Tag: Visibility

Unleashing the Power of NCM: Safeguarding Node.js Applications with Next-Generation Security in N|Solid

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In the world of Node.js, application development, speed, flexibility, and scalability are critical for modern software development. However, the risk of vulnerabilities and security breaches looms with the increasing reliance on open-source Node packages. NCM (NodeSource Certified Modules) is the next-generation security solution that empowers Node.js developers to safeguard their applications easily and confidently.

This article will explore how NCM, a key N|Solid platform feature, revolutionizes how Node.js applications are secured, offering advanced security features, enhanced visibility, and peace of mind. Get ready to unleash the power of NCM and take your Node.js applications to new heights of security and reliability with N|Solid.

_Image 1 – Security Vulnerabilities in N|Solid View
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Don’t miss out on this opportunity to try N|Solid for free and unlock the full potential of your Node.js applications.✍️ Sign up now and take your monitoring to the next level!

What is N|Solid?

_Image 2 – N|Solid Product View
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N|Solid provides enhanced security for Node.js applications in production environments. It is built on top of the Node.js runtime. It provides a secure environment for running Node.js applications and advanced features such as worker threads monitoring, memory leak detection, and CPU profiling. We have +15 features in our product, including OpenTelemetry support, SBOM integration, and Machine Learning capabilities. Discover More HERE ‘__Top 10 N|Solid —APM for Node— features you needed to use__’ – HERE: ???????? nsrc.io/TopNSolidFeatures.

N|Solid offers many benefits over the standard Node.js runtime, including improved security through features like runtime vulnerability scanning, access control, and enhanced monitoring capabilities that allow developers to identify and address issues in real-time.

N|Solid is well-suited for enterprise applications requiring high performance, scalability, and security levels. It is widely used in finance, healthcare, and e-commerce. It is developed and maintained by __NodeSource__, a company specializing in enterprise-grade Node.js solutions.

In the previous section, we discussed N|Solid as a solution that provides enhanced security for Node.js applications in production environments. Let’s discuss the difference between NSolid Console, N|Solid Runtime, and N|Solid SaaS. It’s important to differentiate between these components for several reasons, including functionality, user experience, and flexibility.

What is the difference between NSolid Console, N|Solid Runtime, and N|Solid SaaS?

Differentiating between the Console, Runtime, and SaaS setup in N|Solid is essential for a few reasons: functionality, user experience, and flexibility.

Users can deploy N|Solid in multiple ways, including using the N|Solid Console, N|Solid Runtime, or N|Solid SaaS setup, depending on their requirements and infrastructure setup. It is essential to provide distinct functionalities to enhance user experience and offer flexibility in deployment options, allowing scalability, customization, and integration with existing workflows. Here’s a brief description of each:

N|Solid Runtime is the runtime environment for Node.js applications. It includes a modified version of the Node.js runtime, enhanced with additional security, monitoring, and debugging features. These features include advanced profiling and tracing capabilities, heap and CPU profiling, and runtime vulnerability scanning.
???????? https://bit.ly/NSolidRuntime-npm

_Image 3 – N|Solid Runtime Installation
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__N|Solid Console__, on the other hand, is a web-based dashboard that provides a graphical user interface for monitoring and managing Node.js applications running on N|Solid Runtime. It lets users view their applications’ real-time metrics and performance data, monitor resource utilization, and set alerts for specific events or thresholds. N|Solid Console also provides features for managing user access and permissions, configuring application settings, and integrating with third-party tools and services. It can manage multiple N|Solid Runtimes across a distributed environment, making it ideal for large-scale enterprise deployments.
???????? https://nsrc.io/NSolidConsole

_Image 4 – N|Solid Console Overview
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__N|Solid SaaS__: N|Solid also offers a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) setup so users can leverage N|Solid’s enhanced security and performance features without managing their own infrastructure. With N|Solid SaaS, users can simply sign up for a subscription and use N|Solid’s features through a cloud-based service without needing on-premises installation or maintenance. ???????? https://nsrc.io/NSolidSaaS

_Image 5 – N|Solid SaaS Overview
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N|Solid offers multiple deployment options; these components provide distinct functionalities, user experiences, and deployment flexibilities, catering to the diverse needs of enterprise Node.js applications.

But, What about NCM?

NodeSource Certified Modules (NCM) is another product developed by NodeSource that provides you and your teams with actionable insights into the risk levels of using third-party packages. Using a series of tests, we score packages on npm to look for several weighted criteria. With NCM CLI, you can scan your projects for existing security vulnerabilities, license concerns, code risk, and code quality. This helps you understand the level of risk exposure and how to mitigate it. NodeSource Certified Modules (NCM) also work in offline mode. Explore Further ‘__Avoiding npm substitution attacks using NCM__’ HERE ????????https://nsrc.io/AvoidAttackswithNCM

_Image 6 – NCM CLI Report
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NodeSource Certified Modules (NCM) is a security, compliance, and curation tool around the 3rd-Party Node.js & JavaScript package ecosystem. It is designed to be used with npm to provide protection against known security vulnerabilities and potential license compliance issues and provide general quality or risk assessment information to improve your ability to work with the 3rd-Party ecosystem.

Since the release of N|Solid 4.1.0, we have consolidated NCM into a single product with NCM’s features being pulled into N|Solid Runtime, N|Solid SaaS, and the N|Solid Console for optimal user experience. It also provides alerts and notifications when new vulnerabilities are discovered in modules used by an organization’s applications and helps users quickly identify and remediate any potential security risks.NCM is a valuable tool for organizations that rely on Node.js and open-source modules, helping to ensure that their applications are secure, reliable, and compliant with industry standards and regulations.

NCM now assesses packages based on multiple attributes: security, compliance, risk, and quality. These attributes are combined to generate an overall risk level for each package, providing valuable insights to manage third-party code in your Node.js applications effectively. With NCM’s scoring system, you can:

__Manage acceptable risk levels__: NCM helps you assess the risk associated with third-party packages by providing an overall risk level for each package. This allows you to make informed decisions about the level of risk you are willing to accept in your application.
__Understand security vulnerabilities__: NCM identifies and highlights security vulnerabilities in third-party modules, allowing you to understand the severity of the vulnerabilities and take appropriate actions to address them in your code.
__Manage license and compliance risks__: NCM helps you identify potential license and compliance risks introduced by third-party modules, ensuring that your application adheres to licensing requirements and compliance standards.
__Identify potential risk vectors__: NCM goes beyond known security vulnerabilities and identifies potential risks that may not have surfaced in security vulnerabilities yet. This helps you proactively identify and address potential risks in your code.
__Improve code quality__: NCM provides insights into quality attributes that align with best practices, helping you improve the quality of your code and make it more manageable and secure.

Together, these attributes in NCM’s scoring system (security, compliance, risk, and quality.) provide a comprehensive assessment of third-party packages, enabling you to effectively manage and secure your Node.js applications by addressing security vulnerabilities, managing compliance risks, assessing package risk, and provides insights to improve code quality. Find Out More about ‘Vulnerability Scanning & 3rd-Party Modules Certification’- HERE ???????? nsrc.io/VulnerabilityScanningNS

The Importance of Node.js Application Security

Selecting the right tools and applications for your developer pipeline requires careful consideration of your team’s workflow and project needs. This might involve assessing your tech stack, deployment processes, and the number of steps in your pipeline and identifying areas where guardrails can be implemented to improve security and reliability.

_Image 7 – NCM Criteria
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Fortunately, numerous tools and applications are available to assist in managing your pipeline and ensuring the security and compliance of your applications. One powerful tool in this regard is NCM (NodeSource Certified Modules). NCM is a comprehensive security, compliance, and curation tool that offers advanced capabilities for managing dependencies in Node.js applications. By integrating NCM into your pipeline, you can effortlessly scan for vulnerabilities, track package dependencies, and ensure compliance with licensing requirements.

NCM enables you to elevate your pipeline to the next level, enhancing your application’s performance, reliability, and security while safeguarding against __SUPPLY CHAIN ATTACKS__. With the consolidation of NCM into N|Solid, you can now seamlessly access these powerful capabilities through the N|Solid Console for a streamlined user experience.

Note: Supply chain attacks are a type of cyber attack that targets the weakest link in a software supply chain. Instead of directly attacking a target, hackers infiltrate a trusted third-party vendor, supplier, or service provider to gain access to their customer’s systems and data. This allows the attackers to distribute malicious code or compromise software updates, which can then infect the entire supply chain and cause widespread damage. Supply chain attacks can be difficult to detect and prevent, making them a growing threat to organizations of all sizes and industries.

The importance of NCM

The consolidation of NCM 2 into N|Solid represents a significant milestone in providing a comprehensive solution for ensuring the security, reliability, and performance of Node.js applications. With features such as:

Projects & Applications Monitoring – https://nsrc.io/ProjectApplicationsMonitoringNS

Process Monitoring – https://nsrc.io/ProcessMonitoringNS

CPU Profiling – https://nsrc.io/CPUProfilingNS

Worker Threads Monitoring – https://nsrc.io/WorkerThreadsNS

Capture Heap Snapshots – https://nsrc.io/HeapSnapshotsNS

Memory Anomaly Detection – https://nsrc.io/MemoryAnomalyNS

Vulnerability Scanning & 3rd party Modules Certification – https://nsrc.io/VulnerabilityScanningNS
HTTP Tracing Support – https://nsrc.io/HTTPTracingNS

Global Alerts & Integrations – https://nsrc.io/GlobalAlertsIntegrationsNS

Distributed Tracing – https://nsrc.io/DistributedTracingNS

Open Telemetry Support – nsrc.io/AIOpsNSolid

SBOM Support – nsrc.io/SBOM-NSolid

Machine Learning Support – nsrc.io/ML-NSolid

N|Solid offers a robust and all-encompassing solution for managing the entire lifecycle of Node.js applications. By incorporating NCM’s powerful capabilities for security, compliance, and curation, N|Solid empowers developers and organizations to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities, track dependencies, and ensure licensing compliance, ultimately elevating the overall performance, reliability, and security of their applications. With N|Solid, organizations can confidently build and deploy Node.js applications with peace of mind, knowing their software is protected against potential risks and supply chain attacks.

Conclusion:

Securing Node.js applications is paramount in today’s software development landscape. With the powerful features of NSolid, including the N|Solid Console and N|Solid Runtime, combined with the cutting-edge security capabilities of NCM, developers can safeguard their Node.js applications with next-generation security measures or simply leaving the maintenance and infrastructure to us by selecting our N|Solid SaaS option. By leveraging the power of NCM in the N|Solid platform, developers can proactively mitigate vulnerabilities and ensure the reliability and stability of their Node.js applications. Embrace the power of NCM in N|Solid today and unleash the full potential of your Node.js applications with advanced security measures.

NodeSource’s Products:

N|Solid Runtime is the Node.js runtime environment with enhanced security, monitoring, and debugging features.

N|Solid Console is a web-based dashboard for managing and monitoring Node.js applications running on N|Solid Runtime.
__N|Solid SaaS__: Benefit from N|Solid’s advanced security and performance features through a cloud-based subscription service, eliminating the need for on-premises installation or maintenance.

NCM is a cutting-edge security feature integrated into the N|Solid platform that provides continuous monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and risk assessment of open-source Node.js packages used in Node.js applications.

To get the best out of Node.js and experience the benefits of its integrated features, including OpenTelemetry support, SBOM integration, and Machine Learning capabilities. ✍️ Sign up for a free trial and see how N|Solid can help you achieve your development and operations goals. #KnowyourNode

SBOM: The Essential Building Block for Cybersecurity

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Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs) is how companies provide a comprehensive inventory of all the components, libraries, and dependencies used in a software system. This information helps organizations identify potential vulnerabilities and manage the risk of software supply chain attacks.

SBOM is a detailed list of all the components, libraries, and dependencies that make up a software system. It includes information such as the names and versions of the components, their sources, and any associated risks or vulnerabilities.

Just as a supply chain document in manufacturing and product development outlines the origin and journey of raw materials and components, a software bill of materials (SBOM) does the same for software components.

SBOM Adoption via Executive Order from the EEUU

On May 12, 2021, President Joe Biden released the Executive Order (EO) on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity with a specific requirement for SBOMs. Read here the executive order.

SBOM includes information on their origin, version, and security risk. Just as manufacturers rely on supply chain documentation to ensure the quality and safety of their products, organizations can use SBOMs to manage software supply chain risks and ensure the security and compliance of their software systems. In both cases, having accurate and up-to-date information is critical to making informed decisions and avoiding potential harm.

Since December 2022, in its v4.9.0, N|Solid has SBOM support (Software Bill of Materials).

N|Solid has added support for SBOM reporting in all applications connected to the N|Solid console; the report is offered in two formats: JSON and PDF; it contains the information for the dependency inventory of a specific application; it includes valuable information like licensing and the security status for each dependency used.

Start using SBOM in all applications connected to the N|Solid console START NOW

The role of SBOM:

The Linux Foundation released the results of a survey: The State of Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) and Cybersecurity Readiness, carried out within the framework of the US presidential order on SBOM, where 412 organizations worldwide participated in a survey. Here is the infographic with the highlights.

With the ever-increasing use of third-party components in software development, having an accurate and up-to-date SBOM is essential for ensuring the security and integrity of a company’s software systems; an organization can use SBOMs for many purposes. Some of them are:

Allow organizations visibility and control over their software supply chain, enabling them to make informed decisions about software security, compliance, and licensing.

Companies can proactively manage software risk, improve their cybersecurity posture, and protect their customers and critical data.

Comply with industry standards and regulations. This refers to the process of ensuring that an organization is using software in accordance with its license agreements. This includes ensuring that the software is being used within the terms of the license agreement and that the organization uses only the licenses it has purchased.

Compliance and customer Audit. Ensure that it meets the specified quality criteria. This may include testing, inspections, and reviews to identify any issues or defects and make sure that the product or service meets the customer’s requirements and the high standards of quality that the industry expects.

Despite the clear benefits of SBOMs, the use of SBOMs has traditionally been limited to more than just the largest and most advanced organizations. However, the increasing threat of software supply chain attacks and the growing recognition of the importance of SBOMs are expected to drive the widespread adoption of SBOMs in the near future.

The United States Executive Order on the Nation’s Cybersecurity outlines new requirements for SBOMs and other security measures for software used by federal agencies. This order highlights the importance of SBOMs in ensuring the security of software systems and demonstrates the growing recognition of their value in the industry.

Implementing SBOM in Your Organization

Companies are increasingly aware of their risks by needing to be clearer about their technologies, especially in the open-source ecosystem. according to the Linux Foundation survey, what are the key activities for securing the software supply chain? These answers serve as a basis for understanding the importance of this concept in the ecosystem.

Understanding the process of implementing an SBOM in your organization, from assessing your current software landscape to integrating the SBOM with your existing security and compliance tools, will help you to effectively manage software supply chain risks and ensure the security and compliance of your software systems.

Assessment: The first step is to assess the organization’s current software landscape and identify which software systems and components need to be included in the SBOM.

Inventory: Once the software systems and components have been identified, the next step is to create an inventory of all the components and their attributes, such as name, version, source, and any associated risks or vulnerabilities.

Automation: To ensure the SBOM is accurate and up-to-date, consider automating the SBOM creation process through tools or scripts that can extract information from source code and dependencies.

Integration: The SBOM should be integrated with the organization’s existing security and compliance tools, such as security assessment and license compliance tools, to ensure that the information contained in the SBOM can be effectively utilized.

Monitoring: Regular monitoring of the SBOM should be implemented to ensure that it remains up-to-date and that any changes or updates to software components are accurately reflected in the SBOM.

Review: The SBOM should be regularly reviewed to identify potential security risks or vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Training: Finally, provide training to all relevant personnel, including developers and security teams, to ensure that the SBOM is being used effectively and that everyone understands the importance of keeping the SBOM up-to-date.

By following this path, organizations can effectively implement an SBOM and use it to manage software supply chain risks, improve their overall cybersecurity posture, and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Securing Your Software Supply Chain with N|Solid

N|Solid is a runtime, and a console for managing Node.js applications, providing a secure and reliable runtime environment for Node.js applications developed and distributed by NodeSource. N|Solid includes a range of features to help organizations, including security and performance monitoring, real-time visibility into applications, and the ability to identify and resolve issues quickly.

N|Solid Console has a dedicated section for __NodeSource Certified Modules__. (NCM) are a set of open-source npm packages vetted and certified by NodeSource, a company specializing in Node.js solutions. The certification process involves thorough security, quality, and compatibility testing to ensure that these modules meet high standards for security and performance.

By using NodeSource Certified Modules, organizations can be confident that they are using high-quality, secure, and reliable components in their Node.js applications. In addition, NodeSource provides ongoing maintenance and support for these modules, ensuring that they continue to work effectively and securely over time. By using NodeSource Certified Modules, organizations can simplify the process of selecting and using npm packages in their Node.js applications, helping to ensure that their applications are secure, reliable, and performing optimally for their users.

_NCM enables you to quickly and easily generate SBOMs that:
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Identify all open-source libraries.
Track and document each component, including direct and transitive dependencies.
Update automatically when components change.
Identify vulnerabilities.
Provide a path to remediation that ensures updates are backward compatible and won’t break the build.

Illustrative Example of Software Life Cycle and Bill of Materials Assembly Line

According to the SBOM document, to stay compliant, the data fields that must be in an SBOM are:

Component name
Component version
Unique identifier for the software
Relationship with other dependencies
Developer name
Name of tool used to create the SBOM document
Document creation date and time

N|Solid complies with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laying out the guidelines for an SBOM document.

Conclusion:

SBOMs are an important tool in the fight against software supply chain attacks. Organizations can better track and manage their software components and identify potential risks by incorporating them into the software development process. In addition, SBOMs provide valuable insights into the supply chain history of a product, helping to ensure that all components are sourced from reputable and trustworthy sources.

As a company, ensuring the security of the code and systems you use and create is important. That’s why it is truly important:

To ensure the security of open-source components in your supply chain, it is crucial to track their licenses, vulnerabilities, and associated risks.
To avoid coding security defects and weaknesses, it is important to know common attack methods such as buffer overflows, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting. Vulnerabilities can be difficult to identify, as someone often plants malicious code with in-depth knowledge of the system.
To secure your development and delivery infrastructure, it is recommended to conduct a binary analysis of the container images to inspect component signatures and identify any open-source components and sensitive data present.
To ensure the security of APIs and protocols used for communication with other systems, a lack of visibility and control can put critical systems and sensitive information at risk.

However, implementing SBOMs effectively can be a complex and time-consuming process, and organizations need to choose the right tools and processes to ensure the accuracy and relevance of their SBOMs. We are sure that N|Solid can help! 💪

If you are interested in more information about the supply chain and its associated risks, please contact us at [email protected] or on Twitter @nodesource.
To get the best out of Node.js, try N|Solid SaaS #KnowYourNode