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High profile breaches and complex exploits frequently make headlines on the news and social media. In actuality, though, many real-world risks for most websites stem from straightforward configuration errors that often go unnoticed for years. This is especially common among freelancers, small businesses, and early-stage startups that rely on default hosting or framework settings.
This is why I examined 120 production startup websites with the owners’ permission in order to gain a better understanding of how small companies and early-stage startups handle their fundamental web security.
The analysis of these websites primarily focused on commonly recognized best practices such as HTTP security headers, TLS/HTTPS configurations, and server metadata exposure — areas frequently overlooked in basic website security best practices for small businesses. I also included some automated pentesting using open-source tools many attackers use today. The objective of the analysis was to assess how consistently fundamental security measures are applied, rather than to identify critical vulnerabilities.
Key Findings
Throughout the analysis sample, several patterns emerged:
- At least one recommended HTTP security header, such as Content-Security-Policy, X-Frame-Options, or Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS), was missing from 68% of websites. These omissions are common in sites managed by freelancers or small teams without dedicated security oversight.
- 42% used response headers or default error pages that disclosed unnecessary server or framework information, such as version numbers, increasing exposure to common website security risks for small businesses.
- 23% of HTTPS or TLS configurations did not follow current best practices, including weak cipher prioritization or outdated protocol support.
In many cases, multiple issues were present on a single site, increasing overall risk. These findings closely align with broader industry research. For example, missing headers and improperly configured TLS are consistently reported as some of the most common web security issues, according to Mozilla Observatory scans and OWASP guidelines.
Why These Issues Persist
Most of the issues discovered had little to do with complex systems or advanced attack techniques. Instead, they were basic configuration gaps introduced during initial setup and never revisited. For many freelancers, startups, and small businesses, security is often treated as a one-time checklist item rather than an ongoing responsibility.
Once a website is live, underlying security configurations are frequently deprioritized in favor of new features, growth, or performance optimizations. While the site evolves, those original settings often remain unchanged, even as security best practices continue to develop.
Real-World Impact
What stood out most was not only the severity of the findings, but their simplicity. Missing security headers can leave websites exposed to clickjacking or cross-site scripting. Servers that overshare metadata give attackers valuable reconnaissance advantages. Weak TLS configurations may leave users vulnerable to downgrade attacks or interception.
Individually, these issues may appear minor. Combined, however, they highlight a broader problem in how baseline website security for freelancers and small organizations is approached, particularly among teams without dedicated security staff.
Closing Thoughts
This analysis reinforces a lesson familiar to anyone working in web security: most risks arise not from unknown threats, but from well-documented best practices that are routinely ignored. Improving security doesn’t always require expensive tools or large budgets; it often begins with reviewing and consistently applying the fundamentals.
Routine checks, even if limited in scope, can help identify these issues early and reduce long-term risk. While web security is a constantly moving target, treating it as an ongoing responsibility rather than a one-time “set it and forget it” task at launch is one of the smartest steps any organization can take.
This analysis highlights security issues that align with common oversights discussed in guides like Cybersafetyzone, which focuses on helping freelancers and small startups understand cyber safety and address practical security challenges.
How To Apply These Findings Into Your Business
From my perspective, freelancers, small businesses, and startup companies are impacted the most. They often configure security quickly using default settings from hosting providers or development frameworks. Many operate without any dedicated security personnel, relying instead on general development or IT knowledge.
The good news is that these issues rarely require expensive tools or specialized expertise to fix. Risk can be significantly reduced by reviewing HTTP security headers, validating TLS configurations, and limiting exposed server metadata — all core elements of practical website security for small teams.
There are several free tools that can assist with this process. OWASP ZAP can help passively identify exposed metadata, insecure cookies, and missing security headers. Mozilla Observatory provides a quick way to assess basic security hardening and HTTP header configuration. SSL Labs offers detailed insights into TLS versions, cipher strength, and certificate setup.
Regularly using these tools, especially after site updates or infrastructure changes, can help organizations reduce security risks even without a dedicated security team.
Author Bio
Max Malenky is the founder of Secuiru, where he helps companies identify and fix common web security misconfigurations before they become serious problems.
https://securiu.com