Cybersecurity Program for SaaS Startups: Corporate and Product Security Guidelines

This guideline focuses on embedding cybersecurity into the company's DNA from day one, covering Corporate Security, Product Security, and Third-Party Risk Management, with a scalable and proactive approach.

Disclaimer: Every company is different, so use this a guideline for step instructions.

1.1 Asset Management

• Maintain an inventory of all devices, users, and applications.
• Implement policies for securing portable media, USB access, and drive encryption.

1.2 Identity and Access Management (IAM)

• Use Single Sign-On (SSO) with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
• Enforce role-based and least privilege access for all employees.
• Establish onboarding and offboarding processes to control access.

1.3 Backup and Disaster Recovery

• Implement backups from day one using distinct user accounts.
• Test data restoration processes regularly.
• Create a disaster recovery plan and integrate it into the incident response framework.

1.4 Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

• Enforce posture checks and session recording for remote access.
• Utilize secure gateways for SaaS, IaaS, and on-premise environments.

1.5 Security Awareness Training

• Conduct regular training on phishing, social engineering, and incident reporting.
• Establish a culture of security through ongoing education and simulation exercises.

1.6 Policy and Compliance Management

• Develop clear internal security policies (e.g., acceptable use, incident response).
• Address compliance requirements like GDPR, SOC2, ISO 27001, or HIPAA depending on the target market.

2.1 Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)

• Requirements Phase: Integrate threat modeling to identify risks and define security requirements.
• Design Phase: Use secure-by-design principles with frameworks and libraries.
• Implementation Phase: Apply secure coding practices, automate security testing, and conduct code reviews.
• Testing Phase: Conduct penetration testing, vulnerability scans, and address issues before deployment.

2.2 Secure CI/CD Pipeline

• Automate scanning tools like SAST, DAST, IAST, and SCA during development.
• Use secrets management solutions to handle credentials securely.

2.3 Cloud and Infrastructure Security

• Harden configurations for IaaS cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP) and on-prem environments.
• Separate production and engineering environments to minimize cross-contamination risks.

2.4 API Security

• Implement standards like OAuth, OpenAPI/Swagger, and SAML for API authentication.
• Regularly audit API endpoints for vulnerabilities.

2.5 Backup and Recovery for Products

• Backup critical product infrastructure and test recovery processes.

2.6 Incident Response for Products

• Define procedures for handling product vulnerabilities.
• Enable responsible disclosure programs and bug bounties.

3.1 Vendor Risk Assessment

• Evaluate vendors for compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001) and past security incidents.
• Classify vendors by the sensitivity of data or access granted.

3.2 Vendor Agreements

• Mandate security clauses in contracts (e.g., incident reporting, audit rights).
• Ensure vendors adhere to the company's data protection standards.

3.3 Continuous Monitoring

• Use tools to track vendor compliance and detect potential risks.
• Perform periodic audits and reassessments.

3.4 Secure Third-Party Integrations

• Restrict vendor access using least privilege principles.
• Require MFA and endpoint protection for third-party developers.

3.5 Offboarding Vendors

• Revoke system access and ensure secure data disposal.
• Maintain records of offboarding activities.

Corporate Security Metrics

• Percentage of employees trained in security awareness.
• Number of phishing attempts reported vs. unreported.
• Time to patch vulnerabilities in corporate IT.

Product Security Metrics

• Number of vulnerabilities identified and resolved in CI/CD.
• Uptime and resilience during simulated incidents.

Third-Party Metrics

• Vendor compliance rate with security requirements.
• Time to remediate vendor-related risks or incidents.

Continuous Improvement

• Regularly assess security measures and align with emerging threats.
• Allocate budget for cybersecurity tools and training as the company scales.