{"id":96185,"date":"2024-06-18T14:35:47","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T14:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.checkmarx.com\/?post_type=learn&p=96185"},"modified":"2026-04-13T22:02:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T20:02:48","slug":"software-supply-chain-security-guide","status":"publish","type":"learn","link":"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/supply-chain-security\/software-supply-chain-security-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide To Software Supply Chain Security"},"content":{"rendered":"

The proliferation of attacks on third-party software suppliers, open-source packages, and developer devices is putting organizations at risk of stealthy and highly persistent attacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fixing software supply chain vulnerabilities or securing the final software application is no longer sufficient for securing business operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, the software supply chain is becoming a strategic point of entry to the organizational codebase. Security leaders and professionals need to prioritize software supply chain security (SSCS)<\/a> and find a way to secure their development processes and environments, while still allowing developers to code without barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doable? Yes. Easy? With the right tools. How to get started? Good thing you asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide provides non-developers with the information they need to understand how development processes and software development components can be exploited and targeted by attackers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guide starts with the basics of what is the software supply chain and its related security practices. Then, it covers which developer components can be attacked and how and explains what SBOM and SLSA are and how they can help. Finally, it shows how to choose a security solution for SSCS, helping you build your SSCS strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read and discover the best ways to speak with developers about security practices, while empowering and encouraging them to use the right security tools to protect their lives\u2019 work \u2013 the codebase.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Who Needs Software Supply Chain Security?<\/h2>\t\t\t

Protect your software supply chain with industry-leading application security that covers your source code, open-source components, and more<\/p>\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t Discover SSCS Solution <\/a>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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What is the Software Supply Chain?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Software Supply Chain Security (SSCS) Guide<\/h2>\n
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\n \n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n Why is supply chain security critical for software development? <\/h3>\n
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Supply chain security helps prevent vulnerabilities and threats that can lead to data breaches, ransomware, IP theft, and more – across the entire ecosystem of applications and services. Modern software projects rely heavily on third-party libraries, open-source components and dependencies, which can introduce unseen risks. Protecting the supply chain ensures that all components within a software solution, including dependencies and third-party integrations, are trustworthy and secure to use.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n How does supply chain security software integrate with DevOps? <\/h3>\n
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Security tools that analyze third-party components, like SCA tools, can be integrated into CI\/CD pipelines. This shifting left of security allows for real-time checks on code, dependencies, and configurations, before vulnerabilities and risky code become production issues. This helps enhance security, build dev sec trust, fix problems in a faster and more cost-effective manner and meet compliance requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n What tools are used for software supply chain security? <\/h3>\n
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Multiple ASPM tools can be used to ensure software supply chain security. This includes SCA solutions, container security, API security, SAST scanning, SBOMs and more.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/g>\n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n How do organizations ensure continuous software supply chain security <\/h3>\n
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Ongoing & comprehensive monitoring, regular vulnerability assessments and timely updates to dependencies and third-party components can ensure a strong software supply chain security posture. Best practices include scanning of third-party code, guided remediation, automation, using AI, CI\/CD integrations, reducing false positives and training teams on secure coding practices and supply chain risks.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n