Security breaches have made us all wary of having well-defined rules, policies, and procedures in place, as well as having explicit security controls. While it sounds bureaucratic and boring, compliance does not have to be complicated.
Here is a quick checklist of things to keep in mind
1. Software licenses
Developers may use dozens or hundreds of third-party software libraries and frameworks, making them more efficient and effective. However, each of these third-party packages comes with its own software license governing how it can be used.
These licenses range from extremely permissive (with little to no restrictions on how the package is used) to restrictive, such as an open-source copyleft license that requires all derivative works to be open source as well. Staying on top of these various requirements, and ensuring that they are not violated in the course of software development, is a crucial task for developers.
2. Vulnerability management
New versions of software packages are constantly being released with the latest features, functionality, and bug fixes. Developers need to keep track of these versions so they can enjoy greater productivity and avoid package conflicts.
In particular, staying up-to-date with new software packages is important to patch any security flaws and vulnerabilities discovered in the code base. According to a Ponemon Institute study, more than half of data breaches occurred because companies failed to patch a known third-party vulnerability in their IT environment.
3. Security precautions
Companies must take adequate precautions to prevent unauthorized users from tampering with their package management processes. Malicious actors who have entered the network could use the package management workflow to introduce a backdoor into the software under development, letting them further exploit their victims.
For example, developers should use strong passwords and two-factor or multifactor authentication when seeking to install, update, or remove packages. In addition, all proposed changes to packages should be reviewed by at least one other developer.
4. Industry-specific compliance regulations
In addition to the concerns above, businesses may face industry-specific compliance issues, such as HIPAA for healthcare organizations and PCI DSS for companies that handle payment cards. These regulations may place additional, more stringent requirements on the behavior of third-party software packages and how developers use them. At a minimum, sensitive data should be encrypted both in transit and at rest, and logging should be used to create a trail for auditors.
Why is a compliance checklist for software package management vital?
Security and compliance are essential concerns for any business doing software development. By drawing up a compliance checklist, developers can ensure that their software package management processes are in line with the standards and regulations of their field, jurisdiction, and industry.
Failing to address security and compliance issues for software package management can entail legal and financial consequences. The repercussions may include penalties and fines, lawsuits, and long-term reputational damage.
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