How to Secure Your Startup From Day One

Security often takes a backseat in startups. "We'll deal with it later" becomes the mantra until a breach, a failed audit, or a lost customer forces the issue. Here's how to build security in from the start without slowing down.

Why Startups Ignore Security

• "We're too small to be a target"
• "We need to move fast"
• "Security is expensive"
• "We don't have sensitive data"
• "We'll fix it when we raise funding"

Why That's Dangerous

• Attackers target easy victims (startups with no security)
• Technical debt compounds (retrofitting is expensive)
• One breach can kill a startup
• Enterprise customers require security
• Investors increasingly ask about security

Security by Stage

Pre-Seed / Just Starting

Investment: $0-100/month Time: 2-4 hours setup

Must Do (Day 1)

• Enable MFA on all accounts (Google Workspace, AWS, GitHub)
• Use a password manager (1Password, Bitwarden)
• Enable SSO where available
• Use company email (not personal)
• Encrypt laptops (FileVault, BitLocker)

Quick Wins

• Enable GitHub branch protection
• Use secrets manager (not hardcoded credentials)
• Enable audit logging in cloud services
• Create basic access inventory

Why this matters: These free/cheap controls prevent 90% of common attacks.

Seed Stage (5-15 employees)

Investment: $100-500/month Time: 1 day setup

Must Do

• Implement endpoint protection (EDR)
• Deploy MDM for device management
• Establish access review process
• Create offboarding checklist
• Set up basic backup procedures

Document

• Write acceptable use policy
• Document access control process
• Create incident response basics
• Define data handling guidelines

Technical

• Enable cloud security features (GuardDuty, Security Center)
• Implement least privilege access
• Separate production/development environments
• Set up log aggregation

Why this matters: You're handling customer data now. Basic controls and policies establish good habits.

Series A (15-50 employees)

Investment: $1,000-3,000/month Time: Ongoing part-time attention

Must Do

• Conduct first security assessment
• Implement security awareness training
• Deploy SIEM or managed detection
• Establish vendor security review process
• Get cyber insurance

Process

• Formal access reviews (quarterly)
• Vulnerability management program
• Change management process
• Business continuity planning

Compliance Prep

• Understand your compliance requirements
• Start SOC 2 preparation if needed
• Gap assessment against frameworks

Why this matters: Enterprise customers will ask for security documentation. Compliance requirements may apply.

Series B+ (50+ employees)

Investment: $5,000-15,000/month (or security hire) Time: Dedicated resource

Must Do

• Hire security personnel or vCISO
• Annual penetration testing
• SOC 2 / ISO 27001 certification
• Security architecture review
• Third-party risk management program

Mature Capabilities

• Bug bounty or vulnerability disclosure program
• Red team exercises
• Tabletop exercises
• Advanced threat detection
• Zero Trust implementation

Why this matters: You're now a real target. Customers demand mature security. Compliance is mandatory.

Founder Security Essentials

Founders are high-value targets. Protect yourselves:

Personal Security

• MFA on everything (hardware keys preferred)
• Separate personal/business accounts
• Limited social media exposure
• Secure home network
• Travel security awareness

Business Critical

• Know where all credentials are
• Have recovery codes secured
• Document key accounts
• Plan for founder unavailability

Common Startup Security Mistakes

Mistake 1: Shared Credentials

"Everyone knows the AWS root password"

Fix: Individual accounts with SSO, no shared passwords.

Mistake 2: Production Access for Everyone

"All engineers can access prod"

Fix: Role-based access, just-in-time elevation, audit logging.

Mistake 3: Secrets in Code

"The API key is in the config file"

Fix: Secrets manager, environment variables, never commit secrets.

Mistake 4: No Offboarding Process

"Did we revoke their access?"

Fix: Documented checklist, access inventory, automated where possible.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Compliance

"We'll do SOC 2 when customers ask"

Fix: Build with compliance in mind. Retrofitting is painful and expensive.

Security That Enables Speed

Good security doesn't slow you down:

Automated Security

• Automated dependency scanning
• CI/CD security checks
• Infrastructure as code scanning
• Automated compliance monitoring

Developer-Friendly

• SSO everywhere
• Self-service access requests
• Security guardrails, not gates
• Clear policies, not bureaucracy

Scalable Foundation

• Cloud-native security tools
• Managed services where appropriate
• Documentation and runbooks
• Security as code

ROI of Early Security Investment

Scenario: Series A startup skips security, gets breached

Costs:

• Incident response: $50,000
• Lost deal (enterprise customer): $200,000 ARR
• Delayed SOC 2 (retrofit): $100,000
• Reputation damage: Incalculable

Alternative: $20,000-30,000 spent on security from seed stage

The math is clear.

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Building a startup and want to get security right? Let's talk: m1k3@msquarellc.net