The use of open source software (OSS) has become increasingly prevalent in software development, with over 90% of organizations utilizing OSS components in their applications. While OSS offers benefits such as speedier development and access to collaborative efforts, it also introduces security risks due to outdated code, modified or missing licenses, and indirect dependencies. To mitigate these risks, developers can establish policies for automated enforcement, position Software Composition Analysis (SCA) prominently, implement SCA tools into their application security testing toolkit, fork changes to external source code, and leverage tools like Snyk Open Source to scan for vulnerabilities and ensure license compliance. By understanding the benefits and risks of OSS and applying these six tips, developers can create secure code without sacrificing speed or developer time.