What Every Tech Startup Should Know About Security, Privacy, and Compliance

The brilliant innovators who launch tech startups may not have significant experience managing the security, privacy, or compliance issues that are inherent with a growing technology business. Although these businesses are able to attract considerable amounts of funding and woo well-known customers, there may be material issues under the surface that would seriously undermine the trust of their investors and customers. Businesses that lack a mature information security program may experience security breaches, mishandle their customers' personally identifiable information, or fail to meet compliance requirements. Management will need to address security, privacy, and compliance considerations throughout the life cycle of the company, starting with the initial business plan. How the company will manage security, privacy, and compliance will evolve as the company matures. This paper presents actionable recommendations supported by academic literature, with the goal of preventing business organizers from learning these same lessons the hard way.