diff --git a/.github/actions/create-signed-pull-request/action.yml b/.github/actions/create-signed-pull-request/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..48e9690fc6cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/create-signed-pull-request/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+name: 'Create Signed Pull Request'
+description: 'Creates or updates a pull request whose commit is signed by GitHub'
+
+# Thin wrapper over peter-evans/create-pull-request that always sets sign-commits
+# Signing needs a bot token: our dd-octo-sts tokens are GitHub App tokens, so the commit is signed
+# and attributed to the app. A PAT would silently produce unsigned commits.
+
+inputs:
+  token:
+    description: 'GitHub App token used to commit and manage the pull request. Needs contents:write and pull_requests:write.'
+    required: true
+  branch:
+    description: 'Head branch to create or update'
+    required: true
+  commit-message:
+    description: 'Message for the commit'
+    required: true
+  title:
+    description: 'Pull request title'
+    required: true
+  base:
+    description: 'Base branch for the pull request. Defaults to the branch that was checked out.'
+    required: false
+  body:
+    description: 'Pull request body'
+    required: false
+  labels:
+    description: 'Comma-separated labels to apply'
+    required: false
+  reviewers:
+    description: 'Comma-separated reviewers to request. GitHub usernames, not teams.'
+    required: false
+
+outputs:
+  pull-request-number:
+    description: 'Number of the created or updated pull request'
+    value: ${{ steps.pr.outputs.pull-request-number }}
+  pull-request-url:
+    description: 'URL of the created or updated pull request'
+    value: ${{ steps.pr.outputs.pull-request-url }}
+
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+    - name: Create pull request
+      id: pr
+      uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@5f6978faf089d4d20b00c7766989d076bb2fc7f1 # v8.1.1
+      with:
+        token: ${{ inputs.token }}
+        sign-commits: true
+        branch: ${{ inputs.branch }}
+        commit-message: ${{ inputs.commit-message }}
+        title: ${{ inputs.title }}
+        base: ${{ inputs.base }}
+        body: ${{ inputs.body }}
+        labels: ${{ inputs.labels }}
+        reviewers: ${{ inputs.reviewers }}
+        delete-branch: true
diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto_bump_smoke_test_docker_images.yml b/.github/workflows/auto_bump_smoke_test_docker_images.yml
index 443efd2cc581..41251269ace0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto_bump_smoke_test_docker_images.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto_bump_smoke_test_docker_images.yml
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
 
       - uses: actions/setup-dotnet@26b0ec14cb23fa6904739307f278c14f94c95bf1 # v5.4.0
         with:
@@ -51,7 +53,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Create Pull Request
         id: pr
-        uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@5f6978faf089d4d20b00c7766989d076bb2fc7f1 # v8.1.1
+        uses: ./.github/actions/create-signed-pull-request
         with:
           token: ${{ steps.octo-sts.outputs.token }}
           # The branch name is referenced in .azure-pipelines/ultimate-pipeline.yml
@@ -59,7 +61,6 @@ jobs:
           # Keep the two in sync if this ever changes.
           branch: "bot/smoke-test-docker-image-bump"
           commit-message: "[Smoke Test Docker Image Bump]"
-          delete-branch: true
           base: master
           title: "[Smoke Test Docker Image Bump] Updating docker image tags "
           labels: "area:dependabot,area:test-apps,dependencies"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto_bump_test_package_versions.yml b/.github/workflows/auto_bump_test_package_versions.yml
index 81a781c42899..9acc10107cdc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto_bump_test_package_versions.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto_bump_test_package_versions.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
 
       - uses: actions/setup-dotnet@26b0ec14cb23fa6904739307f278c14f94c95bf1 # v5.4.0
         with:
@@ -53,15 +55,13 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Create Pull Request
         id: pr
-        uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@5f6978faf089d4d20b00c7766989d076bb2fc7f1 # v8.1.1
+        uses: ./.github/actions/create-signed-pull-request
         with:
           token: ${{ steps.octo-sts.outputs.token }}
           branch: "bot/test-package-versions-bump"
           commit-message: "[Test Package Versions Bump]"
-          delete-branch: true
           base: master
           title: "[Test Package Versions Bump] Updating package versions "
-          milestone: "${{steps.rename.outputs.milestone}}"
           labels: "area:dependabot,area:test-apps,dependencies"
           body: |
             Updates the package versions for integration tests. See below for a summary of the changes.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto_create_version_bump_pr.yml b/.github/workflows/auto_create_version_bump_pr.yml
index 31cfbed2cd59..abf31590a816 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto_create_version_bump_pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto_create_version_bump_pr.yml
@@ -46,11 +46,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           ref: ${{ steps.select_branch.outputs.ref }}
-
-      - name: "Configure Git Credentials"
-        run: |
-          git config user.name "${{ github.actor }}"
-          git config user.email "${{ github.actor }}@users.noreply.github.com"
+          persist-credentials: false
 
       - uses: actions/setup-dotnet@26b0ec14cb23fa6904739307f278c14f94c95bf1 # v5.4.0
         with:
@@ -77,12 +73,12 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Create Pull Request
         id: pr
-        uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@5f6978faf089d4d20b00c7766989d076bb2fc7f1 # v8.1.1
+        uses: ./.github/actions/create-signed-pull-request
         with:
           token: ${{ steps.octo-sts.outputs.token }}
           branch: "version-bump-${{steps.versions.outputs.full_version}}"
           commit-message: "[Version Bump] ${{steps.versions.outputs.full_version}}"
-          delete-branch: true
+          base: ${{ steps.select_branch.outputs.ref }}
           title: "[Version Bump] ${{steps.versions.outputs.full_version}}"
           reviewers: "DataDog/apm-dotnet"
           body: "${{steps.changes.outputs.release_notes}}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create_hotfix_branch.yml b/.github/workflows/create_hotfix_branch.yml
index fcecc7127bce..eae53877b40b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create_hotfix_branch.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create_hotfix_branch.yml
@@ -40,11 +40,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
-
-      - name: "Configure Git Credentials"
-        run: |
-          git config user.name "${{ github.actor }}"
-          git config user.email "${{ github.actor }}@users.noreply.github.com"
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
 
       - uses: actions/setup-dotnet@26b0ec14cb23fa6904739307f278c14f94c95bf1 # v5.4.0
         with:
@@ -61,9 +58,16 @@ jobs:
         id: versions
         run: .\tracer\build.ps1 OutputCurrentVersionToGitHub
 
+      - name: "Stage version bump"
+        run: git add .
+
       - name: "Push hotfix branch"
-        run: |
-          git checkout -b hotfix/${{ steps.versions.outputs.full_version }}
-          git add .
-          git commit -m "[Version Bump] ${{steps.versions.outputs.full_version}}"
-          git push origin -u hotfix/${{ steps.versions.outputs.full_version }}
+        uses: DataDog/commit-headless@2801f6e08acb3a69b6c4d7b0d5deef27c1a15bc7 # action/v3.3.1
+        with:
+          command: commit
+          branch: hotfix/${{ steps.versions.outputs.full_version }}
+          message: "[Version Bump] ${{steps.versions.outputs.full_version}}"
+          # Keeps whoever dispatched the workflow as a Co-authored-by trailer.
+          author: "${{ github.actor }} <${{ github.actor }}@users.noreply.github.com>"
+          head-sha: ${{ github.sha }}
+          create-branch: true
diff --git a/.github/workflows/force_manual_version_bump.yml b/.github/workflows/force_manual_version_bump.yml
index 1751dce716ac..a3ca43b13cb5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/force_manual_version_bump.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/force_manual_version_bump.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
 
       - uses: actions/setup-dotnet@26b0ec14cb23fa6904739307f278c14f94c95bf1 # v5.4.0
         with:
@@ -53,12 +55,11 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Create Pull Request
         id: pr
-        uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@5f6978faf089d4d20b00c7766989d076bb2fc7f1 # v8.1.1
+        uses: ./.github/actions/create-signed-pull-request
         with:
           token: ${{ steps.octo-sts.outputs.token }}
           branch: "version-bump-${{steps.versions.outputs.full_version}}"
           commit-message: "[Version Bump] ${{steps.versions.outputs.full_version}}"
-          delete-branch: true
           title: "[Version Bump] ${{steps.versions.outputs.full_version}}"
           reviewers: "DataDog/apm-dotnet"
           body: "${{steps.changes.outputs.release_notes}}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/generate_package_versions.yml b/.github/workflows/generate_package_versions.yml
index 959085983c37..c355db15a49f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/generate_package_versions.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/generate_package_versions.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
 
       - uses: actions/setup-dotnet@26b0ec14cb23fa6904739307f278c14f94c95bf1 # v5.4.0
         with:
@@ -31,11 +33,21 @@ jobs:
       - name: "Regenerating package versions"
         run: .\tracer\build.ps1 GeneratePackageVersions
 
-      - name: Create commits
+      - name: Stage regenerated files
         run: |
-          git config user.name 'github-actions[bot]'
-          git config user.email 'github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com'
-          git commit -am "Updated package versions"
-          git push
-        env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          git add -u
+
+          # Regenerating and finding no changes means something is wrong, so fail instead.
+          if (-not (git diff --cached --name-only)) {
+            Write-Host "::error::GeneratePackageVersions produced no changes"
+            exit 1
+          }
+
+      - name: Push signed commit
+        uses: DataDog/commit-headless@2801f6e08acb3a69b6c4d7b0d5deef27c1a15bc7 # action/v3.3.1
+        with:
+          command: commit
+          branch: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+          message: "Updated package versions"
+          # Suppress commit trailer
+          author: ''
diff --git a/docs/development/GitHubActionsSecurity.md b/docs/development/GitHubActionsSecurity.md
index 24728727faf4..5881f5c7a44d 100644
--- a/docs/development/GitHubActionsSecurity.md
+++ b/docs/development/GitHubActionsSecurity.md
@@ -47,6 +47,32 @@ Dependabot preserves the SHA-pin + `# vX.Y.Z` comment format when bumping. Revie
 
 ---
 
+## Signed commits
+
+Commits reaching `master` must be signed, and `repository.datadog.yml` grants no exceptions. A workflow therefore must never create a commit with `git push` — git-created commits are unsigned and will block the PR on the `commit-signatures` merge gate.
+
+Instead, push through the GitHub API, which signs the commit server-side. Two options:
+
+- **Creating or updating a pull request** — use the local composite action:
+  ```yaml
+  - uses: ./.github/actions/create-signed-pull-request
+    with:
+      token: ${{ steps.octo-sts.outputs.token }}
+      branch: bot/my-branch
+      commit-message: "[My Bot] Update things"
+      title: "[My Bot] Update things"
+      base: master
+  ```
+  It wraps `peter-evans/create-pull-request` with `sign-commits: true` always set, so the commit is created through the GitHub API and signed. Use the action rather than calling `peter-evans/create-pull-request` directly — that way the signing cannot be left off by mistake.
+
+- **Pushing to a branch without a pull request** — stage the changes with `git add`, then use [`DataDog/commit-headless`](https://github.com/DataDog/commit-headless) directly with `command: commit`. It builds the commit from the index, so no local `git commit` is needed. See `create_hotfix_branch.yml` and `generate_package_versions.yml`.
+
+Any installation token works, including the default `GITHUB_TOKEN`, so a job that only needs to push a commit does not need dd-octo-sts — just `permissions: contents: write`. Use dd-octo-sts where the existing reason for it still applies, such as needing a PR to trigger other workflows.
+
+Background: [Commit Headless (sign bot commits)](https://datadoghq.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DEVX/pages/5580588264) and the [Commit Signing Enforcement FAQ](https://datadoghq.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DEVX/pages/5105058311).
+
+---
+
 ## Reviewer checklist
 
 When reviewing a PR that touches `.github/workflows/` or `.github/actions/`:
@@ -55,4 +81,5 @@ When reviewing a PR that touches `.github/workflows/` or `.github/actions/`:
 - [ ] Every new action is on the allowlist (or the allowlist has been updated in the same/accompanying change).
 - [ ] Local `./` refs (`uses: ./.github/actions/...`, `uses: ./.github/workflows/...`) are **not** version-pinned — leave them as-is.
 - [ ] The `# vX.Y.Z` comment reflects the actual version the SHA resolves to.
+- [ ] No step creates a commit with `git push` — see [Signed commits](#signed-commits).
 
diff --git a/repository.datadog.yml b/repository.datadog.yml
index 05135e0943e8..4844e1c12154 100644
--- a/repository.datadog.yml
+++ b/repository.datadog.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,4 @@ kind: mergegate
 rules:
   - require: pull-request-freshness
     enforcement: disabled
-  - require: commit-signatures
-    excluded_emails:
-      - '49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com' # dependabot
-      - '41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com' # version-bump bots
\ No newline at end of file
+  - require: commit-signatures
\ No newline at end of file