Today, AI is dramatically reshaping the way software is built. Guided by AI coding assistants, developers are shipping code faster than ever before. Yet behind this impressive speed, a crucial question emerges: do we truly know what’s going into our software? Modern software is no longer just handcrafted internal code. It is an intricate mix of open-source software, dynamic dependencies, and components pulled from varied third-party sources.
In its 2026 OSSRA report, Black Duck highlights a staggering 74% year-over-year increase in average file counts per codebase, alongside a 30% jump in average open-source components. As software development grows faster and more complex, the urgent need to understand these underlying components and the hidden security risks they carry becomes paramount.
AI Speeds Up Coding, But Are the Risks Growing Too?
Unmatched speed is easily the biggest payoff of AI coding. Developers can write more code, experiment with solutions rapidly, and streamline overall development. However, as the volume of generated code explodes, so does the complexity of the components we must manage.
Modern software is a mosaic: internally engineered code, third-party software, open-source dependencies, external packages from public repositories, and code recommended or auto-generated by AI.
In fact, Black Duck defines AI-generated code as an entirely new component in the software ecosystem, one that offers powerful benefits alongside its own distinct vulnerabilities. Simply put, code shouldn’t be presumed secure just because an AI generated it. The real challenge is not all of these pieces are easy to spot.
While dependencies recorded in your package manager are straightforward to track, software often hides component blind spots: copy-pasted code snippets, buried binary components, or open-source fragments introduced via AI-assisted development. Without deep visibility, these hidden elements quickly become dangerous vulnerabilities.
What Is Software Composition Analysis and Why Does It Matter?
Software Composition Analysis (SCA) provides a clear, systematic approach to helping organizations identify and manage every open-source and third-party component inside their software. At its core, SCA answers the mission-critical questions:
- Which specific components are embedded in your software?
- Do any of these components harbor known vulnerabilities?
- Which open-source licenses govern them?
- Are there potential licensing conflicts or obligations?
- Which components pose the highest security risk?
- What immediate steps should be taken to mitigate those risks?
Put simply, Software Composition Analysis shines a clear light on what’s inside your software stack. In the era of AI coding where code volume rises quickly and parts arrive from every corner, having complete, clear visibility across your software supply chain isn’t optional, but essential.
SCA doesn’t just point out flaws. It provides vital risk context so engineering teams can focus on what matters most and remediate threats effectively.
How to Secure Open Source Software More Effectively
Securing open-source software doesn’t mean stopping its use. Open source remains the lifeblood of modern development, powering rapid innovation and continuous growth.
Here is how organizations can adopt open source safely and stay in control:
- Map out your components. Get full clarity on what is actively being used, then evaluate for hidden vulnerabilities, licensing risks, or abandoned, unmaintained code.
- Prioritize your risks. Not all vulnerabilities carry equal severity. Security and engineering teams need intelligent context to fix urgent issues first. Software Composition Analysis transforms raw problem discovery into structured, efficient risk management.
- Maintain continuous monitoring. Security isn’t static. A component deemed safe today might reveal a major vulnerability months down the road.
Read More: Why Software Composition Analysis Has Become Essential for Modern Developers
<h2> Uncover Hidden Open Source Risks with Black Duck SCA </h2>
Open-source software brings more than just technical security risks. Licensing obligations are equally critical. Components can carry declared or undeclared licenses, specific compliance duties, or terms that directly conflict with internal enterprise policies. Black Duck SCA gives you total license compliance visibility, from automated identification and conflict detection to detailed copyright insights and obligation guides.
At the same time, organizations increasingly rely on a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for complete transparency into their software components. By keeping an exact record of ingredients, an SBOM strengthens supply chain transparency and speeds up investigations whenever new vulnerabilities surface.
In practice, modern software security is about maintaining continuous clarity: knowing exactly what is inside your code and understanding how risk profiles evolve over time.
Visibility is the cornerstone of proactive open-source security. With Software Composition Analysis, teams can effortlessly track open-source and third-party components, pinpoint vulnerability and license risks, manage comprehensive SBOMs, and continuously guard against threats across the entire software development lifecycle.
<h2> Manage Open Source Security Proactively with Virtus Technology Indonesia </h2>
In the AI era, software moves faster than ever. However, speed without visibility creates dangerous blind spots that only surface when it’s too late. Open-source security must be built into the core development process, not treated as an afterthought.
Virtus Technology Indonesia (part of CTI Group), together with Black Duck SCA, empowers organizations to gain end-to-end visibility over their open-source software, remediate vulnerabilities and licensing risks, and proactively secure their software supply chain.
Ready to elevate your open-source software security? Contact the Virtus team today to discover how Black Duck SCA can transform your workflow.
Author: Angela Merici Retna Perwitasari
Content Writer Intern CTI Group