SBOM in Software Development - Transparency, Security, and Compliance
The Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is becoming a central element in modern software development. With increasing cyberattacks on the software supply chain, such as SolarWinds and Log4Shell, an SBOM has become indispensable. These attacks have demonstrated how easily vulnerabilities in open-source components or third-party software can be exploited. Without a precise documentation of the software components in use, companies struggle to identify affected components and respond quickly. SBOMs enable early detection of security gaps and make software supply chains more resilient to cyber threats. They provide transparency about the components used and facilitate efficient security and license management. In this article, we will discuss the key benefits and show how companies can successfully integrate SBOMs into their processes.
Why is an SBOM Important?
Transparency Over Software Components An SBOM provides a detailed overview of all software components—from open-source libraries to proprietary elements—allowing developers to quickly understand dependencies.
Enhanced Security Through Vulnerability Management SBOMs facilitate the identification of known vulnerabilities (CVEs) using security scanners such as Grype or Snyk. Companies can proactively respond and replace vulnerable components.
Ensuring License Compliance Open-source software is often subject to strict licensing conditions. An SBOM helps prevent license violations and ensures compliance with regulations such as the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) or U.S. Executive Order 14028.
Improved Risk Management in the Supply Chain Comprehensive documentation enables companies to identify and mitigate risks posed by third-party software early on.
How is an SBOM Created?
Creating an SBOM is an essential step to ensuring software supply chain transparency and security. It involves systematically recording and documenting all used software components, their versions, and dependencies. An SBOM can be generated manually or automatically using specialized tools. Typically, this process occurs during the software build phase to produce an up-to-date and complete list of all utilized components.
There are various tools for generating an SBOM, which can be divided into two main categories:
Open Source: Syft (Anchore), ScanCode Toolkit, FOSSology
Commercial: Black Duck (Synopsys), Snyk, WhiteSource (Mend), FOSSA
Each of these tools offers different functions for license analysis, CI/CD integration, and security checks.
- Syft (Anchore): A powerful open-source tool for automated SBOM creation from container images and binary files. Well-suited for DevOps environments.
- Black Duck (Synopsys): Commercial solution offering comprehensive license and security analysis, particularly beneficial for large enterprises with complex open-source compliance requirements.
- Snyk: Strong integration into DevSecOps workflows, providing real-time vulnerability analysis and automatic security checks during development.
- WhiteSource (Mend): Focuses on continuous open-source tracking and supports SPDX and CycloneDX for SBOM creation and compliance checks.
- FOSSA: Offers detailed insights into open-source licenses, enabling policy enforcement and benefiting companies with strict compliance needs.
Open-source tools like SPDX Tools and CycloneDX CLI are flexible and free but often require more manual configuration and expertise. They are suitable for teams with technical proficiency and specific requirements for license analysis or security.
Commercial solutions such as Black Duck or Snyk offer more extensive automation features, deeper integrations into enterprise workflows, and enhanced support. While open-source tools provide a cost-effective option for smaller teams, commercial solutions are ideal for organizations with complex compliance and security needs, requiring an immediately deployable, scalable solution.
Integrating an SBOM into CI/CD Processes
To utilize an SBOM efficiently, it should be seamlessly integrated into the software development process. By embedding it into CI/CD pipelines, developers can ensure that every software version is automatically analyzed and potential security risks or licensing issues are identified early.
A crucial aspect of integration is the regular generation of an SBOM during the build process. An SBOM can be created after each new code commit, ensuring an up-to-date overview of all used software components. Storing it in a central artifact repository such as JFrog Artifactory, Nexus Repository, or GitHub Packages allows teams to access historical SBOMs and track changes across software versions.
Beyond generation, analyzing the SBOM is critical. Tools like Grype or Dependency-Track can be used to identify known vulnerabilities (CVEs) in recorded components. This allows companies to fix vulnerabilities early before deploying software to production. Similarly, automated license checks can be integrated to ensure that all utilized open-source libraries comply with internal compliance policies.
Ultimately, integrating SBOMs into the CI/CD process not only improves software quality but also helps meet regulatory requirements efficiently. Companies should ensure that their SBOM processes are continuously updated to respond flexibly to new threats and changing licensing regulations.
- name: Generate SBOM
uses: anchore/sbom-action@v1
with:
image: my-app:latest
format: cyclonedx-json
SBOMs can be stored in artifact repositories like JFrog Artifactory, Nexus Repository, or GitHub Packages and scanned with security tools. These repositories enable centralized artifact management and facilitate the integration of SBOMs into automated security checks.
Conclusion
The digital world is evolving rapidly—and so are the threats to the software supply chain. An SBOM is not just a technical tool but an essential building block for sustainable security and compliance. Companies that invest early in a solid SBOM strategy benefit from increased transparency, effective vulnerability management, and regulatory security. Those who start today secure a crucial competitive advantage for tomorrow—because in modern software development, knowing what’s in your software is the key to security and success.
