Security Is an Architecture Decision
Real security isn't a product you install at the end of a project. It's a set of decisions made at the design stage — how authentication works, where data is encrypted, what logs are kept, who has access to what. Retrofitting security is expensive. Building it in is not.
The Baseline Requirements
At minimum: all data encrypted in transit (HTTPS) and at rest, role-based access control (staff see only what their role requires), full audit trails on every action, multi-factor authentication on administrative access, regular penetration testing, and regular automated backups with tested restore procedures.
Compliance vs. Security
Compliance is meeting a documented standard. Security is actually being safe. They're not the same thing — but for Caribbean institutions, both matter. Regional regulatory frameworks are evolving, and institutions that build to a high standard now will not be scrambling when compliance deadlines arrive.
What to Ask Any Vendor
Where is our data stored? What encryption standard is used? Who has administrative access? How are access logs maintained? What is the breach notification process? Has it been penetration tested, and can you see the report? Any vendor that can't answer these directly, with documentation, doesn't have real security.