Open-Source Software Supply Chain Security for Businesses

Chains: A New Cybersecurity Challenge for Growing Businesses

Open-source software has become an important part of 
modern business technology. Companies use open-source libraries, frameworks and
components to build websites, applications, internal tools and digital products
without developing every piece of software from scratch.

But this convenience also creates a new  cybersecurity challenge. A business may not write a particular piece of code itself, yet a
vulnerability in an open-source component can still affect the software it uses
or delivers.

NIST notes that open-source components are widespread
and that their provenance, integrity, maintenance and support can vary
significantly between projects.

For growing businesses, managing these dependencies is
becoming an important part of cybersecurity.

What Is an Open-Source Software Supply Chain?

An open-source software  supply chain is the network of
software components, libraries, packages and tools used to create or operate an
application.

A single business application can depend on numerous
third-party components. These dependencies can themselves rely on additional
packages, creating a chain that may be difficult to track manually.

The challenge is not that open-source software is
inherently unsafe. The issue is understanding what components are being
used, where they came from, how they are maintained and whether vulnerabilities
have been discovered.

Why the Risk Is Growing

As businesses become more  digital, they rely on more
software and more interconnected systems.

A vulnerable component can potentially become an entry
point for attackers. If the affected software is connected to customer
information, financial systems or internal operations, the consequences can
extend beyond the application itself.

For smaller businesses, the challenge can be greater
because development and IT teams may have limited resources for continuously
monitoring every dependency.

CISA recommends that organisations proactively manage
open-source software risks as part of their secure software development
practices.

Common Open-Source Supply Chain Risks

1. Unpatched Vulnerabilities

A software component may contain a known vulnerability
that remains in use because the business does not know where it is deployed or
has not updated it.

Regular vulnerability monitoring is therefore
important.

2. Untrusted Components

Businesses may download packages from repositories or
sources without sufficiently checking their origin or integrity.

NIST recommends using secure acquisition channels and
trustworthy repositories for open-source components.

3. Dependency Complexity

The more third-party components an application uses,
the harder it can become to understand its complete software composition.

A vulnerability in a deeply embedded dependency may be
overlooked if businesses only track the software they directly installed.

4. Abandoned Projects

Some open-source projects may have limited maintenance
or become inactive. If a critical component no longer receives security
updates, businesses may eventually need to replace or isolate it.

CISA’s guidance recommends considering factors such as
open-source selection, maintenance and vulnerability response when managing
OSS.

How Growing Businesses Can Reduce the Risk

1. Create an Inventory of Software Components

Businesses should know which open-source libraries and
packages are being used across their applications.

Even a basic inventory can make it easier to identify
affected systems when a new vulnerability is discovered.

2. Use Software Composition Analysis

Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools can help
identify open-source components and known vulnerabilities.

NIST specifically recommends SCA as a way to identify
publicly known vulnerabilities in open-source components.

3. Maintain a Software Bill of Materials

A Software Bill of Materials, or SBOM, provides a
structured record of the components contained in a software product.

NIST describes SBOMs as a way to improve transparency
and help organisations identify and remediate vulnerabilities more quickly.

For businesses supplying software to larger customers,
maintaining reliable component information can also make security assessments
easier.

4. Establish an Update and Response Process

Finding a vulnerability is only useful if the
organisation knows what to do next.

Businesses should define who monitors security
advisories, who assesses whether a vulnerability affects them and who is
responsible for applying updates or replacing affected components.

5. Use Trusted and Controlled Repositories

Instead of allowing employees or developers to obtain
packages from unknown sources, businesses can maintain approved repositories or
libraries containing vetted components.

NIST recommends sanctioned repositories and automated
scanning as ways to strengthen open-source software controls.

Security Should Begin Before Software Deployment

Open-source security should not be treated as an issue
that appears only after an attack or vulnerability disclosure.

Businesses can incorporate security checks into
development and procurement processes. NIST’s Secure Software Development
Framework provides practices covering software preparation, protection, secure
production and vulnerability response.

For MSMEs, this does not require building a complex
security department. It means introducing repeatable processes that match the
organisation’s size and risk level.

Open-source software allows
growing businesses to build and innovate faster, but it also creates
dependencies that need to be managed.

The goal is not to avoid open-source technology.
Instead, businesses should know what they use, track dependencies, monitor
vulnerabilities, maintain software inventories and establish clear response
processes.

As   digital operations become more interconnected,
securing the software supply chain will increasingly become part of everyday
business cybersecurity—not just a concern for large technology companies.