What is cybersecurity regulatory compliance?
Cybersecurity regulatory compliance: a government-led initiative
With the increasing reliance on open source software across industries, ensuring cybersecurity compliance has never been more critical. Governments worldwide are introducing regulations to secure software development and the software supply chain, especially for organizations providing software to federal agencies. This article explores key government regulations and initiatives, outlining how organizations can stay compliant and mitigate cybersecurity risks.
Why cybersecurity compliance matters
In an age where cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, governments are taking significant steps to secure the software supply chain. The challenge is particularly pronounced for organizations leveraging open source software, where vulnerabilities can have wide reaching consequences. Compliance with cybersecurity regulations ensures that software meets rigorous security standards, protecting both public and private sector infrastructures from potential threats.Key government actions on cybersecurity compliance
Executive Order 14028
In May 2021, the White House introduced Executive Order 14028 to improve the nation’s cybersecurity. This executive order places a strong emphasis on securing the software supply chain, particularly for open source components. It mandates higher transparency in software development practices, requiring organizations that develop software for federal agencies to meet stringent security standards.
OMB Memorandum M-22-18 and M-23-16
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandums outline the software self-attestation requirements for organizations working with the U.S. government. They push for transparency and accountability, requiring organizations to provide self-attestations that verify secure development practices. This includes ensuring that software adheres to secure coding standards and is free from known vulnerabilities.
NIST Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF)
The NIST SSDF provides a comprehensive framework that helps organizations apply secure software development practices. It highlights the use of Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) to identify software components and track vulnerabilities in open source and proprietary software. SBOMs are now an essential part of demonstrating compliance with federal cybersecurity requirements.
CISA Secure by Design pledge
The CISA Secure by Design pledge encourages organizations to embed security directly into the design and development of their products, rather than waiting to address it in post-development. This proactive approach helps reduce vulnerabilities and ensure long term resilience. The pledge requires participants to take key actions, such as increasing multi-factor authentication, minimizing the use of default passwords, and implementing vulnerability disclosure policies.
Tidelift is proud to be a part of this initiative, working alongside other tech leaders to integrate robust security practices from the start. Learn more about how Tidelift is fulfilling these pledge commitments.
Challenges in cybersecurity compliance for open source software
While governments have laid the groundwork for more secure software practices, organizations face challenges when managing open source software. Many open source projects lack the formal oversight of proprietary software, making it difficult for organizations to monitor vulnerabilities and ensure compliance. To stay compliant, organizations must create and maintain relationships with open source maintainers and proactively evaluate open source software to eliminate risks associated with adopting open source software.
The role of SBOMs in regulatory compliance
A key component of these regulations is the SBOM. SBOMs are like a detailed ingredient list, identifying the various software components within a product. For organizations using open source, SBOMs are crucial in tracking third-party dependencies and monitoring potential vulnerabilities. By providing a clear record of software components, SBOMs can help organizations meet regulatory requirements and proactively address security issues.
Staying ahead of compliance requirements
To maintain compliance with cybersecurity regulations, organizations need to not only generate up-to-date SBOMs, but they need to employ a proactive approach that prevents “risky” open source packages from entering an organization’s code in the first place. This includes regularly updating their software to address new vulnerabilities, adopting secure development practices, and engaging with open source communities to ensure security updates are implemented promptly. Implementing guidelines such as those outlined in the NIST SSDF framework and using SBOMs can help organizations manage open source dependencies more effectively, reducing the risk of non-compliance.
Conclusion
As governments continue to enact stricter cybersecurity regulations, organizations must ensure that their software—and the open source components they use—meets compliance standards. Overall, it is essential to adopt a proactive approach to secure software development. By leveraging SBOMs and understanding the open source in use at their organization and by working closely with open source maintainers to ensure they are using secure development practices, organizations can meet these compliance requirements and protect their software supply chains from cybersecurity threats.
