What are the best practices for securing a Node.js application's dependencies and preventing known vulnerabilities using tools like npm audit?

To enhance the security of your Node.js application's dependencies, adopt a multifaceted approach. Regularly run the command 'npm audit', which is a built-in tool in the npm ecosystem. Once you run it, it effectively scans your project for known vulnerabilities in dependencies. This tool not only identifies the underlying vulnerabilities but also suggests fixes and updates for them.

So, keep your dependencies up to date, as updates often include patches for security vulnerabilities. You can automate this process using tools like Dependabot, which continuously monitors your dependencies for known vulnerabilities and can automatically create pull requests to update them.