The Question That Keeps Founders Up at Night
You've built a product people want. You're growing. Then an enterprise prospect asks: "Can you describe your security program?" You realize you don't have one—at least not anything you could call a "program."
You have some security. Probably MFA, maybe some access controls, hopefully encryption. But a program? A documented, repeatable approach to security? That's different. And building one feels overwhelming when you're also trying to ship product and grow revenue.
This guide shows you how to build a real security program from scratch—one that satisfies customers, supports compliance, and actually protects your business—without requiring a dedicated security team.
What Is a Security Program, Really?
A security program isn't a product you buy or a certification you achieve. It's an ongoing practice of identifying risks and managing them systematically. At its core:
- Governance — Who's responsible for security decisions?
- Risk Management — What could go wrong and how do we prioritize?
- Controls — What safeguards do we have in place?
- Operations — How do we maintain security day-to-day?
- Improvement — How do we get better over time?
A security program isn't about being perfect—it's about being intentional. When something goes wrong (and something will), you can show you took reasonable steps to protect data. That matters to customers, regulators, and insurers.
Phase 1: Foundation (Week 1-2)
Step 1: Assign Ownership
Security without an owner is security without accountability. Someone needs to be responsible—even if it's a part-time role.
- Designate a Security Lead — CTO, VP Engineering, or senior engineer with security interest.
- Define Responsibilities — Policy ownership, incident response, vendor reviews, compliance.
- Allocate Time — Even 4-8 hours/week dedicated to security makes a difference.
- Budget Authority — The lead needs ability to recommend and approve security spending.
You don't need a full-time security person to have a security program. What you need is clear ownership and protected time. A CTO spending 20% on security beats a checkbox CISO spending 0%.
Step 2: Inventory Your Assets
You can't protect what you don't know you have. Create a basic inventory:
- Data — What sensitive data do you have? Customer data, employee data, financial data?
- Systems — Where does data live? Cloud services, databases, SaaS tools?
- Access — Who can access what? Employees, contractors, vendors?
- Crown Jewels — What's most critical? Source code, customer data, financial info?
Step 3: Assess Current State
Before building, understand where you are. Quick assessment:
Basic Controls Checklist:
- ☐ MFA on all accounts
- ☐ SSO for core applications
- ☐ Encryption at rest
- ☐ Encryption in transit (HTTPS)
- ☐ Regular backups
- ☐ Backup recovery tested
Basic Controls Checklist (cont.):
- ☐ Endpoint protection
- ☐ Access reviews performed
- ☐ Offboarding process exists
- ☐ Security awareness done
- ☐ Incident response plan
- ☐ Vulnerability scanning
Phase 2: Core Controls (Week 3-6)
Priority 1: Identity and Access
Why first: Compromised credentials are the #1 attack vector. Fix this first.
- MFA Everywhere — No exceptions. Email, cloud services, admin consoles, VPN.
- SSO Implementation — Centralize authentication. Google Workspace, Okta, or Azure AD.
- Least Privilege — Start with minimal access, add as needed.
- Offboarding Process — Same-day access revocation when employees leave.
- Quarterly Access Reviews — Who has access to what? Is it still needed?
Priority 2: Data Protection
Why second: If attackers get in, encryption and backups limit the damage.
- Encryption at Rest — Turn on encryption for all databases and storage.
- Encryption in Transit — TLS 1.2+ for all connections. No exceptions.
- Backup Strategy — 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite.
- Backup Testing — Actually restore from backup quarterly. Untested backups aren't backups.
- Data Classification — Know what's sensitive and treat it accordingly.
Priority 3: Endpoint Security
Why third: Employee devices are entry points. Protect them.
- EDR/Endpoint Protection — Modern endpoint detection (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, etc.).
- Device Management — MDM for company devices. BYOD policy if allowing personal devices.
- Disk Encryption — Full disk encryption on all laptops.
- Auto-Updates — Enforce OS and browser updates.
Phase 3: Documentation (Week 7-8)
Essential Policies
You don't need 50 policies. You need these core documents, actually followed:
A 3-page policy that people read and follow beats a 30-page policy that sits in a drawer. Write for your actual company, not an imaginary enterprise. Update when things change.
Procedures to Document
- Onboarding — How new employees get access, training, equipment.
- Offboarding — How departing employees lose access (same day!).
- Incident Response — Who to call, what to do, how to communicate.
- Vendor Onboarding — How you evaluate new vendors handling your data.
- Change Management — How code gets deployed to production.
Phase 4: Operations (Ongoing)
Monthly Activities
- Vulnerability Scanning — Run automated scans, review and prioritize findings.
- Access Review Spot Checks — Review access for 2-3 critical systems.
- Security Metrics Review — Check key indicators (open vulns, training completion).
- Vendor Review — Any new vendors? Any concerns with existing ones?
Quarterly Activities
- Full Access Review — Who has access to what? Revoke unnecessary access.
- Backup Restore Test — Actually restore from backup. Time it.
- Policy Review — Are policies still accurate? Update as needed.
- Risk Assessment Update — What's changed? Any new risks?
Annual Activities
- Penetration Test — External security assessment.
- Security Training — Refresh training for all employees.
- Full Risk Assessment — Comprehensive review of security posture.
- Insurance Review — Is coverage still appropriate?
Phase 5: Compliance Readiness (When Needed)
Building Toward SOC 2
If SOC 2 is in your future, the program you've built is your foundation:
A good security program is 60-70% of SOC 2 readiness. The gap is mostly formalization and evidence collection—not building new capabilities. Program first, certification second.
Common Mistakes Building Security Programs
Mistake 1: All Documentation, No Implementation
Writing policies without implementing controls is security theater. Start with controls that actually work, then document what you do—not what you wish you did.
Mistake 2: Copying Enterprise Templates
Fortune 500 security programs don't fit 50-person companies. You don't need 40 policies and a security operations center. You need appropriate controls for your actual risk.
Mistake 3: Set and Forget
A security program isn't a project with an end date. It's an ongoing practice. Without regular attention, controls degrade, policies become outdated, and risks accumulate.
Mistake 4: No Executive Support
Security competes with product features for resources. Without executive buy-in, security always loses. Make the business case, get commitment, protect the time.
Quick Start: Your First Week
Day 1: Assign Ownership
Name your security lead. Define their responsibilities. Protect their time (even 4 hours/week).
Day 2-3: Quick Inventory
List your sensitive data, where it lives, and who can access it. Identify your 'crown jewels.'
Day 4-5: MFA Everywhere
If MFA isn't universal, make it universal. This single control stops most attacks.
Day 6-7: Document Current State
Write down what you're already doing for security. This becomes your baseline and first policy draft.
Next Steps
A security program isn't built in a week—but it can start in a week. The key is beginning with intention: assign ownership, understand your risks, implement core controls, and build from there.
Don't wait for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. Start with MFA, document what you do, and improve incrementally. A 70% security program today beats a 100% program someday.
Building your security program? vCISO Lite provides the structure, templates, and tracking to build a real security program without hiring a full-time security team—and positions you for SOC 2 when you're ready.