diff --git a/.github/workflows/CheckForChanges.yml b/.github/workflows/CheckForChanges.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3327b0947
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/CheckForChanges.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+name: "Check for changes"
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+    outputs:
+      hasAzureChanges:
+        description: "Azure related files changed"
+        value: ${{ jobs.check-for-changes.outputs.hasAzureChanges }}
+      hasBackendChanges:
+        description: "Backend related files changed"
+        value: ${{ jobs.check-for-changes.outputs.hasBackendChanges }}
+
+jobs:
+  check-for-changes:
+    name: Filter
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      hasBackendChanges: ${{ steps.paths-filter.outputs.backend == 'true' }}
+      hasAzureChanges: ${{ steps.paths-filter.outputs.azure == 'true' }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - uses: dorny/paths-filter@v2
+        id: paths-filter
+        with:
+          base: ${{ github.ref }}
+          filters: |
+            backend:
+              - 'src/**/*'
+            azure:
+              - '.azure/**/*'
+            # todo: add additional files that should trigger a build
diff --git a/.github/workflows/Deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/Deploy.yml
index 7ccbeafea..76a105651 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/Deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/Deploy.yml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: OIDC Login to Azure Public Cloud with AzPowershell
+      - name: OIDC Login to Azure Public Cloud
         uses: azure/login@v1
         with:
           client-id: ${{ secrets.AZURE_CLIENT_ID }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/PullRequest.yml b/.github/workflows/PullRequest.yml
index a3ff87932..07d866432 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/PullRequest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/PullRequest.yml
@@ -7,12 +7,19 @@ on:
       - "tests/k6/**"
 
 jobs:
+  check-for-changes:
+    name: Check for changes
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/CheckForChanges.yml
+
   build:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/BuildAndTest.yml
+    needs: ["check-for-changes"]
+    if: ${{ needs.check-for-changes.outputs.hasBackendChanges == 'true' }}
 
-  # todo: only if .azure-files are changed
   build-infrastructure:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/BuildInfrastructure.yml
+    needs: ["check-for-changes"]
+    if: ${{ needs.check-for-changes.outputs.hasAzureChanges == 'true' }}
     secrets:
       AZURE_CLIENT_ID: ${{ secrets.AZURE_CLIENT_ID }}
       AZURE_TENANT_ID: ${{ secrets.AZURE_TENANT_ID }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/Workflow.yml b/.github/workflows/Workflow.yml
index 20940253f..279ad4869 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/Workflow.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/Workflow.yml
@@ -9,12 +9,18 @@ on:
       - "tests/k6/**"
 
 jobs:
+  check-for-changes:
+    name: Check for changes
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/CheckForChanges.yml
+
   build-and-test:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/BuildAndTest.yml
+    needs: [check-for-changes]
+    if: ${{ needs.check-for-changes.outputs.hasBackendChanges == 'true' }}
 
   publish:
-    needs: [build-and-test]
     uses: ./.github/workflows/Publish.yml
+    needs: [build-and-test]
     secrets:
       GCR_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
     with: