Third-party software validation is the process of assessing and verifying the security, functionality, and compliance of software obtained from external vendors, open-source communities, or other non-internal development sources. This validation ensures that software components integrated into your systems do not introduce hidden risks, malware, or vulnerabilities.
It is a key component of software supply chain security and risk governance.
Modern software often depends heavily on external code, from open-source libraries to commercial APIs and SaaS integrations. Without proper validation, these third-party components can:
Organizations are increasingly required by regulators, customers, and cybersecurity best practices (e.g., NIST SSDF, EO 14028) to validate third-party software before use.
A comprehensive validation workflow may include:
This process can be performed during the procurement, onboarding, or integration phases and is refreshed periodically.
Practice | Focus Area | Key Differences |
|---|---|---|
Software Composition Analysis | Dependency scanning | SCA is a tool; validation includes broader risk assessment |
Penetration Testing | Application vulnerability testing | Focuses on your app; validation targets imported software |
Vendor Risk Management | Business-level assessment | Software validation is technical and often automated |
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