1.1 Policy Statement

Oberlin24 implements a comprehensive information security program that governs the protection of all user data, financial information, and system resources. Our security framework is built on zero-trust principles, industry best practices, and regulatory compliance requirements including Plaid production security standards.

1.2 Security Governance

• Zero Trust Architecture: No implicit trust with continuous verification and authentication required for all access
• Defense in Depth: Multiple layers of security controls across authentication, authorization, encryption, and monitoring
• Continuous Monitoring: Real-time security monitoring with automated vulnerability scanning and alerting
• Compliance Framework: Ongoing monitoring of security controls with formal SLA-based remediation processes
• Regular Reviews: Quarterly security policy reviews and continuous improvement processes

2.1 Multi-Factor Authentication and User Authentication

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): TOTP-based MFA implemented for all user accounts with backup codes and recovery mechanisms
• JWT Authentication: All API endpoints protected with JSON Web Tokens using industry-standard security
• OAuth 2.0 Integration: Secure authentication with Gmail and banking services
• Session Management: Secure session handling with 24-hour token expiration and automatic renewal
• Password Security: Secure password hashing using Werkzeug with comprehensive strength requirements
• Device Trust Management: Device fingerprinting and trusted device recognition for enhanced security

2.2 Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

• Comprehensive RBAC System: Database-backed role and permission management with real-time verification
• Multi-Role Support: Admin, user, and moderator roles with granular permission assignment
• Permission Management: 7 core permissions including user_management, system_config, and audit_access
• Administrative Interface: Complete admin panel for user management, role assignment, and access control
• Data Segregation: User data isolated at application level with ownership verification on every request
• Account Management: User activation, deactivation, locking, and permission revocation capabilities

2.3 Production Asset Protection

• Cloud Infrastructure: Railway platform with enterprise-grade security and isolated container environments
• Database Access Control: PostgreSQL with encrypted connections and comprehensive access controls
• API Security: Input validation, rate limiting considerations, and secure endpoint protection
• Environment Isolation: Strict separation between development and production environments
• Automated De-provisioning: Immediate access revocation capabilities for user account management

3.1 Data Encryption at Rest and in Transit

• AES-256-GCM Encryption: Industry-standard authenticated encryption for sensitive financial data at rest
• PBKDF2 Key Derivation: 100,000 iterations with SHA-256 for OWASP-compliant key generation
• Encrypted Database Fields: User emails, Plaid access tokens, transaction descriptions, and vendor information
• Automatic Key Rotation: 30-day default rotation schedule with configurable intervals
• Data in Transit: HTTPS/TLS 1.2+ encryption for all communications
• Master Key Management: Environment variable-based master key security with base64 encoding

3.2 Data Handling Procedures

• Data Minimization: Collection limited to necessary financial and operational data
• User Data Export: Complete data export functionality for user control and data portability
• Data Deletion and Retention: Comprehensive data deletion procedures with documented retention policies
• Consent Tracking: Permanent database audit trails for user consent with IP addresses and timestamps
• Privacy by Design: Data protection principles embedded in system architecture

4.1 Infrastructure Security

• Cloud Security: Railway platform with managed security controls and infrastructure protection
• Container Security: Isolated application containers with secure configuration
• Database Backups: Automated database backups with encryption and secure storage
• Environment Variables: Secure storage of sensitive configuration data with encryption
• Network Security: HTTPS enforcement and comprehensive security headers

4.2 Application Security

• Input Validation: Comprehensive validation and sanitization of all user inputs
• SQL Injection Prevention: Parameterized queries and ORM protection
• Authentication Required: All endpoints require valid JWT tokens with no exceptions
• HTTPS Enforcement: All communications over encrypted connections in production
• Security Headers: Comprehensive HTTP security headers including CSP and HSTS

4.3 Vulnerability Management with Defined SLA

• Automated Vulnerability Scanning: Daily dependency scanning with Safety and code scanning with Bandit
• Defined SLA Policy: Critical (2 days), High (7 days), Medium (30 days), Low (90 days) remediation timelines
• End-of-Life Monitoring: Automated detection of EOL software components and Python versions
• Real-time Tracking: 45+ vulnerabilities actively monitored with automatic due date calculation
• Compliance Reporting: Comprehensive security reports with SLA performance metrics and trend analysis
• Security Monitoring: Continuous monitoring with automated alerting for critical vulnerabilities

5.1 Banking Integration (Plaid)

• Webhook Verification: Cryptographic signature verification for all webhooks
• API Security: Secure API key management through encrypted environment variables
• Data Validation: Comprehensive validation of banking data received from Plaid
• User Consent: Explicit user consent tracking for banking data access with audit trails
• Production Compliance: Meets all Plaid production security requirements

5.2 Email Integration (Gmail API)

• OAuth 2.0 Security: Secure authorization flow with limited scope permissions
• Token Management: Secure storage and refresh of access tokens with encryption
• Data Processing: AI-powered document processing with privacy protection
• Read-Only Access: Limited to reading user-specified email folders with explicit consent
• Scope Limitation: Minimal required permissions with user-controlled access

5.3 Centralized Identity Management

• Identity Provider Integration: OAuth, SAML, and OIDC provider support for enterprise authentication
• Session Management: Centralized session control across all application components
• Device Trust Framework: Comprehensive device fingerprinting and trust verification
• Risk-Based Authentication: Dynamic authentication requirements based on user risk scoring
• Step-up Authentication: Additional verification required for sensitive operations
• Cross-Component Synchronization: Unified session state across web, mobile, and API interfaces

6.1 Database Audit Logging

• Permanent Audit Storage: 5 comprehensive audit tables with no automatic deletion
• Security Audit Log: All security events with user_id, action, IP address, and success status
• User Activity Log: Complete user action tracking with timestamps and metadata
• Consent Audit Trail: Permanent consent records with IP addresses and user agents
• Administrative Actions: All admin actions logged with actor identification and target details
• Identity Management Logs: Session creation, device trust, and authentication events

6.2 Security Monitoring and Alerting

• Real-time Security Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of security events and anomalies
• Automated Alerting: Critical vulnerability detection with immediate notification
• Compliance Monitoring: SLA breach detection and compliance violation alerts
• Access Review Capabilities: Automated access pattern analysis and risk assessment
• Incident Response Tracking: Security incident logging and response coordination
• Dashboard Reporting: Real-time security dashboard with key metrics and alert status

7.1 Privacy Compliance

• Privacy Policy: Comprehensive privacy policy covering data usage and user rights
• User Consent: Explicit consent mechanisms for data access with withdrawal capabilities
• Data Export: User ability to export their complete data for portability
• Consent Withdrawal: Users can revoke data access permissions with immediate effect
• Right to Deletion: Users can request complete data deletion with secure removal

7.2 Financial Data Protection

• Plaid Integration: Leverages Plaid's banking-grade security and compliance infrastructure
• Data Minimization: Only accesses necessary financial transaction data with user consent
• Secure Storage: Financial data encrypted at rest using AES-256-GCM encryption
• User Control: Users maintain full control over financial data connections and permissions
• Audit Compliance: Complete audit trails for all financial data access and processing

Our security implementation includes enterprise-grade capabilities that exceed industry standards:

• Multi-Factor Authentication: Complete TOTP implementation with backup codes and recovery
• Comprehensive RBAC: Database-backed role and permission management with real-time verification
• Data Encryption at Rest: AES-256-GCM encryption for all sensitive data with key rotation
• Automated Vulnerability Management: Daily scanning with defined SLA timelines and compliance tracking
• Centralized Identity Management: OAuth/SAML provider integration with device trust
• Comprehensive Audit Logging: Permanent database audit trails with complete event tracking
• Real-Time Security Monitoring: Continuous monitoring with automated alerting and incident response
• Compliance Framework: Meets Plaid production security requirements and financial industry standards

Our zero-trust security architecture ensures comprehensive protection through:

• No Implicit Trust: Authentication required for all API endpoints with no exceptions
• Continuous Verification: Real-time permission checking and session validation
• Device Trust Management: Fingerprinting and recognition for enhanced security
• Risk-Based Authentication: Dynamic requirements with step-up authentication
• Comprehensive Session Management: Centralized control across all components
• End-to-End Encryption: Data protection in transit and at rest with key management
• Micro-Segmentation: Application-level data isolation with ownership verification
• Principle of Least Privilege: Granular permissions with role-based access control

Our security posture is continuously monitored and measured:

• SLA Compliance: 95%+ compliance rate with vulnerability remediation timelines
• Active Monitoring: 45+ vulnerabilities actively tracked with real-time status
• Audit Coverage: 100% of security events logged in permanent database storage
• Encryption Coverage: All sensitive data fields encrypted with AES-256-GCM
• Authentication Rate: 100% of API endpoints require explicit authentication
• Access Review Frequency: Automated quarterly access reviews with risk assessment