6 must-have policies for SaaS founders

Let's talk about the 6 must-have policies every business needs (no matter the size!). And here's the twist—it's not just about having the policies; it's about embedding real, actionable procedures that make them valuable.

Think of it like this: a Disaster Recovery policy that’s just a boilerplate document won’t do much for you. If it doesn’t lay out step-by-step recovery processes, regular backup tests, and clear accountability, it offers nothing more than a false sense of security.

To get the most out of your compliance program with limited time, start with these "Tier 1" policies, which bring immediate business value and set the foundation for SOC 2 readiness:

1. Disaster Recovery
   Must-haves: A recovery playbook, step-by-step guidance, and regular backup testing, communication plan.

2. Business Continuity
   Must-haves: Defined risk scenarios for major business disruptions and a clear action plan for each.

3. Security Incident Response
   Must-haves: An incident response playbook, with defined steps for identifying, handling, and reporting incidents.

4. Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
   Must-haves: Clear steps for testing, deploying, and bug-fixing to ensure product integrity.

5. Risk Assessment & Risk Register
   Must-haves: A process to identify and categorize major risks, ensuring you’re ready to address them.

6. Access Control
   Must-haves: An inventory of tools and user access lists to maintain tight control over data.

These policies are designed to deliver real business impact from day one. If you’d like a deeper dive into any of these or have questions on how to get started, just hit reply!

Thanks,
Adam