diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43d6028
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+# Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]
+*$py.class
+
+# C extensions
+*.so
+
+# Virtual environments
+.venv/
+venv/
+ENV/
+env/
+
+# Environment variables
+.env
+.env.local
+
+# Database files
+*.db
+*.sqlite
+*.sqlite3
+
+# IDE files
+.vscode/
+.idea/
+*.swp
+*.swo
+*~
+
+# Testing
+.pytest_cache/
+.coverage
+htmlcov/
+
+# mypy
+.mypy_cache/
+.dmypy.json
+dmypy.json
+
+# Distribution / packaging
+.Python
+build/
+develop-eggs/
+dist/
+downloads/
+eggs/
+.eggs/
+lib/
+lib64/
+parts/
+sdist/
+var/
+wheels/
+share/python-wheels/
+*.egg-info/
+.installed.cfg
+*.egg
+
+# Logs
+*.log
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b0217c3..ab4004e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # LifeLine-ICT
 
+![CI](https://github.com/buayism/LifeLine-ICT/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg)
+
 ## Project Summary
 
 LifeLine-ICT is a digital infrastructure management platform that supports the
diff --git a/backend/app/main.py b/backend/app/main.py
index 6a33ed0..f2ac099 100644
--- a/backend/app/main.py
+++ b/backend/app/main.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 """
 
 from fastapi import FastAPI
+from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
 
 from .core.config import settings
 from .core.logging import configure_logging
@@ -56,6 +57,15 @@ def create_app() -> FastAPI:
 
     errors.register_exception_handlers(app)
 
+    # Configure CORS for frontend integration
+    app.add_middleware(
+        CORSMiddleware,
+        allow_origins=["*"],
+        allow_credentials=True,
+        allow_methods=["*"],
+        allow_headers=["*"],
+    )
+
     app.include_router(projects_router)
     app.include_router(resources_router)
     app.include_router(locations_router)
@@ -65,7 +75,13 @@ def create_app() -> FastAPI:
     app.include_router(alert_router)
     app.include_router(auth_router)
 
-    @app.get("/health", tags=["health"])
+    @app.get("/", tags=["root"])
+    async def root_redirect():
+        """Redirect root URL to API documentation."""
+        from fastapi.responses import RedirectResponse
+        return RedirectResponse(url="/docs")
+
+    @app.get("/api/v1/health", tags=["health"])
     async def healthcheck() -> dict[str, str]:
         """
         Provide a basic health indicator confirming application availability.
diff --git a/backend/tests/api/test_health.py b/backend/tests/api/test_health.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8fdfe6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/api/test_health.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+"""Tests for the health check endpoint."""
+
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+
+def test_health_check_returns_ok(client: TestClient) -> None:
+    """Health endpoint should return status ok."""
+    response = client.get("/api/v1/health")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.json() == {"status": "ok"}
+
+
+def test_root_redirects_to_docs(client: TestClient) -> None:
+    """Root URL should redirect to API documentation."""
+    response = client.get("/", follow_redirects=False)
+    assert response.status_code == 307
+    assert response.headers["location"] == "/docs"