SECURITY CHECKLIST: VULNERABILITY AREAS RELEVANT TO GDPR & SOC2 | VIBEEVAL

Security Best Practices

This checklist covers common security vulnerabilities that may be relevant to various regulatory frameworks. It is provided for educational purposes only. For actual compliance requirements, consult qualified legal and compliance professionals. VibeEval is a vulnerability scanner, not a compliance audit or certification tool.

GDPR Compliance (EU Data Protection)

Data Processing Agreements

Document legal basis for processing personal data and maintain records of processing activities

Implementation:

Create data processing registry, maintain user consent records, document legitimate interests

Right to Access and Portability

Users can request copies of their data in machine-readable format and transfer to another service

Implementation:

Build data export endpoint returning JSON, implement self-service data download feature

Right to Erasure

Users can request deletion of personal data. Must delete or anonymize data within 30 days

Implementation:

Implement account deletion with cascading deletes, anonymize instead of delete where retention required

Data Breach Notification

Report data breaches to authorities within 72 hours and notify affected users

Implementation:

Create incident response plan, implement security monitoring, maintain contact list for notifications

Privacy by Design

Build privacy protections into system architecture, not as afterthought

Implementation:

Minimize data collection, implement encryption by default, use pseudonymization where possible

Consent Management

Obtain explicit consent before processing personal data. Allow withdrawal of consent

Implementation:

Implement granular consent checkboxes, maintain consent audit log, allow users to revoke consent

SOC2 Compliance (Security & Availability)

Access Control Policies

Implement least privilege access and regular access reviews

Implementation:

Use RBAC, audit user permissions quarterly, remove access when employees leave

Security Monitoring

Monitor systems for security incidents and maintain audit logs

Implementation:

Enable database audit logs, monitor failed authentication, alert on suspicious activity

Change Management

Document and review changes to production systems before deployment

Implementation:

Require code review, maintain change log, implement rollback procedures

Vendor Management

Assess security of third-party services processing customer data

Implementation:

Review vendor SOC2 reports, document data sharing agreements, audit vendor access

Business Continuity

Maintain backups and disaster recovery procedures to ensure availability

Implementation:

Automate database backups, test restore procedures, document recovery time objectives

Security Awareness Training

Train employees on security best practices and compliance requirements

Implementation:

Annual security training for all staff, track completion, update training materials annually

HIPAA Compliance (Healthcare Data)

Encryption of PHI

Encrypt protected health information at rest and in transit

Implementation:

Enable database encryption, enforce TLS, use field-level encryption for sensitive medical data

Access Logs and Audit Trails

Log all access to protected health information with timestamps and user IDs

Implementation:

Enable database audit logging, log API access to patient records, retain logs for 6 years

Business Associate Agreements

Signed agreements with vendors processing health data

Implementation:

Execute BAAs with cloud providers, database vendors, and analytics services

Minimum Necessary Access

Limit access to minimum PHI necessary to perform job functions

Implementation:

Implement role-based access limiting data visibility, audit access patterns regularly

Patient Rights

Patients can access, amend, and receive accounting of disclosures of their health data

Implementation:

Build patient portal for data access, implement amendment request workflow, log disclosures

Breach Notification

Notify affected individuals and HHS of breaches affecting 500+ individuals within 60 days

Implementation:

Create breach response plan, maintain notification templates, track affected individuals

PCI DSS Compliance (Payment Card Data)

Never Store CVV/CVC

Card verification codes must not be stored after authorization

Implementation:

Use payment gateway tokenization, never log CVV in application code or databases

Encrypt Card Data

Encrypt primary account numbers (PAN) when stored

Implementation:

Use PCI-compliant payment processors like Stripe, never store raw card numbers

Secure Transmission

Transmit cardholder data only over encrypted connections

Implementation:

Enforce TLS 1.2+, disable weak ciphers, use HSTS headers

Regular Security Testing

Perform quarterly vulnerability scans and annual penetration tests

Implementation:

Use ASV-approved scanning vendor, schedule annual penetration tests, remediate findings

Access Control and Monitoring

Restrict access to cardholder data and monitor all access

Implementation:

Implement need-to-know access controls, log all access to payment systems, review logs monthly

Maintain Security Policies

Document and maintain information security policies

Implementation:

Create security policy documents, review annually, train staff on policies

Common Compliance Gaps

Missing Data Processing Records

No documentation of what personal data is collected, why it is processed, and legal basis for processing

No User Data Export

Users cannot download their data in machine-readable format, violating GDPR data portability requirement

Weak Audit Logging

Security events not logged or logs not retained long enough for compliance audits

No Incident Response Plan

No documented procedures for detecting, responding to, and reporting security incidents or data breaches

Related Resources

Data Encryption Guide

Encryption for compliance

Database Security Best Practices

Secure data storage

Authentication Implementation

Access control for compliance

Authorization Patterns

Least privilege access

Audit Your Compliance Posture

VibeEval automatically checks for common compliance gaps including missing data export, weak encryption, insufficient logging, and missing access controls to identify regulatory risks early.