Start with access control
Many serious application flaws come down to users being able to see or change data that is not theirs. Define roles and permissions early, enforce them on the server for every request and test with accounts in different roles. The OWASP Top 10 lists broken access control as a leading risk.
Handle secrets and dependencies deliberately
API keys and passwords belong in a secrets manager, never in source code or chat messages. Keep frameworks and libraries up to date, and use automated dependency scanning to flag known vulnerabilities as part of every build.
Validate input and protect sessions
Treat every input as untrusted, use parameterised database queries and rely on the framework’s built-in protections for cross-site scripting and request forgery. Use secure, short-lived sessions and multi-factor authentication for administrative access.
Log what matters and review it
Record sign-ins, permission changes and sensitive actions in a way that cannot be quietly edited. Logs are only useful if someone looks at them, so route important events to alerts and agree who responds.
Make security part of done
Include security criteria in the definition of done, review risky changes with a second engineer and fix findings in priority order. The OWASP Cheat Sheet Series gives practical guidance for most common decisions.
Further reading
Prepared with AI assistance; technical references checked against the documentation linked above. These are planning considerations, not a guarantee of project results.
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