A combined checklist bridging the technical security basics with the compliance obligations most small online businesses actually face.
The checklist
- HTTPS site-wide with auto-renewing SSL and continuous expiry monitoring
- MFA enforced on all admin, hosting, and payment processor accounts
- A written (even if brief) privacy policy reflecting your actual data practices
- Cookie consent implemented correctly for any non-essential tracking
- Regular, tested backups with a documented restoration process
- PCI-compliant payment handling if you accept cards, even via a hosted checkout
- Ongoing monitoring: uptime, SSL, blacklist status, and dependency vulnerabilities
- A one-page incident response plan covering key contacts and immediate first steps
FAQ
Where should a small business realistically start if none of this exists yet?
MFA on all admin accounts and enabling HTTPS with auto-renewal are the fastest, highest-impact starting points before tackling the more involved compliance items.