# Security framework

## Executive Summary

Eli operates a security-first architecture built on a fundamental principle: **carefully select the most secure cloud providers and let them handle what they do best**. Rather than attempting to reinvent security infrastructure, we focus our expertise on application-level security while leveraging enterprise-grade providers who specialize in infrastructure protection. This approach delivers superior security outcomes compared to self-managed alternatives.

## Defense-in-Depth Security Strategy

**Infrastructure Security (Provider-Managed)**

* DDoS protection via Vercel's global CDN and AWS infrastructure
* Network-level security filtering and threat detection
* Automatic security patching for underlying infrastructure
* Geographic redundancy across multiple availability zones

**Application Security (Eli-Managed)**

* Type-safe API design preventing injection attacks
* Comprehensive authentication and authorization controls
* End-to-end encryption for all data transmission
* Secure development lifecycle with automated security scanning

### Core Security Domains <a href="#core-security-domains" id="core-security-domains"></a>

Our security framework is organized across four key operational areas, each detailed in dedicated documentation:**Access Controls**

* Multi-method authentication and identity management
* Role-based access control and authorization
* API security architecture and session management

**Data Protection & Backup**

* Encryption standards and key management
* Data isolation and backup strategies
* Recovery and business continuity procedures

**Incident Response & Recovery**

* Security monitoring and threat detection
* Incident response procedures and escalation
* Disaster recovery and uptime commitments

### Infrastructure & Application Security <a href="#infrastructure-and-application-security" id="infrastructure-and-application-security"></a>

**Cloud Provider Security (Inherited)**

* **Vercel/AWS**: DDoS protection, WAF filtering, infrastructure monitoring
* **MongoDB Atlas**: Automated security patching, network isolation, backup encryption
* **Firebase/Google Cloud**: Identity and access management, audit logging, compliance certifications

**Application Security by Design**

**Secure Development Practices**

* TypeScript for compile-time security validation
* Zero-warning linting policy enforcing security best practices
* Automated dependency vulnerability scanning
* Code review requirements for all changes

**Runtime Protection**

* tRPC type-safe remote procedure calls eliminating injection vulnerabilities
* Prisma ORM with parameterized queries preventing NoSQL injection
* CORS policies restricting cross-origin requests to authorized domains
* Input validation and sanitization at API boundaries
* Content Security Policy (CSP) headers

### Compliance & Certifications <a href="#compliance-and-certifications" id="compliance-and-certifications"></a>

**Industry Standards**

* SOC 2 Type II readiness (provider certifications inherited)
* ISO 27001 alignment through cloud provider certifications
* GDPR technical and organizational measures compliance
* Industry-specific security requirements support

### Vulnerability Management <a href="#vulnerability-management" id="vulnerability-management"></a>

**Automated Scanning**

* Dependency vulnerability scanning in CI/CD pipeline
* Static code analysis for security issues
* TypeScript compile-time security validation

**Patch Management**

* Automatic security updates for cloud infrastructure (provider-managed)
* Rapid application patching for identified vulnerabilities
* Zero-downtime deployment capability for emergency patches
* Staging environment testing for all security updates

***

**For technical security questions or detailed architecture discussions, contact:** [security@eliapp.io](mailto:security@eliapp.io)​

**Last Updated:** August 2025
