Common Security Mistakes Startups Make (And How to Avoid Them)

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When you’re starting a company, especially in the tech world, security is often pushed to the side.

Founders are usually too busy trying to get their product to work, pitch to investors, or hire a team. It’s not that they don’t care about security, but it just doesn’t seem urgent—until something goes wrong.

Then, suddenly, it becomes the biggest deal. The truth is, many startups make the same security mistakes again and again, and fixing them later can be expensive, stressful, and sometimes impossible. The good news is, most of these mistakes are totally avoidable.

Mistake 1: Treating Security as a “Later” Problem

One of the most common issues is treating security as something you’ll “do later.” Startups live in fast-moving environments where minimum viable products and rapid releases take priority.

If you don’t think about it from the start, you’ll likely build systems that are harder to protect and easier to exploit.

The problem with this mindset is that security isn’t something you can just bolt on later. As we’ve covered before, startups can’t afford to ignore software security from day one. If you ignore it, you’ll either have to spend a lot of money to fix it or, in the worst-case scenario, start over.

Mistake 2: Poor Password Hygiene

This one seems simple, but it causes more damage than you’d think: shared logins, weak or reused passwords, storing credentials in code…

All it takes is one compromised password for a hacker to get in and wreak havoc. Use password managers and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) from day one. It’s a small thing that creates a culture of security that grows with your team.

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Mistake 3: Exposing Secrets in Code

A developer in a hurry might push code to GitHub without realizing they’ve left API keys, private credentials, or internal secrets behind. This happens more often than you think.

An analysis by GitGuardian revealed that over 23 million new secrets were exposed on public repositories in 2024 alone. Bots scanning these platforms will find them in seconds. Use tools that check your code for exposed secrets before you push it.

Mistake 4: Skipping Security Updates

Maybe you’re using a popular library or framework, and since everything seems to work fine, you leave it alone. But security vulnerabilities are found in software all the time, and updates are released to fix them.

If you’re not keeping your dependencies updated, you’re leaving yourself open to known attacks. Automated tools can help track these updates and alert you. It’s one of those “boring but essential” habits that pays off.

Mistake 5: Not Limiting Access

In small teams, it’s common for everyone to have access to everything. It might be convenient at first, but it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

If someone’s laptop gets stolen or a team member accidentally deletes something critical, you’ll wish you had better controls. Role-based access (giving people access only to what they need, nothing more) is easy to implement and dramatically reduces risk.

Mistake 6: Underestimating Social Engineering

Most attacks don’t start with code—they start with people. Someone gets tricked into clicking a link or giving up a password over the phone.

Teaching your team how to spot phishing emails, fake login pages, or suspicious messages is just as important as writing secure code. A little bit of ongoing education and conversation is a great place to start.

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Mistake 7: Ignoring Backups

It’s easy to assume your cloud provider is handling everything, but that’s not always true. If your data gets wiped, corrupted, or held for ransom, you’ll need a reliable backup to get back to normal.

Make sure your backups actually work and that you know how to restore them under pressure. A backup you haven’t tested is not a real backup.

Quick Action Checklist to Get Started

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t be. Start with these simple, high-impact actions:

  • Passwords: Mandate a team password manager and enable 2FA on all critical accounts.
  • Secrets: Use a secret scanning tool before pushing code.
  • Access: Implement role-based access. Review permissions quarterly.
  • Updates: Use an automated tool (like Dependabot on GitHub) to scan and patch vulnerabilities.
  • Backups: Test your data restore process. Do it now.
  • Training: Schedule a 30-minute team meeting to teach how to spot a phishing email using a real example.