diff --git a/.github/release-please.yml b/.github/release-please.yml
index d03526bce6a0..67eae62c4bb9 100644
--- a/.github/release-please.yml
+++ b/.github/release-please.yml
@@ -79,5 +79,12 @@ branches:
       - >-
         google-cloud-bigtable/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/Version.java
     branch: 2.61.x
+  - bumpMinorPreMajor: true
+    handleGHRelease: true
+    releaseType: java-backport
+    extraFiles:
+      - >-
+        google-cloud-bigtable/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/Version.java
+    branch: 2.60.x
 extraFiles:
   - google-cloud-bigtable/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/Version.java
diff --git a/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml b/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
index 1d404a41e430..7be7e5e5f109 100644
--- a/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
+++ b/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
@@ -197,6 +197,28 @@ branchProtectionRules:
       - conformance
       - library_generation
       - unmanaged_dependency_check
+  - pattern: 2.60.x
+    isAdminEnforced: true
+    requiredApprovingReviewCount: 1
+    requiresCodeOwnerReviews: true
+    requiresStrictStatusChecks: false
+    requiredStatusCheckContexts:
+      - dependencies (17)
+      - lint
+      - clirr
+      - units (11)
+      - units (17)
+      - units (21)
+      - units (24)
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Integration'
+      - cla/google
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Java GraalVM Native Image A'
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Java GraalVM Native Image B'
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Java GraalVM Native Image C'
+      - javadoc
+      - conformance
+      - library_generation
+      - unmanaged_dependency_check
 permissionRules:
   - team: yoshi-admins
     permission: admin