) {
+      fail(opts, {
+        error: "No workspaces defined in wmill.yaml 'workspaces' block.",
+      });
+    }
+  } else if (workspaceArg) {
+    targets = [workspaceArg];
+  } else {
+    fail(opts, { error: "Specify a workspace name or use --all." });
+  }
+
+  const file = await readProtectionRulesFile(prPath!);
+  const perWs: Record<string, any> = {};
+  let hadError = false;
+  let anyChange = false;
+
+  for (const ws of targets) {
+    let wsId: string;
+    try {
+      wsId = await configureClientForWorkspace(opts, ws, resolver);
+    } catch (e) {
+      const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+      if (opts.all) {
+        log.error(colors.red(msg));
+        hadError = true;
+        continue;
+      }
+      fail(opts, { error: msg });
+    }
+
+    let backend;
+    try {
+      backend = ProtectionRulesConverter.fromBackend(
+        await wmill.listProtectionRules({ workspace: wsId }),
+      );
+    } catch (e) {
+      const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+      if (opts.all) {
+        log.error(colors.red(`[${ws}] failed to fetch: ${msg}`));
+        hadError = true;
+        continue;
+      }
+      fail(opts, { error: `Failed to fetch protection rules: ${msg}` });
+    }
+
+    const current = ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeList(file[ws]);
+    // plan describes how the local file would change to match the backend
+    const plan = ProtectionRulesConverter.computePlan(backend, current);
+    if (ProtectionRulesConverter.planHasChanges(plan)) anyChange = true;
+    perWs[ws] = structuredPlan(plan);
+
+    if (!opts.dryRun) {
+      file[ws] = backend;
+    } else if (!opts.jsonOutput) {
+      displayPlan(ws, plan);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (opts.dryRun) {
+    if (opts.jsonOutput) {
+      console.log(
+        JSON.stringify({
+          success: !hadError,
+          dryRun: true,
+          partialFailure: hadError,
+          hasChanges: anyChange,
+          workspaces: perWs,
+        }),
+      );
+    } else if (!hadError && !anyChange) {
+      log.info(colors.green("All targeted workspaces are in sync"));
+    }
+    if (hadError) process.exit(1);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  await writeProtectionRulesFile(prPath!, file as ProtectionRulesFile);
+  const n = Object.keys(perWs).length;
+  if (hadError) {
+    // Some --all workspaces failed: status must not say success while we
+    // exit non-zero.
+    outputResult(opts, {
+      success: false,
+      error: `Pulled ${n} workspace(s) into ${PROTECTION_RULES_FILENAME}, but one or more workspaces failed (see errors above)`,
+      partialFailure: true,
+      workspaces: perWs,
+    });
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+  outputResult(opts, {
+    success: true,
+    message: `Pulled protection rules for ${n} workspace(s) into ${PROTECTION_RULES_FILENAME}`,
+    workspaces: perWs,
+  });
+}
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/push.ts b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/push.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2ee253eaab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/push.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+import process from "node:process";
+import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
+
+import { colors } from "@cliffy/ansi/colors";
+import { Confirm } from "@cliffy/prompt/confirm";
+
+import * as log from "../../core/log.ts";
+import { GlobalOptions } from "../../types.ts";
+import * as wmill from "../../../gen/services.gen.ts";
+import { readConfigFile } from "../../core/conf.ts";
+
+import { ProtectionRulesConverter, ProtectionRulesPlan } from "./converter.ts";
+import {
+  getProtectionRulesPath,
+  readProtectionRulesFile,
+  WorkspaceResolver,
+  configureClientForWorkspace,
+} from "./file.ts";
+import { outputResult, fail, displayPlan, structuredPlan } from "./utils.ts";
+
+type PushOpts = GlobalOptions & {
+  all?: boolean;
+  dryRun?: boolean;
+  jsonOutput?: boolean;
+  yes?: boolean;
+};
+
+interface WsPlan {
+  ws: string;
+  wsId: string;
+  plan: ProtectionRulesPlan;
+  wipesAll: boolean;
+}
+
+export async function pushProtectionRules(
+  opts: PushOpts,
+  workspaceArg?: string,
+) {
+  // In JSON mode stdout must be exactly one JSON payload. Silence human logs
+  // (log.info/warn → stdout, incl. workspace resolution + the empty-list
+  // delete warning) before anything logs. log.error still goes to stderr.
+  if (opts.jsonOutput) log.setSilent(true);
+
+  const prPath = getProtectionRulesPath();
+  if (!prPath) {
+    fail(opts, {
+      error:
+        "No wmill.yaml found. Run 'wmill init' first — protection-rules.yaml lives next to it.",
+    });
+  }
+  if (!existsSync(prPath!)) {
+    fail(opts, {
+      error:
+        "No protection-rules.yaml found. Run 'wmill protection-rules pull' first.",
+    });
+  }
+
+  const config = await readConfigFile();
+  const resolver = WorkspaceResolver.fromConfig(config);
+  const file = await readProtectionRulesFile(prPath!);
+
+  let targets: string[];
+  if (opts.all) {
+    targets = Object.keys(file).sort();
+    if (targets.length === 0) {
+      fail(opts, { error: "protection-rules.yaml defines no workspaces." });
+    }
+  } else if (workspaceArg) {
+    if (!(workspaceArg in file)) {
+      fail(opts, {
+        error: `Workspace '${workspaceArg}' is not defined in protection-rules.yaml.`,
+      });
+    }
+    targets = [workspaceArg];
+  } else {
+    fail(opts, { error: "Specify a workspace name or use --all." });
+  }
+
+  // Phase 1: resolve + diff every target before mutating anything.
+  const wsPlans: WsPlan[] = [];
+  let hadError = false;
+  for (const ws of targets) {
+    let wsId: string;
+    try {
+      wsId = await configureClientForWorkspace(opts, ws, resolver);
+    } catch (e) {
+      const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+      if (opts.all) {
+        log.error(colors.red(msg));
+        hadError = true;
+        continue;
+      }
+      fail(opts, { error: msg });
+    }
+
+    let backend;
+    try {
+      backend = ProtectionRulesConverter.fromBackend(
+        await wmill.listProtectionRules({ workspace: wsId }),
+      );
+    } catch (e) {
+      const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+      if (opts.all) {
+        log.error(colors.red(`[${ws}] failed to fetch: ${msg}`));
+        hadError = true;
+        continue;
+      }
+      fail(opts, { error: `Failed to fetch protection rules: ${msg}` });
+    }
+
+    const local = ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeList(file[ws]);
+    const plan = ProtectionRulesConverter.computePlan(local, backend);
+    wsPlans.push({
+      ws,
+      wsId,
+      plan,
+      wipesAll: local.length === 0 && plan.toDelete.length > 0,
+    });
+  }
+
+  const changed = wsPlans.filter((w) =>
+    ProtectionRulesConverter.planHasChanges(w.plan)
+  );
+
+  if (opts.jsonOutput && opts.dryRun) {
+    console.log(
+      JSON.stringify({
+        success: !hadError,
+        dryRun: true,
+        partialFailure: hadError,
+        hasChanges: changed.length > 0,
+        workspaces: Object.fromEntries(
+          wsPlans.map((w) => [w.ws, structuredPlan(w.plan)]),
+        ),
+      }),
+    );
+    if (hadError) process.exit(1);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!opts.jsonOutput) {
+    for (const w of wsPlans) displayPlan(w.ws, w.plan);
+  }
+
+  if (changed.length === 0) {
+    if (hadError) {
+      // A workspace failed to resolve/fetch — don't claim success while
+      // exiting non-zero.
+      outputResult(opts, {
+        success: false,
+        error:
+          "One or more workspaces failed (see errors above); the rest are in sync",
+        partialFailure: true,
+      });
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+    if (!opts.dryRun) {
+      outputResult(opts, {
+        success: true,
+        message: "No changes to push - all targeted workspaces are in sync",
+      });
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (opts.dryRun) {
+    if (hadError) process.exit(1);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Pushing an empty list wipes a workspace's rules — be loud even with --yes.
+  for (const w of wsPlans) {
+    if (w.wipesAll) {
+      log.warn(
+        colors.red(
+          `WARNING: '${w.ws}' has an empty rule list — this DELETES ALL ${w.plan.toDelete.length} backend rule(s) for that workspace.`,
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  const totalDeletes = changed.reduce((n, w) => n + w.plan.toDelete.length, 0);
+  if (!opts.yes && !!process.stdin.isTTY) {
+    const confirmed = await Confirm.prompt({
+      message: totalDeletes > 0
+        ? `Apply these changes? This DELETES ${totalDeletes} protection rule(s) across ${changed.length} workspace(s).`
+        : `Apply these changes to ${changed.length} workspace(s)?`,
+      default: totalDeletes === 0,
+    });
+    if (!confirmed) {
+      log.info("Operation cancelled");
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Phase 2: apply. Track progress so a mid-run failure reports how far it got.
+  const applied = { created: 0, updated: 0, deleted: 0 };
+  try {
+    for (const w of changed) {
+      // Re-point the client at this workspace (phase 1 left it on the last one).
+      await configureClientForWorkspace(opts, w.ws, resolver);
+      for (const entry of w.plan.toCreate) {
+        const n = ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeEntry(entry);
+        await wmill.createProtectionRule({
+          workspace: w.wsId,
+          requestBody: {
+            name: n.name,
+            rules: n.rules,
+            bypass_groups: n.bypass_groups,
+            bypass_users: n.bypass_users,
+          },
+        });
+        applied.created++;
+      }
+      for (const entry of w.plan.toUpdate) {
+        const n = ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeEntry(entry);
+        await wmill.updateProtectionRule({
+          workspace: w.wsId,
+          ruleName: n.name,
+          requestBody: {
+            rules: n.rules,
+            bypass_groups: n.bypass_groups,
+            bypass_users: n.bypass_users,
+          },
+        });
+        applied.updated++;
+      }
+      for (const name of w.plan.toDelete) {
+        await wmill.deleteProtectionRule({
+          workspace: w.wsId,
+          ruleName: name,
+        });
+        applied.deleted++;
+      }
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+    fail(opts, {
+      error:
+        `Push partially failed after ${applied.created} create, ${applied.updated} update, ` +
+        `${applied.deleted} delete: ${msg}. Backend is partially reconciled; re-run push to converge.`,
+      applied,
+    });
+  }
+
+  if (hadError) {
+    // Reconcile of resolvable workspaces succeeded, but some --all targets
+    // failed earlier. Status must reflect the non-zero exit.
+    outputResult(opts, {
+      success: false,
+      error: `Pushed (created ${applied.created}, updated ${applied.updated}, deleted ${applied.deleted}) across ${changed.length} workspace(s), but one or more workspaces failed (see errors above)`,
+      partialFailure: true,
+      ...applied,
+    });
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+  outputResult(opts, {
+    success: true,
+    message: `Pushed protection rules (created ${applied.created}, updated ${applied.updated}, deleted ${applied.deleted}) across ${changed.length} workspace(s)`,
+    ...applied,
+  });
+}
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/types.ts b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0256f24e8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import { ProtectionRuleKind } from "../../../gen/types.gen.ts";
+
+export type { ProtectionRuleKind };
+
+// A single workspace protection ruleset as stored in protection-rules.yaml.
+// Mirrors the backend ProtectionRuleset shape minus workspace_id (the workspace
+// is the map key).
+export interface ProtectionRuleEntry {
+  name: string;
+  rules: ProtectionRuleKind[];
+  bypass_groups: string[];
+  bypass_users: string[];
+}
+
+// protection-rules.yaml is a flat map: workspace name -> its protection rules.
+// Workspace names MUST match keys in wmill.yaml's `workspaces` block, which is
+// where the backend workspaceId/remote is resolved from.
+export type ProtectionRulesFile = Record<string, ProtectionRuleEntry[]>;
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/utils.ts b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9809e5808c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/commands/protection-rules/utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import process from "node:process";
+
+import { colors } from "@cliffy/ansi/colors";
+import * as log from "../../core/log.ts";
+import { ProtectionRuleEntry } from "./types.ts";
+import { ProtectionRulesConverter, ProtectionRulesPlan } from "./converter.ts";
+
+export function outputResult(
+  opts: { jsonOutput?: boolean },
+  result: {
+    success: boolean;
+    message?: string;
+    error?: string;
+    [key: string]: any;
+  },
+): void {
+  if (opts.jsonOutput) {
+    console.log(JSON.stringify(result));
+  } else if (result.success && result.message) {
+    log.info(colors.green(result.message));
+  } else if (!result.success && result.error) {
+    log.error(colors.red(result.error));
+  }
+}
+
+// Report a genuine failure and exit non-zero so CI / scripted callers detect
+// it. outputResult alone only logs, which would let a failed (possibly
+// partial) reconcile hide behind exit code 0.
+export function fail(
+  opts: { jsonOutput?: boolean },
+  result: { error: string; [key: string]: any },
+): never {
+  outputResult(opts, { ...result, success: false });
+  process.exit(1);
+}
+
+function describeEntry(entry: ProtectionRuleEntry): string {
+  const n = ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeEntry(entry);
+  const parts = [`rules=[${n.rules.join(", ")}]`];
+  if (n.bypass_groups.length > 0) {
+    parts.push(`bypass_groups=[${n.bypass_groups.join(", ")}]`);
+  }
+  if (n.bypass_users.length > 0) {
+    parts.push(`bypass_users=[${n.bypass_users.join(", ")}]`);
+  }
+  return parts.join(" ");
+}
+
+// Render a reconciliation plan with a per-workspace heading.
+export function displayPlan(ws: string, plan: ProtectionRulesPlan): void {
+  log.info(colors.bold(`workspace ${ws}:`));
+  for (const e of plan.toCreate) {
+    log.info(colors.green(`  + ${e.name}  (${describeEntry(e)})`));
+  }
+  for (const e of plan.toUpdate) {
+    log.info(colors.yellow(`  ~ ${e.name}  (${describeEntry(e)})`));
+  }
+  for (const name of plan.toDelete) {
+    log.info(colors.red(`  - ${name}`));
+  }
+  if (!ProtectionRulesConverter.planHasChanges(plan)) {
+    log.info(colors.green("  in sync"));
+  }
+}
+
+export function structuredPlan(plan: ProtectionRulesPlan) {
+  return {
+    create: plan.toCreate.map((e) => e.name),
+    update: plan.toUpdate.map((e) => e.name),
+    delete: plan.toDelete,
+    unchanged: plan.unchanged,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/cli/src/guidance/skills.gen.ts b/cli/src/guidance/skills.gen.ts
index 2b0962e09d..d2227b5f94 100644
--- a/cli/src/guidance/skills.gen.ts
+++ b/cli/src/guidance/skills.gen.ts
@@ -6944,6 +6944,20 @@ Validate Windmill flow, schedule, and trigger YAML files in a directory
 - \`--locks-required\` - Fail if scripts or flow inline scripts that need locks have no locks
 - \`-w, --watch\` - Watch for file changes and re-lint automatically
 
+### protection-rules
+
+**Subcommands:**
+
+- \`protection-rules pull [workspace:string]\` - Pull protection rules from Windmill into protection-rules.yaml for a workspace
+  - \`--all\` - Pull every workspace defined in wmill.yaml
+  - \`--dry-run\` - Show what would change without writing the file
+  - \`--json-output\` - Output in JSON format
+- \`protection-rules push [workspace:string]\` - Push protection rules from protection-rules.yaml to Windmill for a workspace (full reconcile: creates, updates, and deletes)
+  - \`--all\` - Push every workspace defined in protection-rules.yaml
+  - \`--dry-run\` - Show what would change without applying
+  - \`--json-output\` - Output in JSON format
+  - \`--yes\` - Skip the confirmation prompt (including deletions)
+
 ### queues
 
 List all queues with their metrics
diff --git a/cli/src/main.ts b/cli/src/main.ts
index dd078c6c9c..90dbf1164b 100755
--- a/cli/src/main.ts
+++ b/cli/src/main.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import schedule from "./commands/schedule/schedule.ts";
 import trigger from "./commands/trigger/trigger.ts";
 import sync from "./commands/sync/sync.ts";
 import gitsyncSettings from "./commands/gitsync-settings/gitsync-settings.ts";
+import protectionRules from "./commands/protection-rules/protection-rules.ts";
 import instance from "./commands/instance/instance.ts";
 import workerGroups from "./commands/worker-groups/worker-groups.ts";
 import lint from "./commands/lint/lint.ts";
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ export {
   sync,
   lint,
   gitsyncSettings,
+  protectionRules,
   instance,
   dev,
   docs,
@@ -185,6 +187,7 @@ const command = new Command()
   .command("sync", sync)
   .command("lint", lint)
   .command("gitsync-settings", gitsyncSettings)
+  .command("protection-rules", protectionRules)
   .command("instance", instance)
   .command("worker-groups", workerGroups)
   .command("workers", workers)
diff --git a/cli/test/protection_rules_converter_unit.test.ts b/cli/test/protection_rules_converter_unit.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c024cdf502
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/test/protection_rules_converter_unit.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,240 @@
+/**
+ * Unit tests for the protection-rules feature: the reconciliation converter,
+ * the WorkspaceResolver (protection-rules.yaml key -> backend id via
+ * wmill.yaml), and protection-rules.yaml read/write round-tripping.
+ */
+
+import { expect, test, describe } from "bun:test";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+import { ProtectionRulesConverter } from "../src/commands/protection-rules/converter.ts";
+import {
+  WorkspaceResolver,
+  readProtectionRulesFile,
+  writeProtectionRulesFile,
+} from "../src/commands/protection-rules/file.ts";
+import { ProtectionRuleEntry } from "../src/commands/protection-rules/types.ts";
+import { SyncOptions } from "../src/core/conf.ts";
+
+const rule = (
+  name: string,
+  rules: ProtectionRuleEntry["rules"],
+  groups: string[] = [],
+  users: string[] = [],
+): ProtectionRuleEntry => ({
+  name,
+  rules,
+  bypass_groups: groups,
+  bypass_users: users,
+});
+
+describe("normalizeEntry", () => {
+  test("sorts and dedupes rules, groups, users", () => {
+    const r = rule(
+      "prod",
+      ["RestrictDeployToDeployers", "DisableDirectDeployment", "DisableDirectDeployment"],
+      ["g/b", "g/a"],
+      ["u/y", "u/x", "u/x"],
+    );
+    const n = ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeEntry(r);
+    expect(n.rules).toEqual([
+      "DisableDirectDeployment",
+      "RestrictDeployToDeployers",
+    ]);
+    expect(n.bypass_groups).toEqual(["g/a", "g/b"]);
+    expect(n.bypass_users).toEqual(["u/x", "u/y"]);
+  });
+
+  test("handles missing arrays", () => {
+    const n = ProtectionRulesConverter.normalizeEntry({
+      name: "x",
+    } as unknown as ProtectionRuleEntry);
+    expect(n.rules).toEqual([]);
+    expect(n.bypass_groups).toEqual([]);
+    expect(n.bypass_users).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("entriesEqual", () => {
+  test("equal regardless of array order", () => {
+    const a = rule("p", ["DisableDirectDeployment", "DisableWorkspaceForking"], ["g/a", "g/b"]);
+    const b = rule("p", ["DisableWorkspaceForking", "DisableDirectDeployment"], ["g/b", "g/a"]);
+    expect(ProtectionRulesConverter.entriesEqual(a, b)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("different rules are not equal", () => {
+    const a = rule("p", ["DisableDirectDeployment"]);
+    const b = rule("p", ["DisableWorkspaceForking"]);
+    expect(ProtectionRulesConverter.entriesEqual(a, b)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test("different bypass users are not equal", () => {
+    const a = rule("p", ["DisableDirectDeployment"], [], ["u/a"]);
+    const b = rule("p", ["DisableDirectDeployment"], [], ["u/b"]);
+    expect(ProtectionRulesConverter.entriesEqual(a, b)).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("fromBackend", () => {
+  test("strips workspace_id and normalizes", () => {
+    const out = ProtectionRulesConverter.fromBackend([
+      {
+        name: "p",
+        workspace_id: "ws1",
+        rules: ["DisableWorkspaceForking", "DisableDirectDeployment"],
+        bypass_groups: ["g/b", "g/a"],
+        bypass_users: [],
+      },
+    ]);
+    expect(out).toEqual([
+      {
+        name: "p",
+        rules: ["DisableDirectDeployment", "DisableWorkspaceForking"],
+        bypass_groups: ["g/a", "g/b"],
+        bypass_users: [],
+      },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("listsEqual", () => {
+  test("equal regardless of list order", () => {
+    const a = [rule("a", ["DisableDirectDeployment"]), rule("b", ["DisableWorkspaceForking"])];
+    const b = [rule("b", ["DisableWorkspaceForking"]), rule("a", ["DisableDirectDeployment"])];
+    expect(ProtectionRulesConverter.listsEqual(a, b)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("undefined equals empty", () => {
+    expect(ProtectionRulesConverter.listsEqual(undefined, [])).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("different length not equal", () => {
+    expect(
+      ProtectionRulesConverter.listsEqual([rule("a", [])], []),
+    ).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("computePlan (full reconcile)", () => {
+  test("creates rules present locally but not on backend", () => {
+    const plan = ProtectionRulesConverter.computePlan(
+      [rule("new", ["DisableDirectDeployment"])],
+      [],
+    );
+    expect(plan.toCreate.map((e) => e.name)).toEqual(["new"]);
+    expect(plan.toUpdate).toEqual([]);
+    expect(plan.toDelete).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test("deletes backend rules not present locally", () => {
+    const plan = ProtectionRulesConverter.computePlan(
+      [],
+      [rule("stale", ["DisableDirectDeployment"])],
+    );
+    expect(plan.toDelete).toEqual(["stale"]);
+    expect(plan.toCreate).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test("updates rules whose content changed", () => {
+    const plan = ProtectionRulesConverter.computePlan(
+      [rule("p", ["DisableDirectDeployment", "DisableWorkspaceForking"])],
+      [rule("p", ["DisableDirectDeployment"])],
+    );
+    expect(plan.toUpdate.map((e) => e.name)).toEqual(["p"]);
+    expect(plan.toCreate).toEqual([]);
+    expect(plan.toDelete).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test("unchanged rules are not in create/update/delete", () => {
+    const same = [rule("p", ["DisableDirectDeployment"], ["g/a"])];
+    const plan = ProtectionRulesConverter.computePlan(same, [
+      rule("p", ["DisableDirectDeployment"], ["g/a"]),
+    ]);
+    expect(ProtectionRulesConverter.planHasChanges(plan)).toBe(false);
+    expect(plan.unchanged).toEqual(["p"]);
+  });
+
+  test("mixed plan: create + update + delete + unchanged", () => {
+    const local = [
+      rule("keep", ["DisableDirectDeployment"]),
+      rule("change", ["DisableWorkspaceForking"]),
+      rule("brand-new", ["RestrictDeployToDeployers"]),
+    ];
+    const backend = [
+      rule("keep", ["DisableDirectDeployment"]),
+      rule("change", ["DisableDirectDeployment"]),
+      rule("gone", ["DisableDirectDeployment"]),
+    ];
+    const plan = ProtectionRulesConverter.computePlan(local, backend);
+    expect(plan.toCreate.map((e) => e.name)).toEqual(["brand-new"]);
+    expect(plan.toUpdate.map((e) => e.name)).toEqual(["change"]);
+    expect(plan.toDelete).toEqual(["gone"]);
+    expect(plan.unchanged).toEqual(["keep"]);
+    expect(ProtectionRulesConverter.planHasChanges(plan)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("reordered arrays do not produce spurious updates", () => {
+    const plan = ProtectionRulesConverter.computePlan(
+      [rule("p", ["DisableWorkspaceForking", "DisableDirectDeployment"], ["g/b", "g/a"])],
+      [rule("p", ["DisableDirectDeployment", "DisableWorkspaceForking"], ["g/a", "g/b"])],
+    );
+    expect(ProtectionRulesConverter.planHasChanges(plan)).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("WorkspaceResolver", () => {
+  const config: SyncOptions = {
+    workspaces: {
+      prod: { workspaceId: "acme-prod" },
+      dev: {},
+      commonSpecificItems: { settings: true },
+    } as any,
+  };
+  const r = WorkspaceResolver.fromConfig(config);
+
+  test("knownNames excludes reserved keys", () => {
+    expect(r.knownNames().sort()).toEqual(["dev", "prod"]);
+  });
+
+  test("backendId uses workspaceId when set, else the key name", () => {
+    expect(r.backendId("prod")).toBe("acme-prod");
+    expect(r.backendId("dev")).toBe("dev");
+  });
+
+  test("backendId throws for a key absent from wmill.yaml", () => {
+    expect(() => r.backendId("ghost")).toThrow(/not defined in wmill\.yaml/);
+  });
+
+  test("has reflects membership", () => {
+    expect(r.has("prod")).toBe(true);
+    expect(r.has("ghost")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test("empty config resolves to no workspaces", () => {
+    expect(WorkspaceResolver.fromConfig({}).knownNames()).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("protection-rules.yaml read/write", () => {
+  test("round-trips and sorts workspace keys deterministically", async () => {
+    const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "prfile-"));
+    const path = join(dir, "protection-rules.yaml");
+    try {
+      expect(await readProtectionRulesFile(path)).toEqual({});
+
+      await writeProtectionRulesFile(path, {
+        prod: [rule("p", ["DisableDirectDeployment"], ["g/a"])],
+        dev: [],
+      });
+      const back = await readProtectionRulesFile(path);
+      expect(Object.keys(back)).toEqual(["dev", "prod"]);
+      expect(back.prod).toEqual([
+        rule("p", ["DisableDirectDeployment"], ["g/a"]),
+      ]);
+      expect(back.dev).toEqual([]);
+    } finally {
+      rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/system_prompts/auto-generated/cli/cli-commands.md b/system_prompts/auto-generated/cli/cli-commands.md
index dc0eb66640..eefa587666 100644
--- a/system_prompts/auto-generated/cli/cli-commands.md
+++ b/system_prompts/auto-generated/cli/cli-commands.md
@@ -330,6 +330,20 @@ Validate Windmill flow, schedule, and trigger YAML files in a directory
 - `--locks-required` - Fail if scripts or flow inline scripts that need locks have no locks
 - `-w, --watch` - Watch for file changes and re-lint automatically
 
+### protection-rules
+
+**Subcommands:**
+
+- `protection-rules pull [workspace:string]` - Pull protection rules from Windmill into protection-rules.yaml for a workspace
+  - `--all` - Pull every workspace defined in wmill.yaml
+  - `--dry-run` - Show what would change without writing the file
+  - `--json-output` - Output in JSON format
+- `protection-rules push [workspace:string]` - Push protection rules from protection-rules.yaml to Windmill for a workspace (full reconcile: creates, updates, and deletes)
+  - `--all` - Push every workspace defined in protection-rules.yaml
+  - `--dry-run` - Show what would change without applying
+  - `--json-output` - Output in JSON format
+  - `--yes` - Skip the confirmation prompt (including deletions)
+
 ### queues
 
 List all queues with their metrics
diff --git a/system_prompts/auto-generated/prompts.ts b/system_prompts/auto-generated/prompts.ts
index f1c00d5763..a47b56aeaa 100644
--- a/system_prompts/auto-generated/prompts.ts
+++ b/system_prompts/auto-generated/prompts.ts
@@ -2861,6 +2861,20 @@ Validate Windmill flow, schedule, and trigger YAML files in a directory
 - \`--locks-required\` - Fail if scripts or flow inline scripts that need locks have no locks
 - \`-w, --watch\` - Watch for file changes and re-lint automatically
 
+### protection-rules
+
+**Subcommands:**
+
+- \`protection-rules pull [workspace:string]\` - Pull protection rules from Windmill into protection-rules.yaml for a workspace
+  - \`--all\` - Pull every workspace defined in wmill.yaml
+  - \`--dry-run\` - Show what would change without writing the file
+  - \`--json-output\` - Output in JSON format
+- \`protection-rules push [workspace:string]\` - Push protection rules from protection-rules.yaml to Windmill for a workspace (full reconcile: creates, updates, and deletes)
+  - \`--all\` - Push every workspace defined in protection-rules.yaml
+  - \`--dry-run\` - Show what would change without applying
+  - \`--json-output\` - Output in JSON format
+  - \`--yes\` - Skip the confirmation prompt (including deletions)
+
 ### queues
 
 List all queues with their metrics
diff --git a/system_prompts/auto-generated/skills/cli-commands/SKILL.md b/system_prompts/auto-generated/skills/cli-commands/SKILL.md
index 98ce52efde..a729025eeb 100644
--- a/system_prompts/auto-generated/skills/cli-commands/SKILL.md
+++ b/system_prompts/auto-generated/skills/cli-commands/SKILL.md
@@ -335,6 +335,20 @@ Validate Windmill flow, schedule, and trigger YAML files in a directory
 - `--locks-required` - Fail if scripts or flow inline scripts that need locks have no locks
 - `-w, --watch` - Watch for file changes and re-lint automatically
 
+### protection-rules
+
+**Subcommands:**
+
+- `protection-rules pull [workspace:string]` - Pull protection rules from Windmill into protection-rules.yaml for a workspace
+  - `--all` - Pull every workspace defined in wmill.yaml
+  - `--dry-run` - Show what would change without writing the file
+  - `--json-output` - Output in JSON format
+- `protection-rules push [workspace:string]` - Push protection rules from protection-rules.yaml to Windmill for a workspace (full reconcile: creates, updates, and deletes)
+  - `--all` - Push every workspace defined in protection-rules.yaml
+  - `--dry-run` - Show what would change without applying
+  - `--json-output` - Output in JSON format
+  - `--yes` - Skip the confirmation prompt (including deletions)
+
 ### queues
 
 List all queues with their metrics