Software Bill of Materials (SBOM): Quick Summary

• An SBOM lists all the components that make up a software product.
• Helps track software parts and identify security risks.
• Required by regulations like U.S. Executive Order 14028.
• Assists in managing software licenses and ensuring compliance.
• Improves software security by identifying vulnerabilities.

What Is a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM)?

A Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is a list of all the software parts that make up a software product.

An SBOM is like an inventory that shows all the components in a software application or system.

An SBOM usually has information like:

• Component names
• Versions
• Licenses
• Source (provider or repository)
• Interdependencies
• Checksums
• Safety information
• Lifecycle data

The main purpose of an SBOM is to make it clear what makes up a software product.

This helps developers, users, auditors, and regulators understand exactly what is inside a piece of software.

This transparency is important for keeping software secure, compliant, and easy to maintain, especially as software gets more complicated.

Some common standards for SBOM formats are SPDX (Software Package Data Exchange), CycloneDX, and SWID (Software Identification Tags).

These standards make it possible to share SBOM information consistently and process it automatically across different organizations.

Why Are SBOMs Important for Cybersecurity?

SBOMs have become very important recently because software systems and their supply chains have gotten more complex.

Many modern applications are made up of hundreds or even thousands of parts that come from in-house development, open-source projects, third-party manufacturers, and cloud services.

While having many components brings a lot of benefits, it also creates challenges.

It is hard to keep track of all these parts and make sure they are secure and follow all the rules.

Without an SBOM, companies often don't know what components they are using or what risks come with them.

There are also new regulations that make SBOMs more important.

For example, the U.S. President's Executive Order 14028 (May 2021) says that federal agencies should only use software that comes with an SBOM.

Similarly, the EU Cyber Resilience Act requires transparency in software supply chains.

If companies do not provide SBOMs, they may lose contracts or damage their reputation.

SBOMs are helpful tools to deal with these challenges.

They provide the transparency needed to spot security risks and compliance issues early.

SBOMs also help everyone in the software supply chain, from manufacturers to end users, work together more effectively.

How SBOMs Improve Cybersecurity

One of the main benefits of SBOMs is that they help improve cybersecurity.

They allow you to quickly find and fix weak spots in the components you use.

Many cyberattacks take advantage of known problems in outdated or poorly configured software.

With an SBOM, you have a current list of all the components and their versions.

This makes it easier to find components with known vulnerabilities, update them, or replace risky components.

SBOMs are also helpful for figuring out what happened after a security breach.

Using SBOMs also helps make security a part of the development process, like with Secure Development Lifecycle and Privacy by Design.

By comparing SBOM data to vulnerability databases and best practices, developers can avoid security problems when they choose components or design software.

When used with DevSecOps, SBOM creation can be automated and included in CI/CD pipelines.

SBOMs also support security models like Zero Trust Architecture and the Principle of Least Privilege by making the attack surface clear and helping to assign the right access permissions.

SBOMs for License and Compliance Management

Besides security, SBOMs are also important for managing licenses and compliance.

Modern software often contains a mix of open-source and third-party parts, which makes it hard to follow all the license rules.

An SBOM helps identify possible conflicts between licenses and manage legal risks early.

It also helps meet documentation requirements, like copyright notices and attributions.

For companies that create or use software, SBOMs are essential for due diligence checks and proving compliance.

They help assess whether software is legally safe to use and are useful during audits.

Using standardized SBOM formats makes these tests and checks easier to automate.

SBOMs are often needed for meeting industry standards and certifications, like ISO 27001 or SOC 2.

They prove that a company has control over its software supply chain and can verify where components come from and that they are safe.

How to Create an SBOM

There are different ways to create an SBOM, depending on the type of software and tools available.

It can be done manually or automatically, and can include looking at the source code or the compiled software.

Here is a step-by-step guide to creating an SBOM:

1. Identify All Components of Your Software
   • List all open-source and third-party components used in your software, like libraries, frameworks, and tools.
2. Gather Information About Each Component
   • Write down the name, version, vendor, or origin of each component.
   • Find out what licenses are associated with each part and check for conflicts.
   • Collect extra information, like descriptions, changelogs, and known vulnerabilities.
3. Choose an SBOM Format
   • Pick a standardized format, like SPDX or CycloneDX, to make sure your SBOM can be easily shared and understood.
   • Decide how much detail you need, like whether to include hash values or security information.
4. Create the SBOM
   • For manual creation, keep the information in a structured document like a spreadsheet.
   • For automated creation, use tools like Software Composition Analysis (SCA) scanners to analyze the code and generate an SBOM.
   • If possible, integrate SBOM creation into your build process and CI/CD pipelines so your SBOM is always up to date.
5. Check and Update the SBOM Regularly
   • Make sure the SBOM matches the components you are actually using.
   • Update the SBOM when components change or when new vulnerabilities are discovered.
6. Use the SBOM for Security and Compliance
   • Analyze the SBOM to find and fix security or licensing problems.
   • Share the SBOM with customers and partners to build trust and prove compliance.

Creating an SBOM takes some effort at first, but it has long-term benefits like better control over components and fewer risks.

Automation and integration into existing processes can reduce costs and make sure the SBOM is always current.

A well-maintained SBOM is an important tool for keeping your software secure and compliant.

Best Practices for Creating SBOMs

• Involve all stakeholders, including developers, security teams, purchasing, and legal departments, to define requirements and responsibilities.
• Set up standardized processes for creating, verifying, approving, and sharing SBOMs, ideally automating these steps within your CI/CD pipeline.
• Use a machine-readable format like SPDX or CycloneDX for easy sharing.
• Keep SBOM data updated by syncing it with the components you actually use.
• Integrate SBOM data with other security and compliance workflows, like vulnerability management.
• Share SBOMs with customers and partners to create trust and meet their requirements.
• Train developers and other stakeholders on SBOM concepts, including licenses and vulnerabilities.

Challenges and the Future of SBOMs

Even though SBOMs are helpful, there are still challenges, such as:

• Many companies lack awareness or expertise about SBOMs.
• SBOM data can be incomplete or inconsistent because of complex supply chains and frequent changes.
• There is still a lack of standardization between different SBOM formats and tools.
• Companies have concerns about sharing SBOM data because of competition or security issues.
• Managing SBOMs for very large projects can be challenging.

However, groups like the Linux Foundation (SPDX), OWASP (CycloneDX), and NTIA (SBOM project) are continuously working to improve SBOM standards and tools.

In the future, SBOMs will become even more important, not just for traditional software, but also for IoT devices, embedded systems, and critical infrastructure where security is key.

Combining SBOM data with other areas, like vulnerability management, will help create a more complete view of a system's security and compliance throughout its life cycle.

Conclusion

Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) are essential for managing software supply chains and reducing risks.

They make it clear what components are in software and help find and fix security and compliance issues.

Even though there are challenges with creating and using SBOMs, like standardization and data handling, more companies and regulators are starting to require them.

Investing in SBOM processes and tools helps improve security and compliance, builds trust with customers and partners, and gives companies a competitive edge in the face of growing cyber threats.

A strong SBOM strategy helps companies minimize risks and enhances flexibility and innovation in software development.

By understanding and controlling software components and dependencies, companies can respond more swiftly to new needs and technologies.

SBOMs are a key part of building a secure and reliable software supply chain.