Cybersecurity Compliance for Algerian Startups: A Practical Checklist for 2026

For Algerian startups, cybersecurity compliance can feel like a problem for later — something to worry about when you have paying customers, a real product, and enough runway to think beyond next month’s burn rate. This instinct is understandable and almost always wrong.

The global average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million in 2024, a 10% increase from the prior year, according to the IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024. More immediately relevant for Algerian startups: a single security incident that exposes customer personal data triggers notification obligations under Law 18-07 (as amended by Law 25-11), potential ANPDP enforcement action with fines up to 1,000,000 DZD, and — perhaps most damaging — the permanent trust destruction that kills early-stage companies.

This article provides a practical, budget-conscious cybersecurity compliance framework for Algerian startups. It is not exhaustive. It is prioritized for the highest-risk, highest-impact controls that a team of 5-50 people can realistically implement.

---

Step 1: Understand What the Law Actually Requires

Law No. 18-07 Obligations (as Amended by Law 25-11)

Even a two-person startup collecting email addresses for a newsletter is processing personal data and is therefore subject to Law 18-07. The July 2025 amendment (Law 25-11) introduced significant new obligations. Here is what startups must know:

Privacy notice: Every digital property that collects personal data must have a privacy notice explaining what data is collected, why, how long it is kept, and who it is shared with. This is a legal requirement from day one.

Lawful basis: You must have a documented lawful basis for every category of personal data you process. For most startups, the bases will be:

• Contract: processing user data to provide the service they signed up for
• Consent: processing for marketing, analytics, or other non-essential purposes

Data Protection Officer (DPO): Law 25-11 now requires data controllers to appoint a DPO with appropriate knowledge of data protection practices and laws. A single DPO can serve multiple organizations — a practical consideration for small startups that may share a qualified DPO through a service arrangement.

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA): For any processing likely to present a high risk to personal data, you must conduct a DPIA before beginning processing. This applies to startups building AI products, processing health data, or conducting large-scale profiling.

Data subject rights: You must be able to respond to requests from users to access, correct, or delete their data within 30 days.

Breach notification: If you have a data breach, you must notify the ANPDP within 5 days (updated from the original 72-hour provision under Law 25-11) and potentially notify affected users where the breach may affect their privacy. You must maintain a breach register.

Records of processing: Law 25-11 requires detailed records of all processing activities — what data you collect, why, who processes it, and how long it is retained.

Presidential Decree 26-07: Does It Apply to Startups?

Presidential Decree 26-07 (January 2026) mandates dedicated cybersecurity units in public institutions. Private startups are not directly required to establish a formal cybersecurity unit. However, if your startup provides services to public institutions — government ministries, public universities, state-owned enterprises — your contracts will increasingly include cybersecurity requirements derived from this decree. The decree specifically mandates integrating cybersecurity clauses into outsourcing contracts. Prepare accordingly.

---

Step 2: The Minimum Viable Security Stack

For a startup with limited budget and no dedicated security team, these are the non-negotiable baseline controls:

Identity and Access Management

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA on every account that matters — email (Google Workspace or Microsoft 365), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), source code repositories (GitHub/GitLab), and your production infrastructure. Cost: free on most platforms.
• Password manager: Mandate the use of a team password manager (1Password Teams, Bitwarden Business) so employees stop reusing passwords. Cost: $3-5 per user per month.
• Principle of least privilege: Each team member should have access only to the systems and data they need. Audit access quarterly and revoke immediately when someone leaves. Cost: free; requires discipline.

Data Security

• Encrypt sensitive data at rest: Most cloud database services (AWS RDS, Google Cloud SQL) offer encryption at rest by default — verify it is enabled. Cost: included in cloud pricing.
• Encrypt data in transit: Ensure all web properties use HTTPS (SSL/TLS certificates via Let’s Encrypt are free). Never transmit personal data over unencrypted connections. Cost: free.
• Classify your data: Know which data is sensitive (personal data, financial data, credentials) and which is public. Apply stricter controls to sensitive data. Cost: free; requires documentation effort.

Backup and Recovery

• 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite. For most startups: production data in your cloud environment + daily automated snapshot to a separate storage bucket + weekly export to a different cloud provider or external storage. Cost: $20-100/month depending on data volume.
• Test your restore process: A backup you have never restored is not a backup. Quarterly restore tests take 30 minutes and prevent disasters. Cost: time only.

Device Security

• Device management: For any device accessing company data, ensure: full-disk encryption (FileVault on Mac, BitLocker on Windows), automatic screen lock after 5 minutes, remote wipe capability.
• Endpoint protection: Install a reputable endpoint security solution (Microsoft Defender, Malwarebytes, or CrowdStrike Falcon Go) on all company devices. Cost: $5-15 per device per month.
• BYOD policy: If employees use personal devices for work, establish a clear Bring Your Own Device policy defining minimum security requirements and company data handling rules.

Network Security

• Avoid public WiFi for work: Or require VPN use when on public networks. A business VPN subscription costs $5-15/month per user.
• Separate guest WiFi: If you have an office, ensure visitors cannot access the same network as your production systems.
• DNS filtering: Enable DNS-level filtering (Cloudflare Gateway free tier, Cisco Umbrella) to block known malicious domains. Cost: free at basic level.

---

Step 3: Legal Documents You Need on Day One

Privacy Policy

Every startup with a website or app needs a privacy policy compliant with Law 18-07. It must cover:

• What personal data you collect
• Legal basis for collection
• How long you retain data
• Who you share it with (and why)
• How users can exercise their rights (access, correction, deletion)
• How to contact you and your DPO about privacy questions
• The ANPDP as supervisory authority

Do not copy-paste a generic template without reviewing it for Algeria-specific requirements. The ANPDP is increasingly checking that privacy notices reference the correct national authority.

Data Processing Agreements (DPAs)

Every third-party service provider that processes personal data on your behalf (cloud hosting, email marketing, analytics, payment processing) must have a Data Processing Agreement with you. Most major providers (AWS, Google, Mailchimp, Stripe) have standard DPAs available — verify they exist and document that you have accepted them.

Cookie Policy and Consent Banner

If your website uses cookies for analytics or marketing (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel), you need a cookie policy and a consent mechanism. Under Law 18-07, cookies that process personal data require a lawful basis.

---

Step 4: Security Operations for a Small Team

Incident Response Plan (IRP)

You need a documented plan for security incidents. At startup scale, it needs to answer:

• Who is the incident response lead?
• How do we assess incident severity?
• Who do we notify internally and when?
• How do we notify the ANPDP within 5 days if required?
• How do we preserve evidence?
• How do we communicate with customers if their data is affected?
• How do we restore operations?

A 2-page IRP that your team has actually read is infinitely more valuable than a 50-page document no one opens.

Security Monitoring

At startup scale, basic monitoring includes:

• Cloud access logs: Enable AWS CloudTrail or equivalent; review admin access logs weekly
• Failed login alerts: Configure alerts for multiple failed authentication attempts on any company account
• Email security reports: Review your email security platform’s weekly report for phishing attempts and blocked threats

CERT Algeria Resources

Register your organization with CERT Algeria (cert.dz) to receive threat advisories and vulnerability notifications relevant to your technology stack. CERT Algeria advisories are free and cover vulnerabilities in common software used by Algerian organizations.

---

Step 5: Security as a Sales Asset

In 2026, security is not just a risk management function — it is increasingly a sales differentiator. When pitching to enterprise clients or government procurement:

• SOC 2 Type II certification: The international standard for cloud service providers. Achieving SOC 2 is a 12-18 month process but dramatically opens enterprise sales doors, particularly with multinational clients.
• ISO 27001 certification: The international information security management standard. Increasingly required for Algerian government contracts and for B2B sales to regulated industries (banking, insurance, healthcare).
• Security documentation package: Even without formal certification, having a documented security policy, a completed penetration test report, and a data processing register demonstrates maturity that competitors may lack.

The cost of basic compliance is far lower than the cost of a breach. For Algerian startups in 2026, building security in from day one is not paranoia — it is good business.

---

Sources

• IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024
• CMS Law — Algeria Data Protection Guide
• Algeria Data Protection Law 18-07 and Amendments — CookieYes
• Algeria Law 25-11 Amendment — TUV Rheinland
• Algeria Cybersecurity Decree 26-07 — Ecofin Agency
• Algeria Cybersecurity Framework — TechAfrica News
• DPA Digital Digest — Algeria 2025
• CERT Algeria
• Algeria Data Protection — DataGuidance