Free ResourceAssessment Tool

Technology Stack Assessment for Startups

January 8, 2025
10 min read
Technical Team

Free Checklist Included

Use our comprehensive 50-point technology stack assessment checklist to evaluate your startup's current infrastructure, identify gaps, and prioritize improvements.

Why Assess Your Technology Stack?

Your technology stack is the foundation of your startup's ability to scale, innovate, and compete. A regular assessment helps you identify technical debt, security vulnerabilities, performance bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement before they become critical issues.

This comprehensive checklist covers all aspects of your technology infrastructure, from frontend frameworks to database optimization, security protocols to deployment pipelines.

Complete Technology Stack Assessment Checklist

How to Use This Checklist

  • • Rate each item: ✅ Excellent | ⚠️ Needs Improvement | ❌ Critical Issue
  • • Focus on critical issues first, then areas needing improvement
  • • Reassess quarterly or before major product releases
  • • Share results with your technical team and stakeholders

1. Frontend Architecture

Modern framework in use (React, Vue, Angular)
Component-based architecture implemented
State management solution in place
Mobile-responsive design implemented
Performance optimization (lazy loading, code splitting)
Accessibility standards followed (WCAG)

2. Backend Infrastructure

Scalable architecture pattern (microservices/monolith)
API design follows RESTful or GraphQL standards
Authentication and authorization implemented
Input validation and sanitization in place
Error handling and logging implemented
Rate limiting and DDoS protection configured

3. Database Management

Appropriate database type for use case
Database schema properly normalized
Indexes optimized for query performance
Backup and recovery procedures established
Database monitoring and alerting configured
Data encryption at rest and in transit

4. Security & Compliance

HTTPS/TLS encryption implemented
Regular security audits performed
Dependency vulnerabilities regularly scanned
Data privacy regulations compliance (GDPR, CCPA)
Incident response plan documented
Multi-factor authentication available

5. DevOps & Deployment

CI/CD pipeline implemented
Automated testing in deployment pipeline
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices
Container orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
Blue-green or rolling deployment strategy
Rollback procedures documented and tested

6. Monitoring & Performance

Application performance monitoring (APM) implemented
Real-time error tracking and alerting
Server and infrastructure monitoring
User experience monitoring
Performance budgets and SLA tracking
Capacity planning procedures in place

7. Code Quality & Testing

Code review process established
Unit testing coverage > 70%
Integration testing implemented
End-to-end testing for critical paths
Code linting and formatting standards
Documentation standards followed

8. Scalability & Architecture

Horizontal scaling capabilities
Load balancing implemented
Caching strategy in place
CDN for static assets
Database sharding/partitioning considered
Microservices architecture evaluation

Assessment Scoring & Next Steps

Scoring Your Assessment

80-100%

Excellent

Your tech stack is well-optimized

60-79%

Good

Some areas need attention

<60%

Needs Work

Priority improvements needed

Critical Issues (Address Immediately)

  • • Security vulnerabilities or missing HTTPS
  • • No backup or disaster recovery procedures
  • • Missing monitoring and alerting systems
  • • No CI/CD pipeline or deployment automation

Medium Priority (Address Next Quarter)

  • • Performance optimization opportunities
  • • Code quality and testing improvements
  • • Documentation and knowledge sharing
  • • Scalability planning and architecture review

Long-term Planning (6-12 Months)

  • • Technology modernization initiatives
  • • Advanced architecture patterns
  • • Team training and skill development
  • • Innovation and emerging technology adoption

Need Help Interpreting Your Results?

Our fractional CTOs can help you prioritize improvements and create an action plan based on your assessment results.