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type: concepts, howto
---
# Group-level protected environments API **(PREMIUM)**
> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/215888) in GitLab 14.0. [Deployed behind the `group_level_protected_environments` flag](../administration/feature_flags.md), disabled by default.
> - [Feature flag `group_level_protected_environments`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/331085) removed in GitLab 14.3.
> - [Generally available](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/331085) in GitLab 14.3.
| `name` | string | yes | The deployment tier of the protected environment. One of `production`, `staging`, `testing`, `development`, or `other`. Read more about [deployment tiers](../ci/environments/index.md#deployment-tier-of-environments).|
| `name` | string | yes | The deployment tier of the protected environment. One of `production`, `staging`, `testing`, `development`, or `other`. Read more about [deployment tiers](../ci/environments/index.md#deployment-tier-of-environments).|
| `deploy_access_levels` | array | yes | Array of access levels allowed to deploy, with each described by a hash. One of `user_id`, `group_id` or `access_level`. They take the form of `{user_id: integer}`, `{group_id: integer}` or `{access_level: integer}` respectively. |
| `required_approval_count` | integer | no | The number of approvals required to deploy to this environment. This is part of Deployment Approvals, which isn't yet available for use. For details, see [issue](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/343864). |
| `approval_rules` | array | no | Array of access levels allowed to approve, with each described by a hash. One of `user_id`, `group_id` or `access_level`. They take the form of `{user_id: integer}`, `{group_id: integer}` or `{access_level: integer}` respectively. You can also specify the number of required approvals from the specified entity with `required_approvals` field. See [Multiple approval rules](../ci/environments/deployment_approvals.md#multiple-approval-rules) for more information. |
| `name` | string | yes | The deployment tier of the protected environment. One of `production`, `staging`, `testing`, `development`, or `other`. Read more about [deployment tiers](../ci/environments/index.md#deployment-tier-of-environments).|