Security for Client Projects
Building for clients with AI tools creates professional liability. When you deliver a vibe-coded project, the client trusts that it's secure. If it's not, you face legal and reputational consequences.
Get security coverage specific to your use case.
Why Security Matters for Client Projects
Clients hire you as a professional. They expect the deliverable to meet professional security standards. "The AI generated insecure code" is not a defense when client data is breached. Freelancers and agencies using AI tools must add a security review step to their workflow. The speed advantage of AI coding means nothing if you deliver a vulnerable application that gets breached. Contracts, liability insurance, and security scanning should all be part of your professional practice.
Security Risks
Delivering insecure code to clients
criticalAI-generated code with vulnerabilities deployed to production under your professional reputation.
Mitigation
Run a security scan before every client delivery. Fix all critical and high findings. Document the security review in your delivery notes.
Client credential mismanagement
highUsing your own API keys/accounts for client projects, or leaving your access in production after handoff.
Mitigation
Use the client's accounts and credentials from the start. Revoke your access after handoff. Never share credentials across client projects.
No security in contract scope
mediumContract doesn't mention security, leaving you liable without compensation for security work.
Mitigation
Include security deliverables in your contract: security scan, fixing critical issues, and a security handoff document. Charge for it.
Security Checklist
Use VAS or similar to scan the deployed application before handing it to the client.
Don't deliver code with known critical or high severity security issues.
All hosting, database, and API accounts belong to the client, not you.
Document what was secured, what needs monitoring, and maintenance recommendations.
Define security scope, deliverables, and liability in the project contract.
Remove your accounts and access from the client's production systems.
Real-World Scenario
A freelancer uses Cursor to build a client's customer portal in record time. They deliver it without a security review. Three months later, the client discovers a data breach — customer records were exposed through missing RLS policies. The client contacts the freelancer demanding fixes and threatening legal action. The freelancer's contract had no security clause, leaving the liability ambiguous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I liable if a client's vibe-coded app gets breached?
Potentially. If you built and delivered the application, professional negligence claims are possible. Having a security review process and documenting it protects you. Including security scope in your contract defines responsibility clearly.
Should I charge extra for security?
Security should be part of your standard deliverable, like testing. But for comprehensive security reviews beyond basics, yes — define it as a line item. Most clients appreciate proactive security. It's a selling point, not an upsell.
What should a security handoff include?
A document covering: 1) Security measures implemented, 2) VAS scan results showing no critical/high issues, 3) Maintenance recommendations (update dependencies, re-scan monthly), 4) Credentials and access that need to be rotated or revoked.
Security for Other Use Cases
Secure Your Client Projects
VAS automatically scans for the security risks specific to client projects. Get actionable results with step-by-step fixes tailored to your stack.
Scans from $5, results in minutes.