You Shipped an App. Now What?

~ You'll understand this in 8 minutes

TL;DR

Launching is just the beginning. In the first week, run a security scan and fix critical issues. Set up monitoring for unusual activity. Keep dependencies updated. Have an incident response plan ready. Security isn't a one-time task. It's ongoing maintenance like everything else.

CheckYourVibe defines post-launch security as the ongoing practices that protect your live application and its users after deployment. Launching marks the transition from building to protecting. Your app now has real users with real data, and it's exposed to the internet 24/7. Post-launch security ensures that the effort you put into building doesn't get undermined by neglecting maintenance.

CheckYourVibe data shows 60% of security incidents occur in apps that haven't been scanned in 30+ days.

Congratulations, You Shipped!

Getting your app live is a major accomplishment. Most vibe-coded projects never make it this far. You've built something real that people can use.

But launching is a transition, not an ending. Your app now has real users with real data. It's exposed to the internet 24/7. Here's how to keep it secure going forward.

The First Week After Launch

! Urgent: First 24-48 Hours

These tasks should happen immediately after launch:

Run a security scan on your production environment
Fix any Critical issues found in the scan
Verify HTTPS is working correctly
Check that .env files aren't accessible via the web
Confirm database security (RLS enabled if using Supabase/Firebase)

Important: First Week

Handle these within the first week:

Set up error monitoring (Sentry, LogRocket, or similar)
Configure basic logging for security events
Address High severity issues from your scan
Review authentication flows with real user data
Check API rate limiting is in place

Ongoing: Regular Maintenance

Continue these practices long-term:

Run security scans weekly or after significant changes
Update dependencies at least monthly
Review access logs for unusual patterns
Rotate API keys periodically (every 90 days)
Back up user data regularly

What to Monitor

You don't need enterprise-level monitoring, but you should know when something's wrong. Watch for:

Signs of Potential Problems

Spike in failed login attempts: Could indicate a brute force attack
Unusual API usage patterns: Many requests from one IP, or requests at odd hours
Error rate increases: Might indicate someone testing for vulnerabilities
Unexpected database queries: Could suggest SQL injection attempts
New admin accounts: If you didn't create them, investigate immediately

Simple Monitoring Setup

At minimum, implement these basics:

Log all authentication events (logins, failures, password resets)
Track API endpoint usage
Set up alerts for error spikes
Monitor your hosting costs (unusual spikes can indicate abuse)

Start simple: You don't need complex monitoring from day one. Start with basic logging and add more as you grow. The important thing is having some visibility into what's happening.

Keeping Dependencies Updated

Outdated dependencies are one of the easiest ways for attackers to compromise your app. When security vulnerabilities are discovered in packages you use, updates are released. If you don't update, you remain vulnerable.

Update Process

Run npm audit weekly to check for known vulnerabilities
Apply security patches (npm audit fix) promptly
Review major version updates before applying (they may have breaking changes)
Test after updating to ensure nothing broke

Post-Launch Security Checklist

If Something Goes Wrong

Even with good security practices, incidents can happen. Having a plan makes the difference between a minor issue and a major disaster.

Incident Response Steps

Stay calm. Panicked decisions make things worse.
Assess the scope. What was accessed? How long was the exposure?
Contain the damage. Rotate compromised credentials, take systems offline if needed.
Identify the cause. How did the attacker get in?
Fix the vulnerability. Don't just clean up. Fix the root cause.
Notify affected users. If user data was exposed, they need to know.
Document everything. What happened, when, and what you did about it.
Learn and improve. What will you do differently to prevent this?

Credentials to Rotate After an Incident

All API keys (OpenAI, Stripe, AWS, etc.)
Database passwords
JWT secrets
Any other tokens or secrets in your .env file
User sessions (force everyone to log in again)

Building Security Into Your Workflow

Security works best when it's routine, not an afterthought. Build these practices into your development workflow:

Before deploying: Run a security scan
When adding features: Ask security questions (who can access this? what could go wrong?)
Weekly: Check for dependency updates
Monthly: Review access logs and rotate credentials
Quarterly: Do a more thorough security review

How often should I run security scans after launching?

Run scans at least weekly for actively developed apps, or after every significant code change. Set up automated scans if possible. At minimum, scan monthly even for apps that aren't actively developed.

What should I monitor after my app launches?

Monitor for failed login attempts, unusual API usage patterns, error spikes, and unexpected database queries. Also watch for new vulnerabilities in your dependencies and keep them updated.

What do I do if my app gets compromised?

Stay calm and act quickly. Rotate all credentials, take the app offline if necessary, identify what was accessed, notify affected users, fix the vulnerability, and document what happened for future reference.

How often should I update dependencies?

Check for updates weekly with npm audit. Apply security patches immediately. Review and apply non-security updates at least monthly. Always test after updating to catch breaking changes.