Where should a solo founder begin with privacy and security?
Begin with the product’s actual data flows and the harm that mistakes could cause. List what you collect, why it is needed, who can access it, which providers receive it, and how it is retained and removed. Use that inventory to guide technical checks and specialist questions. This preparation checklist is not a security audit, privacy-policy template, compliance certification, or specialist-reviewed legal advice.
Create a product-specific data map
For a fictional brief checker, map the uploaded document, extracted text, account identifier, generated checklist, logs, backups, and any AI-provider transfer. Identify what is necessary for delivery and what is merely convenient for debugging. Use synthetic data for demonstrations. If the tool serves sensitive professional work, investigate the applicable requirements before inviting those records into a pilot.
| Data | Purpose to verify | Lifecycle question |
|---|---|---|
| Uploaded brief | Produce the requested checklist | When are original files removed? |
| Extracted text | Run the supported processing step | Which providers receive it? |
| Result and account identifier | Return saved work to the correct user | Can one account access another account’s result? |
| Logs and backups | Diagnose failures and recover service | What is retained, who can read it, and when does it expire? |
Verify access boundaries and protect secrets
Use a fresh account and test whether identifiers or shared links expose another account’s records. Protect administrative access with suitable strong authentication and limit permissions. OWASP’s authentication guidance discusses controls such as multifactor authentication; its secrets guidance covers restricted access, lifecycle management, and avoiding plaintext exposure. Keep credentials out of source files and logs, and document how to revoke a compromised key. These checks reduce particular risks rather than prove the entire application secure.
Explain the handling that actually happens
Prepare a plain-language explanation of collection, purpose, sharing, retention, contacts, and the controls customers can actually use. The UK ICO’s small-organisation guidance names purposes, retention, and sharing among privacy-notice information. Its scope is UK data protection; it is not a complete global policy generator. Have the applicable obligations assessed for your operation and audience, and update the explanation when the product changes.
Prepare for failure and removal requests
Test the recovery process with safe data, including whether backups can be restored into an isolated environment. Document who handles suspected exposure, how access is restricted, and where applicable notification duties will be assessed. Check that deletion promises match active storage, providers, and backup handling. Record unresolved risks before expanding the launch. A directory profile should describe verified capabilities without inventing certifications or security assurances.