Security for Startups Using AI Coding Tools
Startups need speed, but a security breach at the early stage can be fatal. AI coding tools help you build fast — you need to ensure they don't leave the door open for attackers.
Get security coverage specific to your use case.
Why Security Matters for Startups
Early-stage startups face a unique tension: ship fast to find product-market fit, but a security breach can end the company before it starts. The good news is that basic security and speed are not mutually exclusive. Investors increasingly ask about security during due diligence. Having a security scan report and basic security practices in place strengthens your position. It shows professional maturity. As you scale from MVP to growth stage, security debt compounds. Issues that were manageable with 100 users become crises at 10,000. Build security into your foundation.
Security Risks
Technical debt from AI code
highAI-generated code with security shortcuts that compound as the codebase grows.
Mitigation
Review AI-generated code for security before committing. Establish security standards early. Regular security scans catch drift.
Single developer knowledge risk
highOnly one person understands the security configuration. If they leave, security degrades.
Mitigation
Document all security configurations. Use infrastructure-as-code. Ensure at least two people understand the security setup.
Scaling without security review
mediumGrowing from MVP to production without revisiting security assumptions.
Mitigation
Schedule security reviews at growth milestones: first 100 users, first paying customer, first enterprise customer. Each stage requires stronger security.
Security Checklist
RLS/Security Rules configured before any users sign up.
All secrets in environment variables, never in code or git.
Monthly VAS scans to catch configuration drift and new vulnerabilities.
Document your security configuration so it's not dependent on one person.
Know what to do if a breach occurs. Who to notify, how to contain, how to communicate.
Be ready to show your security practices when investors ask.
Real-World Scenario
A two-person startup builds their product with Bolt and launches to their first 500 users. They're growing 20% week over week when a user reports they can see other users' data. The founders scramble to fix the RLS issue, but by then screenshots of exposed data are on Twitter. Their launch momentum dies, early adopters churn, and an investor who was about to sign a term sheet pulls out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time should a startup spend on security?
For an MVP: 4-8 hours to cover the basics (RLS, secrets, HTTPS, auth). For growth stage: dedicate 10-15% of engineering time to security. A $5 VAS scan monthly is the minimum ongoing investment.
Do investors care about security?
Increasingly yes. B2B investors especially ask about security practices. Having a clean VAS scan report, documented security practices, and a basic incident response plan shows professional maturity and reduces their risk.
When should I hire a security person?
Most startups don't need a dedicated security hire until 50+ employees. Before that, use automated scanning (VAS), follow security checklists, and hire a security consultant for one-time reviews at major milestones (launch, first enterprise customer, Series A).
Security for Other Use Cases
Secure Your Startups
VAS automatically scans for the security risks specific to startups. Get actionable results with step-by-step fixes tailored to your stack.
Scans from $5, results in minutes.