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How to Implement Governance Over the Use of Open-Source Components in Your Software Delivery Process

Introduction

The use of open-source components (OSCs) in software development has become increasingly common in recent years. OSCs can provide a number of benefits, including reduced development costs, faster time to market, and access to a wider range of functionality. However, the use of OSCs also introduces a number of risks, including security vulnerabilities, license compliance issues, and support challenges. To mitigate these risks, it is important to implement governance over the use of OSCs in your software development process.

What is Governance?

Governance refers to the set of policies, processes, and procedures that are used to manage and control the use of OSCs in your software development process. Effective governance can help you to identify and mitigate the risks associated with using OSCs, and can also help you to realize the benefits of using OSCs in a controlled and responsible manner.

Why is Governance Important?

There are a number of reasons why governance is important for the use of OSCs in software development. First, governance can help you to identify and mitigate the risks associated with using OSCs. OSCs can contain security vulnerabilities, licensing issues, and support challenges. By implementing governance, you can help to reduce the risk of these issues impacting your software development process.

Second, governance can help you to realize the benefits of using OSCs in a controlled and responsible manner. OSCs can provide a number of benefits, including reduced development costs, faster time to market, and access to a wider range of functionality. By implementing governance, you can help to ensure that you are using OSCs in a way that maximizes the benefits and minimizes the risks.

How to Implement Governance

There are a number of steps you can take to implement governance over the use of OSCs in your software development process. These steps include:

• Establish a policy. The first step is to establish a policy that defines the rules and procedures for the use of OSCs in your software development process. This policy should include the following:
• The types of OSCs that are allowed to be used
• The process for approving the use of OSCs
• The requirements for tracking and managing OSCs
• Create a process. Once you have established a policy, you need to create a process for implementing the policy. This process should include the following steps:
• Identifying OSCs. The first step is to identify the OSCs that are being used in your software development process. This can be done by using a variety of tools, such as software composition analysis (SCA) tools.
• Assessing OSCs. Once you have identified the OSCs that are being used, you need to assess the risks associated with each OSC. This can be done by using a variety of tools, such as vulnerability scanners and license compliance checkers.
• Mitigating risks. Once you have assessed the risks associated with each OSC, you need to mitigate the risks. This can be done by a variety of methods, such as patching vulnerabilities, upgrading to newer versions of OSCs, and obtaining commercial support for OSCs.
• Monitor and review. Once you have implemented a process for governing the use of OSCs, you need to monitor and review the process to ensure that it is effective. This can be done by using a variety of tools, such as dashboards and reports.

Conclusion

Implementing governance over the use of OSCs in your software development process is essential to mitigating the risks and realizing the benefits of using OSCs. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can implement a governance program that will help you to manage and control the use of OSCs in a controlled and responsible manner.