diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index d9d7abf..33997f8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ name: CI Pipeline
 
 on:
   push:
-    branches: [main, develop]
+    branches-ignore: 
+      - main # protected branches — require PR
   pull_request:
     branches: [main, develop]
   workflow_dispatch:
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 9fa9df9..d30eadc 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "secureloader"
-version = "1.1.0"
+version = "1.2.0"
 description = "Encrypted firmware upload tool for embedded devices over serial"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
diff --git a/src/secure_loader/__init__.py b/src/secure_loader/__init__.py
index 47afdc4..522c713 100644
--- a/src/secure_loader/__init__.py
+++ b/src/secure_loader/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 """SecureLoader."""
 
-__version__ = "1.1.0"
+__version__ = "1.2.0"
 __app_name__ = "SecureLoader"