A Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is essentially a detailed inventory of all the components that make up a software application. This includes open-source libraries, third-party modules, and their associated licenses, versions, and patch statuses. By providing a clear and comprehensive overview of the software supply chain, Software Bills of Materials enable organizations to better understand and manage their applications.
As cloud adoption has increased and cyber attacks have become more sophisticated, SBOMs have emerged as an important aspect of cybersecurity in software supply chains. They allow security teams to quickly identify potential vulnerabilities and license risks associated with the components used in an application. By understanding the dependencies and their associated licenses, organizations can take proactive steps to mitigate risks and ensure compliance.
This article explains what a SBOM is, its role in bolstering cybersecurity risk management, and how it relates to an enterprise’s architecture.
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A Software Bill of Materials is a comprehensive list of all the software components, dependencies, and metadata associated with an application. It’s a valuable tool for understanding the composition of a software application and managing its associated risks.
America’s Cyber Defense Agency CISA defines a software bill of materials (SBOM) as "a nested inventory, a list of ingredients that make up software components." This inventory also includes direct dependencies, indirect dependencies, and transitive dependencies. By providing a more granular level of detail into what is being used in software, SBOMs offer greater transparency over potential cybersecurity and compliance risks.
SBOMs are critical assets for software supply chain risk management. They help organizations identify and mitigate potential security vulnerabilities, license compliance issues, and operational downtime.
There are several different types of SBOMs; however, at a minimum, a SBOM should contain the following information about application components:
An appropriate analogy could be that SBOMs function like ‘recipe’ lists that include all the ‘ingredients’ used in creating a software application.
The pace of modern software development often leads to developers incorporating code from open source repositories into their applications. It’s therefore crucial for SBOMs to provide a deep level of security transparency into adopted open source code and software as well as that developed in-house. By providing a complete inventory of a codebase including the open source components, licenses, versions, and vulnerabilities, SBOMs can help organizations improve the overall security of their software.
An SBOM typically includes a detailed list of all the open source components used in the application. This information can be invaluable for organizations that want to understand the composition of their software and identify any potential risks associated with these components.
The SBOM also lists the licenses that govern each open source component. This information is important for ensuring compliance with licensing requirements and avoiding legal issues. Understanding the licensing terms of each component can help organizations avoid copyright infringement and other legal pitfalls.
The SBOM includes the specific versions of each open source component used in the application. This information is essential for tracking updates and patches and ensuring that the application is using the latest and most secure versions of these components.
The SBOM may also include information about known vulnerabilities in the open source components used in the application. This information can help organizations prioritize security updates and mitigate potential risks.
Software Bills of Materials are essential for organizations to ensure the security, compliance, and overall health of their software applications. By providing a comprehensive inventory of components and their associated information, SBOMs enable organizations to make informed decisions and mitigate technology risk effectively.
By maintaining up-to-date SBOMs, organizations can streamline vulnerability management processes. It enables them to identify and address security vulnerabilities promptly, reducing the likelihood of exploitation by malicious actors. Moreover, SBOMs aid in ensuring compliance with relevant security standards and regulations, such as those outlined by the International Standards Organization (ISO), NIST, and GDPR.
Typical vulnerability analysis tools don’t inspect individual open-source components within applications, although any one of these components may contain vulnerabilities or obsolete code that can put you at risk. An example of this type of exposure was demonstrated with the Log4j vulnerability that enabled the massive cybersecurity attack that spread to SolarWinds customers in 2020. The SolarWinds supply chain attack highlighted the importance of understanding and monitoring software supply chains comprehensively. With SBOMs in place, organizations can more quickly assess the impact of such incidents, identify affected components, and take appropriate remedial measures to mitigate risks.
The SolarWinds attack was not a novel incident, however. One of the first widespread and significant software supply-chain events, the OpenSSL “Heartbleed” vulnerability, happened back in 2014. Heartbleed put the systems relying on OpenSSL at risk, allowing malicious actors to extract sensitive information due to a relatively simple software flaw.
The triage process for the Heartbleed exposure was unwieldy and painstaking, and wider SBOM adoption at the time would have eased remediation of the wider damage caused. Had an organization like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) had access to SBOM information on OpenSSL, a more immediate assessment of the sprawl could have led to a more targeted response and potentially enabled proactive investment and security before the incident.
Software Bills of Materials provide support and insight to a range of stakeholders in organizations across various industries. Understanding the benefits of SBOMs and implementing them can bring significant benefit to organizations, their suppliers, and their customers.
Software developers benefit greatly from SBOMs by gaining a clear understanding of the components used in their applications. This knowledge helps them identify potential conflicts, dependencies, and vulnerabilities, enabling them to make informed decisions during development and maintenance. SBOMs can also assist developers in selecting appropriate licenses and addressing compliance requirements.
Operations and DevOps teams rely on SBOMs to streamline deployment, configuration management, and troubleshooting processes. By understanding the components and their dependencies, these teams can more effectively manage application environments and identify and address issues promptly.
Security teams find SBOMs invaluable for identifying and mitigating security risks. By analyzing the components and their associated vulnerabilities, security teams can prioritize security updates, patch vulnerabilities, and implement appropriate security measures to protect the application.
Compliance officers and auditors rely on SBOMs to demonstrate compliance with various regulations and industry standards. SBOMs provide the necessary transparency and traceability to ensure that organizations meet their compliance obligations and avoid legal and financial risks.
Software vendors and suppliers benefit from providing SBOMs to their customers. By offering transparency into the components used in their products, vendors can build trust with their customers, demonstrate compliance, and mitigate risks associated with supply chain vulnerabilities.
Software customers and end-users can benefit from SBOMs by gaining a better understanding of the components used in the products they purchase. This information can help them make informed decisions and ensure that the software aligns with their security and compliance requirements.
In recent years, the US has witnessed a significant push toward the adoption of software bill of materials regulations, driven by executive orders and legislative efforts aimed at enhancing cybersecurity measures. Key agencies and standards bodies, such as NIST and the CISA, have been instrumental in shaping what SBOM is or should look like in practice.
Executive orders issued by the White House have emphasized the importance of SBOM in securing the US’ digital infrastructure. In response to growing threats and potential vulnerabilities, President Biden issued Executive Order 14028 in May 2021. This order defined security measures that must be followed by any software publisher or developer that does business with the federal government. These orders mandate federal agencies to implement SBOM practices and require vendors to provide SBOMs for software products sold to the American government.
Legislative initiatives have also been introduced to formalize SBOM requirements across various sectors. These efforts aim to standardize SBOM practices, enhance supply chain security, and improve overall cybersecurity posture.
Furthermore, in December 2022, Section 3305 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 was signed, authorizing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish cybersecurity standards for medical devices, including mandating that manufacturers of cyber devices provide a software bill of materials for the components contained within a given device.
These are just a few examples of the recent measures driving the adoption and prioritization of SBOM in practice.
With these regulatory pressures, compliance with SBOM regulations has become increasingly important and relevant for some enterprises operating in the US and vendors to the US government. Compliance requirements vary depending on the industry and the nature of the software products developed or procured. However, common elements include:
Adherence to specific standards and guidelines outlined by agencies such as NIST and CISA.
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The introduction of SBOM regulations has had a significant impact on enterprises across various industries. These regulations have necessitated changes in software development, procurement, and risk management practices, while also introducing new compliance requirements.
Software development and procurement practices: SBOM regulations necessitate changes in software development and procurement practices. Developers must effectively document and track software components, while procurement teams must ensure that SBOM requirements are incorporated into vendor contracts and purchasing processes.
Risk management: SBOM regulation enhances risk management practices by providing visibility into software supply chains. Enterprises can better assess and mitigate cybersecurity risks associated with software components, thus bolstering their overall security posture.
Compliance with software bill of materials regulations is not merely a box to check for vendors selling to the US government; it's also a strategic imperative. IT leaders must champion the integration of SBOMs into their cybersecurity frameworks to mitigate risks and ensure a resilient digital future.
SBOM compliance ensures that enterprises can effectively manage software risks, protect sensitive information, and uphold the integrity of their digital infrastructure.
Non-compliance with SBOM regulations can have far-reaching consequences for enterprises such as:
Security vulnerabilities: Without a comprehensive SBOM, enterprises risk overlooking critical software vulnerabilities, exposing them to potential cyber threats.
Legal ramifications: Failure to adhere to SBOM regulations may result in legal penalties and reputational damage, especially in industries or markets with specific compliance requirements.
To facilitate the creation, sharing, and consumption of SBOMs, various formats have been developed. These formats ensure interoperability and standardization, making it easier for different tools and systems to process and understand SBOM data. Here are some of the most commonly used SBOM formats:
Creating an accurate and up-to-date SBOM is an essential step in understanding, managing, and securing software applications. While manual listing is possible for small applications, automated methods are generally more efficient and accurate. By integrating SBOM generation into the software delivery lifecycle (SDLC), organizations can ensure that SBOMs are created consistently and remain up-to-date. Here are some common methods for creating SBOMs:
This example Software Bill of Materials provides a list of the components used in an example web application.
| Component Name | Version | License | Source | Sub-dependencies | Vulnerabilities |
| React | 18.2.0 | MIT | PropTypes, React-DOM, React-Is, Scheduler, React-Test-Renderer | No known vulnerabilities | |
| Node.js | 18.12.1 | MIT | Node.js Foundation | V8, libuv, libuv-async, OpenSSL, zlib | No known vulnerabilities |
| Express.js | 4.18.2 | MIT | Express.js Foundation | Connect, body-parser, cookie-parser, debug, ejs, serve-static, mime-types | No known vulnerabilities |
| MongoDB | 4.4.11 | Server Side Public License (SPL) | MongoDB Inc. | mongo-client, mongodb-core, bson | No known vulnerabilities |
| Bootstrap | 5.3.0 | MIT | Bootstrap | Popper.js, jQuery | No known vulnerabilities |
| jQuery | 3.6.1 | MIT | jQuery Foundation | None | No known vulnerabilities |
For each component, the table includes the following information:
Component name: A main component of the software, such as commercial or internally developed software, firmware or an open source library.
Version: The current version of the component in use in the software. This should be updated if the version is updated.
License: The owner of the license and any other relevant information, such as expiry date.
Source: The organization or individual responsible for developing and maintaining the component.
Sub-dependencies: Any software components that are used by the component in the "Component name" column.
Vulnerabilities: A list of software vulnerabilities known to affect the component or any sub-dependencies.
While not all organizations are under regulatory pressure to maintain or provide SBOMs; however, they still offer vital visibility that aids governance, compliance, and cybersecurity efforts. Here are some strategies for organizations that are developing a SBOM program due to regulatory requirements or to improve their security posture:
Organizations should ensure they have a cross-functional team involving cybersecurity, legal, and compliance experts to successfully and more smoothly implement the management or generation of SBOMs, depending on the business needs. As with any new process that touches people and technology, the Enterprise Architecture team should be involved to lend insight into potential dependencies or roadblocks.
Prioritize education on SBOMs for functions that will be most impacted such as application security, threat intelligence, security operations center, supplier security, developers and internal auditors. Equip teams with the knowledge needed to ensure the organization is compliant and provide training on SBOM-related practices and procedures.
Invest in advanced tools and technologies that specialize in generating SBOMS or maintaining SBOM libraries to ease maintenance efforts and improve accuracy. Some tools offer additional value by triaging vulnerabilities, one of the more complex, expensive, and time-consuming aspects when it comes to SBOM usage.
To embed this into the business culture, integrate SBOM generation into your software development life cycle (SDLC), ensuring it becomes a standard practice. This reduces the burden on teams and enhances efficiency. Establish robust processes for creating, maintaining, and sharing SBOMs across the organization.
Stay informed about evolving SBOM regulations and engage with regulatory bodies. Proactively participate in discussions and provide feedback to shape future compliance requirements. Collaborate with industry peers and participate in standards development efforts to influence SBOM requirements.
Establish clear communication channels with software suppliers to get a better understanding of their SBOM compliance efforts and work collectively to meet regulatory expectations.
SBOMs contain a level of detail deeper than most enterprises would model to inform most decision-making and strategic planning. However, they are particularly relevant to cybersecurity architecture, one aspect of which is accounting for potential threat intelligence. Threat intelligence can be enriched by the transparency that SBOMs offer into an application’s software components and potential vulnerabilities. They should be seen as one part of the enterprise’s overall security and risk management toolkit.
On an organizational level, developing a SBOM program is a significant change project that will impact people and processes. The team leading the efforts to develop the program may not fully understand all the people who need to be involved or the dependencies. Architectural insights can help the team developing the SBOM program to better understand the resources they need, who needs to be involved, and what the successful implementation of the SBOM program is reliant on from a technical perspective.
A data-driven EA platform like Ardoq could help to identify and visualize these interdependencies, generate reports for key stakeholders, and provide dashboards for monitoring key performance indicators for the SBOM project’s implementation.
Successful software bill of materials implementation hinges on aligning SBOM processes with overarching business objectives and IT strategy. This entails understanding the unique needs and priorities of the organization and tailoring SBOM practices to support them.
Whether it's enhancing cybersecurity, streamlining software procurement, or ensuring regulatory compliance, SBOM processes must align closely with strategic goals to maximize their impact and value. To ensure robust alignment, enterprises should: Here are some fundamental steps to guide enterprises in achieving robust alignment.
By strategically aligning SBOM processes with business objectives and IT strategy, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity posture, achieve regulatory compliance, and fortify the overall resilience of their software supply chain.
Despite the potential benefits of SBOMs for software supply chain security and increasing regulatory pressure for adoption, SBOMs present vendors and end-users alike with new challenges:
For SMEs, implementing SBOM practices may present unique challenges, for example, relating to restricted internal resources and access to knowledge. However, SMEs can overcome these hurdles by:
Obtaining a Software Bill of Materials can be done in several ways:
1. Request from the Vendor
If you are purchasing software from a vendor, you can request an SBOM as part of the procurement process. Many vendors are now providing SBOMs as a standard part of their product offerings. When making your request, be specific about the format and level of detail you require.
2. Generate it Yourself
For open-source software or applications developed in-house, you can generate an SBOM using various tools and techniques. Some popular tools for SBOM generation include:
3. Use Third-Party Services
There are several third-party services that can help you generate SBOMs for your applications. These services often offer additional features, such as vulnerability scanning and compliance reporting.
Key Considerations When Obtaining an SBOM:
By following these guidelines, you can effectively obtain and use SBOMs to improve the security, compliance, and management of your software applications.
Software bills of materials are crucial for enterprises aiming to fortify their cybersecurity, ensure compliance, and optimize operational processes. While challenges exist, proactive adoption and adherence to best practices will position organizations for success in the ever-evolving landscape of software management.
As software applications continue to rely on open-source libraries and third-party components, the importance of SBOMs will only grow. It is the responsibility of engineering leaders to recognize the value of SBOM management and invest in the necessary tools to ensure its effective implementation within their organizations.
Updates to regulations require businesses to maintain careful oversight of their own software components, which bolsters the mitigation of associated cybersecurity risks. Businesses must also seek visibility into their software supply chains to ensure SBOM requirements are incorporated into vendor contracts, protecting their supply chain.
A crucial document outlining the components and dependencies of a software application, the Software Bill of Materials is a cornerstone for software supply chain security. While the Software Bill of Materials concept is still evolving, there's a growing emphasis on automation, standardization, and user-friendly interfaces. Technological advancements are expected to streamline SBOM implementation and usage, making them a more accessible tool in enterprise IT.
Proactive adoption of Software Bills of Materials can offer businesses a competitive advantage and position them for future commercial and regulatory requirements. It’s essential for enterprises to understand the benefits of SBOMs, and integrate SBOM best practices into their overall business and IT strategies. The Ardoq platform provides an ideal environment for creating and managing Software Bills of Materials, contributing to an organization’s improved compliance and reduced risk.
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A Software Bill of Materials is crucial for managing and securing software applications. Here are some key reasons why SBOMs are important:
SBOMs significantly improve security in Enterprise Architecture by providing the following benefits:
The responsibility for creating and maintaining SBOMs typically lies with the software development and security teams. However, in larger organizations, this task may be shared among multiple teams or assigned to a dedicated SBOM specialist.
While SBOM and Software Composition Analysis are closely related, they serve different purposes:
While the terms "Bill of Materials" (BOM) and "Software Bill of Materials" are often used interchangeably, there are some key differences.
A BOM is a list of components used in a physical product. It typically includes information such as:
BOMs are essential for manufacturing, inventory management, and cost control in physical products.
An SBOM is a list of software components used in an application. It includes information such as:
While both BOMs and SBOMs are used to document the components of a product, they serve different purposes and contain different types of information. BOMs are focused on physical products, while SBOMs are specifically for software applications.
The concept of SBOMs has gained significant traction in recent years due to increasing concerns about software security and supply chain vulnerabilities. As organizations have become more aware of the importance of SBOMs, there has been a growing demand for tools and standards to facilitate their creation and use. This has led to the development of various SBOM formats, such as CycloneDX and SPDX, and the integration of SBOM generation into software development processes.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the US has played a pivotal role by announcing a standardized timeline for SBOMs, reinforcing their significance in post-quantum cryptography and software security. The international community increasingly recognizes the importance of SBOMs for software management. In 2023, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) in Japan formulated a guide for introducing SBOMs, emphasizing safety and security.
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