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Guide · Cybersecurity

SaaS Security Checklist

A free checklist to verify SaaS security basics—rate limiting, auth, backups, logging—plus APRF gates when you are ready to pass/fail.

Security checklists support Authentication, Secrets, and AI Security—confirm with Core gates, not a percentage. Primary control: AI Security

Security enough for real users is a short list

Rate limits, backend-only keys, tested backups, structured logs, billing alerts—then prove the gates. Teams that shipped without that list hit the trifecta within months: API abuse, a leaked key, and a failed restore. A checklist plus Core Profile would have blocked launch on those three.

Walk hygiene, then gate it

Cap per IP/key. Keep secrets off the frontend; proxy vendor APIs. Restore a backup quarterly. Log with `request_id`. Alert at 50%/80%/100% spend. When rows look green, run APRF Core Profile so pass/fail attaches evidence—not a readiness percentage.

Cloudflare, AWS Budgets/Backup/CloudWatch, and a backend proxy cover most early SaaS.

Free tool = gated assessment, not a score widget

StackRail's Core Profile is the free check that matches this checklist's themes. Use the list to prepare; use `/aprf/assess/` to decide.

Next: AI Security

Open the related pillar specification for mandatory checks, artifacts, and pass conditions. Self-attest is optional.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free SaaS security checklist?
Yes—this guide, plus the free APRF Core Profile assessment. You get pass/fail blockers with evidence expectations, not a vanity score.
What should be on a SaaS security checklist?
Rate limiting, keys in backend, HTTPS, auth, backup testing, structured logging, billing alerts, uptime monitoring. Start with these.
How do I assess production readiness without a score?
Run Core Profile at /aprf/assess/. Close blockers (secrets, restore, spend ceilings, observability) before claiming readiness.