10 Best Practices for Tracking Third-Party Components in Software

Here's a quick summary of the 10 best practices for managing third-party software components:

Use Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools
Keep an updated Software Bill of Materials (SBOM)
Set clear rules for using third-party components
Update and patch components regularly
Check for vulnerabilities often
Set up automated monitoring and alerts
Include component checks in CI/CD pipeline
Train teams on component best practices
Plan for component end-of-life
Review component usage regularly

These practices help prevent security issues, ensure compliance, and maintain software integrity. Recent studies show 98% of organizations have had breached third-party components in the past 2 years, highlighting the importance of active management.

Practice	Key Benefit
SCA tools	Automate component discovery and analysis
SBOM	Provides clear inventory of all components
Clear usage rules	Ensures consistent selection criteria
Regular updates	Fixes vulnerabilities and improves performance
Vulnerability checks	Identifies and prioritizes security risks
Automated monitoring	Provides real-time alerts on issues
CI/CD integration	Catches problems before deployment
Team training	Builds awareness of best practices
EOL planning	Prepares for component obsolescence
Usage reviews	Optimizes component utilization

By implementing these practices, developers can better manage third-party components, reduce risks, and maintain secure, stable software systems.

1. Use a Software Composition Analysis (SCA) Tool

Software Composition Analysis

Why Use SCA Tools

SCA tools help speed up software development while keeping it safe. They do this by:

Finding and checking each part of your software
Saving time
Making the development process clearer

These tools also help teams use open-source technology better. They show the risks and benefits of open-source parts, helping you make good choices. SCA tools also cut down on boring, manual work like finding and checking for problems.

Important SCA Tool Features

When picking an SCA tool, look for these key features:

Feature	Description
Dependency scanning	Checks open-source parts in containers and works with specific container registries
Vulnerability detection	Finds possible security issues or license problems early
License compliance	Makes sure the parts used follow legal rules
Integration with CI/CD pipelines	Fits into your development process and gives real-time info on open-source part use

2. Keep an Updated Software Bill of Materials (SBOM)

Software Bill of Materials

What is an SBOM and Why It Matters

An SBOM is a list of all software parts used in a program. It helps teams:

See what's in their software
Find security problems
Check if they're following license rules

Keeping an up-to-date SBOM helps make sure software is safe and works well.

Key Information to Include in an SBOM

A good SBOM should have:

Information	Description
Component details	Name and version of each part
Supplier info	Who made or sold the component
License	What rules apply to using the component
Dependencies	How components connect to each other
Security status	Known problems and if they're fixed

3. Set Clear Rules for Using Third-Party Components

Creating Component Selection Guidelines

When choosing third-party components for your software, set clear rules. This helps ensure you use safe, reliable, and legal components. Consider these key points:

Factor	Description
Project needs	Match components to your project's goals and resources
Upkeep	Check how often the component is updated and supported
Security	Look at the component's security history and update process
Legal issues	Make sure the component's license fits your project's needs

Steps to Approve New Components

To make sure new components meet your rules, follow these steps:

1. Check the component

Compare it to your guidelines
Look at security, upkeep, and legal issues

2. Look for risks

Find possible security problems
Check for conflicts with other parts of your software

3. Get approval

Set up a clear process for saying yes to new components
Include the right people in making decisions

4. Keep records

Write down details about approved components
Include version numbers, licenses, and security info

4. Update and Patch Components Regularly

Why Regular Updates Matter

Keeping components up-to-date is key for:

Fixing security holes
Improving how software works
Following rules and laws

Old components can:

Let hackers in
Put patient data at risk
Hurt your company's name

This is very important in healthcare, where old software can:

Make patient data easy for hackers to steal
Make it hard for doctors to see and use patient info quickly

How to Update and Patch Efficiently

Here's how to update and patch well:

Strategy	Description
Use automatic tools	Makes updates easier and less likely to have mistakes
Plan update times	Set times for updates to avoid stopping work and do updates the same way each time
Check how updates affect things	Look at how updates might change your system and decide which ones to do first
Use tools that manage parts	Use tools that can add, update, and remove parts on their own
Look for weak spots	Often check for problems in your parts and fix them as soon as you can

5. Check for Vulnerabilities Often

Checking for problems in third-party parts is key to keeping your software safe. This means finding, ranking, and fixing issues to stop security breaches.

Ways to Find Problems

Here are some ways to spot issues in third-party parts:

Method	How It Works
Problem Lists	Use lists like the National Vulnerability Database to find known issues
Special Tools	Use Software Composition Analysis tools to find problems in open-source parts
Manual Checks	Look at the part's code and info yourself to spot possible risks

Dealing with Problems

After finding issues, you need to handle them well:

1. Rank the Problems

Sort issues by how bad they are and how much they could hurt your software.

2. Make a Fix Plan

Set times to update and fix parts. Make plans to lessen the effects of known problems.

Step	What to Do
Rank Issues	Put the worst problems first
Set Fix Times	Choose when to update and fix parts
Make Backup Plans	Figure out how to deal with known issues

6. Set Up Automated Monitoring and Alerts

Tools for Ongoing Monitoring

To keep third-party components safe and working well, use tools that watch them all the time and tell you about problems. One such tool is Dependabot. It lets you know when your code uses a package that has a security problem. This helps you fix issues quickly and stop possible security breaches.

Setting Up Useful Alerts

When setting up alerts, make sure they give you helpful information you can act on. Here's what to include in your alerts:

Alert Type	Description
Critical updates	Notify when important updates are available
Vulnerabilities	Alert about security weaknesses
License changes	Inform about changes in component licenses

By setting up these alerts, you can:

Stay aware of possible issues
Take quick action to fix problems
Make smart choices about updating components

For example, Dependabot alerts tell you:

What kind of security problem there is
How bad the problem is
Which part of your software is affected

This information helps you decide which problems to fix first and how to update your components wisely.

7. Include Component Checks in CI/CD Pipeline

Automating Component Checks

Adding checks for third-party parts to your build and release process helps keep your software safe and follows the rules. Here's how to do it:

Use tools that look at your code for open-source parts
Add these tools to your build and release steps
Set up the tools to check for problems and tell you about them

This way, you can make sure only approved parts are used in your software.

Some tools you can use are:

Tool	What it does
SonarQube	Checks code quality and security
Veracode	Finds security problems in code
Sonatype Nexus	Manages and checks software parts

These tools can check your code every time you build it. This helps catch problems before your software goes live.

Keeping Things Safe and Following Rules

Checking your code often helps keep it safe and follow the rules. When you add these checks to your build process, you can:

Benefit	Description
Find problems	Spot issues with open-source parts
Fix things quickly	Deal with security problems before they cause trouble
Follow the rules	Make sure you're using parts the right way
Keep things safe	Stop unsafe code from being used

8. Train Teams on Component Best Practices

Teaching your team how to use third-party components safely is key. This helps everyone work together and use these parts the right way.

Developer Training Programs

Training can be done in different ways:

Training Type	Description
Workshops	Hands-on learning sessions
Online courses	Self-paced learning modules
Regular meetings	Frequent updates and discussions

These programs should teach:

Risks of using third-party components
How to check if a component is safe
Ways to add components to projects
How to keep components up-to-date

Holding training often helps keep these ideas fresh in everyone's mind.

Building Security Awareness

Making sure everyone knows about security is an ongoing job. You can do this by:

Method	Description
Regular training	Frequent sessions on security topics
Providing resources	Giving easy access to security guides
Encouraging reports	Asking team members to flag security issues
Rewarding good practices	Praising those who find and report problems

9. Plan for Component End-of-Life

Planning for when components reach their end-of-life (EOL) is key to keep your software running well. This means dealing with old parts, planning updates, and lowering risks.

Managing Outdated Components

To handle old components:

1. Find EOL components:

Check your software often
Watch for news from vendors about support ending
See how EOL parts affect your system

2. Make an update plan:

Look at other options
Check if you can upgrade or replace parts
Set a timeline for changes

Finding Replacements

When picking new components, think about:

Factor	What to Consider
Fit with current system	Will it work with what you have?
Safety and rules	Does it meet security needs?
How well it works	Can it handle your needs?
Vendor support	How long will they help you?

Steps to choose new components:

Look at different options
Test how they work with your system
Plan how to add the new part

10. Review Component Usage Regularly

Checking how you use components often helps keep your software working well and safe. This means looking at what components you have, if you still need them, and how well they work.

Regular Component Checks

Set times to look at your components and use tools to help you see what you're using. This helps you find:

Components you don't need anymore
Old components
Components that might not be safe

Evaluating Component Usefulness

When checking if a component is still useful, look at:

What to Check	Questions to Ask
How it works	Does it work as well as it should?
How it's used	Are you using it the right way?
If it fits your project	Does it help with what you're trying to do?
If it's safe	Are there any problems that could make your software unsafe?

Conclusion

Main Points Review

Keeping track of third-party parts in software is key for:

Making sure everything works together
Keeping the software safe
Making sure the software stays reliable

By following the 10 best practices in this article, developers can:

Practice	Benefit
Use SCA tools	Find and check all parts of the software
Keep an updated SBOM	Know what's in the software
Set clear rules for using parts	Make sure parts are used correctly
Update and patch often	Fix problems and keep software safe

Closing Thoughts

To track third-party parts well, you need to:

Watch how parts are used all the time
Find possible problems
Fix issues before they cause trouble

This helps:

Benefit	Description
Reduce risks	Stop others from using your software in bad ways
Follow rules	Make sure your software meets safety standards
Keep software working well	Make sure all parts of your software work together

10 Best Practices for Tracking Third-Party Components in Software