A software bill of materials (SBOM) is a comprehensive inventory of all software components, libraries, and dependencies used in an application. An SBOM provides transparency into the software supply chain by detailing the origins, versions, and security risks associated with each component. SBOMs are crucial for identifying and mitigating software vulnerabilities, especially when third-party or open-source components are used.
Organizations use SBOMs to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, improve security monitoring, and respond quickly to emerging threats. A range of standards and policies, such as Executive Order 14028 from the US Federal Government, advocate for SBOM adoption to enhance software supply chain security.
By maintaining an SBOM, businesses can track outdated components, detect unauthorized software modifications, and reduce the risk of supply chain attacks. Automated tools are often used to generate and analyze SBOMs, ensuring that organizations have a clear understanding of their software dependencies and associated risks.
Learn more about how Quokka’s Q-mast provides precise SBOM generation and analysis for vulnerability reporting to specific library versions, including embedded libraries.
