As software supply chain risks rise, regulatory authorities are increasingly requiring organizations to adopt software bills of materials (SBOMs) for security and compliance.
With open source components being a significant part of modern software, tracking and monitoring these components is crucial for mitigating vulnerabilities and ensuring compliance.
SBOMs offer a structured, transparent way to manage these components, making them essential for organizations.
Regulatory drivers for SBOM adoption
U.S. agencies like the FDA and FERC, along with European bodies like ENISA, are mandating SBOMs for organizations working with government agencies. This is to ensure greater visibility into software components and dependencies, reducing security risks.
For example, in response to the Log4Shell vulnerability in 2021, organizations used SBOMs to quickly identify and mitigate risks by mapping vulnerable software components. This speed is crucial to minimizing the impact of such incidents.
Enhancing security with SBOMs
SBOMs help organizations:
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Track vulnerabilities by identifying and prioritizing remediation of risky components.
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Ensure compliance by offering transparency into software's origins and vulnerabilities.
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Monitor threats in real-time, assessing security risks before and after deployment.
In regulated industries, this visibility is vital for meeting evolving compliance standards.
SBOMs and compliance
Automatically generating SBOMs during the software build process ensures organizations maintain up-to-date records of all components.
This is critical for industries like healthcare, energy, and finance, where compliance violations carry serious consequences.
SBOMs also help:
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Demonstrate due diligence to regulators.
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Prepare for audits with clear documentation.
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Reduce response times to vulnerabilities by quickly identifying affected components.
Reducing software supply chain risk
As supply chain threats grow, SBOMs provide visibility, enforce compliance, and ensure security is built into the development process.
To learn how SBOMs can enhance your security and compliance strategy, download the full "Innovation Insight for SBOMs" research report from Gartner.
