OpenClaw Production Deployment Checklist: 15 Steps Before You Go Live
OpenClaw production deployment requires careful preparation. Unlike staging environments where experimentation is acceptable, production demands security, reliability, and observability. This checklist covers the 15 critical steps before any production deployment.
Skipping steps in this checklist is the primary cause of AI agent security incidents I've investigated. Use this as your pre-flight checklist.
The 15-Step Production Deployment Checklist
1. Verify Authentication Configuration
Ensure all MCP servers require authentication. Test with invalid credentials to verify rejection. Document authentication method (API key, OAuth, mTLS).
Ensure all MCP servers require authentication. Test with invalid credentials to verify rejection. Document authentication method (API key, OAuth, mTLS).
2. Configure TLS for All Connections
All MCP traffic must use TLS. Verify certificates are valid and not expiring soon. Configure certificate pinning for critical connections.
All MCP traffic must use TLS. Verify certificates are valid and not expiring soon. Configure certificate pinning for critical connections.
3. Set Up Comprehensive Logging
Enable logging for all agent actions: tool calls, data accessed, decisions made. Configure log retention and secure storage. Test log completeness.
Enable logging for all agent actions: tool calls, data accessed, decisions made. Configure log retention and secure storage. Test log completeness.
4. Configure Permission Boundaries
Verify each Skills Pack has minimum necessary permissions. Test that agents cannot exceed their defined boundaries even when manipulated.
Verify each Skills Pack has minimum necessary permissions. Test that agents cannot exceed their defined boundaries even when manipulated.
5. Enable Behavioral Monitoring
Set up real-time monitoring dashboards. Configure alerts for: unusual tool call patterns, unexpected data access, off-hours activity, high-volume requests.
Set up real-time monitoring dashboards. Configure alerts for: unusual tool call patterns, unexpected data access, off-hours activity, high-volume requests.
6. Test Prompt Injection Defenses
Run adversarial prompt tests. Verify instruction separation works. Test role boundary enforcement. Document test results.
Run adversarial prompt tests. Verify instruction separation works. Test role boundary enforcement. Document test results.
7. Document Incident Response Procedures
Create runbooks for common incident types. Define escalation paths. Identify kill switch procedures. Test the runbooks.
Create runbooks for common incident types. Define escalation paths. Identify kill switch procedures. Test the runbooks.
8. Configure Network Segmentation
Isolate MCP servers in dedicated network segments. Configure firewall rules. Verify only authorized services can reach MCP endpoints.
Isolate MCP servers in dedicated network segments. Configure firewall rules. Verify only authorized services can reach MCP endpoints.
9. Set Up Backup Procedures
Configure backups for configurations and logs. Test restore procedures. Document RTO and RPO.
Configure backups for configurations and logs. Test restore procedures. Document RTO and RPO.
10. Review Data Access Patterns
Audit what data agents can access. Minimize sensitive data exposure. Implement data masking where appropriate.
Audit what data agents can access. Minimize sensitive data exposure. Implement data masking where appropriate.
11. Configure Rate Limiting
Set rate limits for API calls and tool invocations. Prevent runaway agents from overwhelming systems. Configure graceful degradation.
Set rate limits for API calls and tool invocations. Prevent runaway agents from overwhelming systems. Configure graceful degradation.
12. Enable Audit Trail Integrity
Ensure logs cannot be modified or deleted by agents. Consider write-once storage for critical audit logs. Enable tamper detection.
Ensure logs cannot be modified or deleted by agents. Consider write-once storage for critical audit logs. Enable tamper detection.
13. Test Failover Scenarios
Verify behavior when dependencies fail. Test graceful degradation. Document recovery procedures.
Verify behavior when dependencies fail. Test graceful degradation. Document recovery procedures.
14. Complete Security Audit
Run full security audit using the audit checklist. Address all critical findings before deployment. Document remaining risks.
Run full security audit using the audit checklist. Address all critical findings before deployment. Document remaining risks.
15. Document Configuration
Create complete documentation of production configuration. Store securely. Ensure team can reproduce deployment if needed.
Create complete documentation of production configuration. Store securely. Ensure team can reproduce deployment if needed.
Common Deployment Mistakes
- Skipping authentication — "We'll add it later" becomes permanent
- Insufficient logging — Can't investigate incidents without data
- No monitoring alerts — Learn about problems from users, not systems
- Untested incident response — First incident is chaos, not procedure
- Overly permissive configurations — Agents can do more than intended
Related Resources
Production-Ready AI Agent Deployment
OpenClaw Skills Packs include deployment guides, security configurations, and monitoring templates.
Explore OpenClaw Skills Packs →FAQ
What do I need to check before deploying OpenClaw?
Verify authentication, configure TLS, set up logging, implement monitoring, test prompt injection defenses, document incident response, and verify backups.
What are common OpenClaw deployment mistakes?
Skipping authentication, insufficient logging, missing monitoring alerts, and untested incident response procedures.
How do I monitor OpenClaw in production?
Real-time dashboards, alerts for anomalous behavior, log aggregation for forensics, and regular security audits of permissions.
What's the difference between staging and production config?
Staging has relaxed security for testing. Production requires full authentication, comprehensive logging, monitoring, and hardened configurations.