Guide to SBOM: What It Is, Benefits, Compliance & Popular Formats

In today’s world, software is a part of everyday life, and spans almost all domains, with majorly built on third-party code and open-source software. Anyone who is concerned about better supporting their software products internally, supporting their clients, care about supply-chain risk and positively distinguishing themselves in the marketplace should consider building SBOMs which are becoming increasingly important for organizations and businesses as they aim to manage and secure the software they use.

An Introduction to SBOM

A Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is a list of all component parts and software dependencies involved in the development and delivery of an application. In other words, an SBOMs offers a detailed inventory of all third-party libraries, open-source packages, their license, version information and any affected vulnerabilities that makes up the application.

Software Bill of Materials are a modern adaptation of the traditional concept of a Bill of Materials (BOMs). Businesses and organizations have historically used BOMs to identify the many pieces that make up their products in supply chain management. For instance, the ingredients list on the food that we purchase at the grocery store is effectively a BOM. However, the application of the BOM idea to software is the latest, leading to the introduction of SBOM.

Main Components of Software Bill of Materials

Third-party software library names & versions: Tracks the specific names and versions of third-party software libraries to ensure up-to-date and secure software usage.
Software dependencies: Provides list of all software packages, libraries and component relationships to manage dependencies and identify potential conflicts or outdated elements.
Open-source licenses: Documents the license type and terms to ensure legal compliance and promote responsible use of open-source software.
Known vulnerabilities: Identifies existing securityvulnerabilities in software packages, third-party libraries, components toprioritize fixes and maintain a secure software environment.

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SBOM Usage Across Industries

Most SBOM usage falls into one of three key perspectives: those who develop software, those who select software, and those who manage software operations.

For software producers, Software Bill of Materials help in building and maintaining their software, including managing upstream components.
For software buyers or purchasers, SBOMs aid in pre-purchase assurance, negotiating discounts and planning implementation strategies.
For software operators, Software Bill of Materials support vulnerability and asset management, ensure licensing and compliance, and help quickly identify software dependencies and supply chain risks.

SBOMs play a crucial role across the entire software lifecycle, from development to procurement and operation. Leading companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Red Hat, Hitachi, and Oracle have already implemented Software Bill of Materials to improve software transparency, manage security risks, ensure compliance, and streamline supply chain management.

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Benefits of SBOM

Improved Software Security: Software Bill of Materials offer visibility into software components and their associated vulnerabilities. By identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities, organizations can intensify their cybersecurity landscape, reduce the risk of cyberattacks, and safeguard their sensitive data.
Effective vulnerability response and patch management: Software Bill of Materials aid in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities by providing a clear picture of the vulnerable components, enabling organizations to prioritize and apply necessary patches or updates, and reducing the time and effort required for vulnerability response.
Enhanced Supply Chain Risk Management: SBOMs enable businesses and enterprises to understand, learn, and manage software components and dependencies throughout their supply chain. This helps them determine possible risks like dependencies on outdated or vulnerable components, allowing for proactive risk mitigation approaches.
Streamlined software development and maintenance: By facilitating a better understanding of software dependencies and third-party library use, SBOMs make it easier to track and manage changes, updates, and compatibility issues. This not only streamlines software development but also provide peace of mind to business owners.
Risk reduction in mergers and acquisitions: When acquiring or merging with another organization, a comprehensive Software Bill of Materials helps evaluate the software’s security posture, identify risks, and assess compatibility with existing systems. This whole process reduces integration risks and allows informed business decisions.
Compliance with regulations and standards: Software Bill of Materials help in complying with regulations and industry standards in relation to software security and supply chain management. They help determine due diligence, ensure compliance with licensing requirements, and support regulatory assessments. Such as U.S. Government Cybersecurity Executive Order 14028, U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration), PCI DSS v4.0.1 (Requirement 6.3.2 and 6.5), CRA (Cyber Resilience Act) – Provision 22, DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) – Article 10
Enhanced customer trust and reputation: By demonstrating a commitment to transparency, security, and compliance through SBOMs, organizations can build customer trust and satisfaction. It highlights responsible software development practices, lowers the risk of breaches, and protects the organization’s reputation.

As organizations focus on enhancing security from the ground up, integrating security early in the development cycle becomes essential. If you are looking for such services, you can check out Blacklock’s “inside out” SAST service.‍

SBOM Popular Formats

There are several popular Software Bill of Materials formats including CycloneDX, SPDX, and SWID. However, the choice of Software Bill of Materials format may depend on the specific needs and requirements of the organization or industry using it.

CycloneDX

Designed specifically to enhance security across software supply chains, CycloneDX stands out as a premier, open-source standard born from the collaborative efforts within the OWASP community. It’s known for its:

Cyber risk mitigation.
Lightweight nature and easy integration.
Supports an extensive array of materials — ranging from software and hardware to services.
Trusted by government and defense sectors.

SPDX

SPDX (Software Package Data Exchange standards) under the stewardship of Linux, acts as an open-source blueprint for SBOMs. This format simplifies the conveyance of essential details such as software names, versions, components, licenses, copyrights, and security references. SPCX's key features include:

Backed by ISO/IEC international standards.
Reduces redundancies and streamlines distribution/compliance.
Promotes software supply chain transparency and collaboration.
Low barriers to entry for developers, fostering widespread adoption.

SWID

Software identification (SWID) tags, as defined by ISO/IEC 19770-2, offer a sophisticated metadata framework for pinpointing software entities. Some of the peculiar features of SWID include:

Its tag provides product versions, producers, and metadata, enabling effective SAM, vulnerability analysis, and various security operations.
Manage the complex landscape of installed software.

Conclusion

SBOM is an essential tool for any organization that produce, procure or manage, software and wants to ensure the quality, security, and reliability of their software products. By providing a comprehensive inventory of all the components and dependencies used in a software product, a Software Bill of Materials can help developers, business owners, project managers and other stakeholders gain visibility into the software supply chain and identify potential issues early in the lifecycle.

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Guide to SBOM: What It Is and Why It Matters?