What security practices work for busy professionals?

You Don't Have Time for Security (But You Don't Have Time NOT to Do It)

You're launching fast, moving fast, and dealing with a dozen other priorities. Security feels like something you'll "get to later" when you have more time. I get it. But here's the thing: I've spent years cleaning up security messes, and trust me, fixing problems after they happen takes way more time than preventing them.

The good news? Most security problems come from the same few mistakes, and most of them are actually pretty easy to avoid if you know what to look for.

The Three Ways Smart People Create Security Problems

After years in cybersecurity, I've seen the same patterns over and over:

• Knowledge gaps: Not knowing what you don't know about security
• Moving too fast: Rushing through setup without thinking through implications
• Ignoring gut feelings: That "this feels wrong" instinct is usually right

Security Practices That Actually Work for Busy People

1. Don't Blindly Trust AI Code

AI is great for productivity, but it doesn't know your security requirements. I've seen too many projects where people copy-paste AI suggestions without understanding what they're actually doing.

• Actually read the code the AI generates, especially around authentication and data handling
• Don't assume the AI knows your specific security requirements
• Always check that secrets aren't being committed to your repo
• If the AI suggests something that seems too easy, it probably is

2. Learn Just Enough to Spot Obvious Problems

You don't need to be a security expert, but understanding basics helps you catch the obvious stuff:

• Learn enough programming to understand what your code actually does
• Understand how data flows through your application
• Know what environment variables are and why they matter
• Recognize when endpoints are publicly accessible versus protected

3. Spend 30 Minutes Researching Your Platform

Every platform has its own security quirks. Before you deploy anything, spend 30 minutes googling:

• "How to secure [your platform]" - Supabase, Firebase, Vercel, whatever you're using
• Read the official security documentation (yes, it's boring, but it's important)
• Look for community security checklists
• Compare default settings versus recommended production settings

4. Trust Your Instincts

If something feels wrong or too easy, investigate. Your gut is usually right about security:

• Databases that are publicly accessible without authentication
• API keys that are visible in client-side code
• Default passwords or example configurations in production
• Services that "just work" without any setup (this is always suspicious)

The Four Questions That Prevent Most Problems

Before you deploy anything, ask yourself:

1. What data am I handling? Personal info, financial data, business secrets?
2. Who can access what? Is authentication actually working the way I think it is?
3. What happens if this gets breached? Legal liability, reputation damage, financial cost?
4. Am I legally covered? Do I have appropriate insurance and compliance measures?

The Four-Week Security Sprint

Don't try to fix everything at once. Pick one thing per week:

• Week 1: Audit what data you're collecting and where it's stored
• Week 2: Verify authentication is working on all endpoints
• Week 3: Check for accidentally committed secrets or keys
• Week 4: Research platform-specific security best practices

When to Stop DIY-ing and Get Help

Some things are worth paying for professional help:

• You're handling sensitive personal or financial data
• Your business faces specific compliance requirements
• You've discovered a potential security issue and need expert assessment
• You're building something that could have legal liability if breached
• You keep having that "this doesn't feel right" feeling

The Bottom Line

We're not at the point where we can outsource all accountability to AI. As the person building the thing, you're responsible for understanding what your system actually does and whether it's secure. But that doesn't mean you need to become a security expert—just security-aware.

FAQ: Security for Busy Professionals

Q: How much time should I spend on security?

A: For most projects, 30 minutes of research before you start and 1-2 hours per week during development. If you're handling sensitive data or have compliance requirements, budget more time or hire help.

Q: What's the biggest security mistake you see people make?

A: Assuming their authentication is working without actually testing it. I've seen countless projects where people thought they had private data that was actually publicly accessible.

Q: Are AI coding tools safe to use?

A: Yes, but don't blindly trust them. AI tools are great for productivity but they don't know your specific security requirements. Always review the code they generate, especially around authentication and data handling.

Q: When should I hire a security professional?

A: When you're handling sensitive data, have compliance requirements, or when you've found a potential security issue. It's much cheaper to get expert help upfront than to fix problems after they happen.