diff --git a/.github/release-please.yml b/.github/release-please.yml
index 5b373038df..007c8df4b6 100644
--- a/.github/release-please.yml
+++ b/.github/release-please.yml
@@ -69,3 +69,12 @@ branches:
         bigtable-client-core-parent/bigtable-hbase/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/hbase/BigtableHBaseVersion.java
     handleGHRelease: true
     branch: 2.13.x
+  - releaseType: java-backport
+    bumpMinorPreMajor: true
+    extraFiles:
+      - >-
+        bigtable-client-core-parent/bigtable-client-core/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/config/BigtableVersionInfo.java
+      - >-
+        bigtable-client-core-parent/bigtable-hbase/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/hbase/BigtableHBaseVersion.java
+    handleGHRelease: true
+    branch: 2.14.x
diff --git a/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml b/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
index fcedacfab9..3f219f1829 100644
--- a/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
+++ b/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
@@ -119,6 +119,20 @@ branchProtectionRules:
       - cla/google
     requiredApprovingReviewCount: 1
     requiresCodeOwnerReviews: true
+  - pattern: 2.14.x
+    isAdminEnforced: true
+    requiredStatusCheckContexts:
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Binary Compatibility'
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Code Format'
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Dependencies'
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Integration'
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Java 11'
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Java 8'
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Beam Integration'
+      - cla/google
+      - OwlBot Post Processor
+    requiredApprovingReviewCount: 1
+    requiresCodeOwnerReviews: true
 permissionRules:
   - team: yoshi-java-admins
     permission: admin
diff --git a/.kokoro/build.sh b/.kokoro/build.sh
index 6bf5951621..ba72570c96 100755
--- a/.kokoro/build.sh
+++ b/.kokoro/build.sh
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ javadoc)
     ;;
 integration)
 # clean needed when running more than one IT profile
-    mvn --no-transfer-progress clean verify -B ${INTEGRATION_TEST_ARGS} -Penable-integration-tests -DtrimStackTrace=false -Dclirr.skip=true -DskipUnitTests=true
+    mvn --no-transfer-progress clean verify -B ${INTEGRATION_TEST_ARGS} -Penable-integration-tests -DtrimStackTrace=false -Dclirr.skip=true -DskipUnitTests=true -X
     RETURN_CODE=$?
     ;;
 integration-migration)