Startup Security Checklist
The essential security you need before launching your MVP. Prioritized for speed—know what's critical, what can wait, and what you're risking.
Startup Security Philosophy
Perfect security kills startups. Zero security kills startups too. This checklist helps you find the right balance: protect against the attacks that will happen, defer the ones that probably won't (yet).
Before Launch
Critical items that will cause immediate damage if missing
First 100 Users
Important items to address as you get traction
At Scale
Enterprise requirements for when you grow
Before Launch (Critical)
These items can cause immediate, serious damage if missing. Don't launch without them.
Authentication Works Correctly
30 min to verifyUsers can only access their own data. Test by creating 2 accounts and trying to access each other's data.
No Hardcoded Secrets
15 min to checkAll API keys, database passwords, and secrets are in environment variables, not in code or committed to git.
HTTPS Enforced
5 min to verifyAll traffic is encrypted. Most platforms (Vercel, Netlify) do this automatically, but verify.
Database Security Rules
30 min to configureSupabase RLS enabled, Firebase Security Rules configured. Users can't read/write other users' data.
No Debug Mode in Production
10 min to verifyStack traces, debug logs, and development features are disabled in production.
First 100 Users (Important)
Address these as you get early traction. They reduce risk and build trust.
Rate Limiting
1-2 hoursPrevent abuse of your API endpoints. Limit login attempts, API calls, and resource-intensive operations.
Input Validation
2-4 hoursValidate and sanitize all user input. Prevent XSS in text fields, SQL injection in search, path traversal in file uploads.
Security Headers
30 minAdd CSP, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options. Prevents clickjacking and XSS.
Backup Strategy
1 hourAutomated daily backups of your database. Test that you can actually restore from them.
Logging & Monitoring
2-3 hoursLog authentication events, errors, and suspicious activity. Set up alerts for anomalies.
Dependency Updates
30 min to set upEnable Dependabot or similar to catch vulnerable dependencies. Review and merge security updates.
At Scale (When Needed)
Enterprise customers and investors will ask about these. Build when you need them.
5-Minute Security Starter Scan
Before you launch or share your app, answer these questions:
If you answered "yes" or "I don't know" to any of these, fix them before launching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need security for my MVP?
Yes, but only the essentials. One data breach can kill your startup before it starts. The critical items take less than 2 hours total and prevent 90% of attacks.
We're using Supabase/Firebase, aren't we secure?
These platforms are secure, but you need to configure them correctly. The most common startup breaches are misconfigured database rules that allow anyone to read all data.
What if we can't afford security?
Everything in 'Before Launch' is free and takes a few hours. Security scanning tools like ours offer free tiers. You can't afford NOT to do basic security.
Should I hire a security consultant?
Not yet. Do the basics yourself, use automated scanning, and hire when you have paying customers, sensitive data, or enterprise requirements. A pentest before product-market fit is premature.
Check Your Security in 2 Minutes
Our Starter Scan checks for the most critical startup security issues. Get a report and fix problems before launch.
Get Starter ScanLast updated: January 2025