Imagine you’re constructing a building. You’d want a detailed list of all the materials used, right? Well, that’s what a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) does for software. In a digital era, where the complexity of software is like a jigsaw puzzle with “pieces” comprised of snippets and modules of code from a plethora of sources, an SBOM is your guiding map.
The SBOM has emerged as a cornerstone of cybersecurity practices, but not all SBOMs are created equally.
The Need for SBOMs
An SBOM is essentially an ingredient list for software. It details every component, library, and module that makes up a software product. This transparency is vital; it’s like knowing what’s in the food you eat. In cybersecurity, it means understanding what’s in the software you deploy.
The need for SBOMs has surged with the proliferation of open-source software. Vivek Bhandari, VP of Product Marketing for Tanium, explained that open-source components have fueled unprecedented innovation and productivity in software development. Developers can now “pick and assemble” components, much like choosing ingredients for a recipe, integrating these into custom applications. But with this ease and flexibility comes the heightened risk of vulnerabilities sneaking into the software supply chain.
It’s important to know the “ingredients” of the applications running in your environment. That way, when a vulnerability is discovered or an active exploit is detected, you can quickly identify any affected applications and take steps to remediate or mitigate the issue.
Unfortunately, most software products today don’t share that information. “I was surprised. Less than about 20% of the organizations that produce software today in the United States actually create a software bill of materials. So, we have a long way to go in terms of this thing becoming a standard best practice among software creators,” declared Bhandari.
Importance of Real-Time Visibility
The U.S. government is doing its part to drive momentum for SBOMs. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has shone a spotlight on SBOMs, underlining their role in securing software supply chains. CISA’s guidance emphasizes the importance of SBOMs for risk management, urging organizations to adopt them to trace vulnerabilities swiftly, understand complex software dependencies, and respond to incidents with agility.
Unlike a box of cereal at the grocery store, though, the “ingredients” of a software application are dynamic. Code is changed and updated regularly, so an SBOM that is accurate one day may be wrong the next day…or the next hour.
It’s not just about the generation of SBOMs but also the continuous monitoring and updating of them. This capability is transformative; it’s like the difference between a static map and a live GPS. The real-time component cannot be overstated. It’s like having a 24/7 watchtower, ensuring that the moment a vulnerability is discovered in any component, you’re alerted.
This need for real-time monitoring is precisely where solutions like those offered by Tanium come into play, providing continuous oversight of software components.
Context, Automation and Compliance
For those dipping their toes in the SBOM waters, it’s crucial to start with a clear plan. Understand your software landscape and prioritize which products need an SBOM first. It’s a journey, not a sprint. Implementing an SBOM strategy is a step towards fortifying your cybersecurity defenses.
While having a list of the components that make up your software supply chain is better than not having one, context is also crucial. You don’t just want to know that you have a given code module—but all of the associated data as well. Vulnerabilities and exploits tend to effect specific versions, so you need to know the details of the versions in your environment, the year and date the code was released, where and how the code is used, etc.
Automation is essential. It’s impractical, bordering on impossible to try and manage or maintain an accurate SBOM through any manual process. By automating the SBOM generation and maintenance, the margin for human error diminishes, the speed of response accelerates, and organizations can scale their security practices as they grow.
Compliance is another piece of the puzzle. Your SBOM solution should align with industry standards and regulatory requirements, ensuring that you aren’t just secure, but also compliant. It’s a two-fold advantage, protecting your operations from threats and legal repercussions.
Improving Cyber Resilience
Looking ahead, the SBOM landscape is poised to evolve with advancements in AI and machine learning, potentially predicting and mitigating risks before they emerge. It’s an exciting time, with SBOMs at the forefront of the cybersecurity evolution, and companies like Tanium leveraging SBOMs for better cybersecurity resilience.
For those considering SBOMs as a strategic tool, the advice is straightforward: start now, start smart. The SBOM is not just a component of cybersecurity; it’s a strategic asset that empowers organizations to take control of their software supply chain. It’s about having clarity, control, and confidence in a digital world where these qualities are indispensable.
With an effective SBOM solution, businesses can maintain an accurate, real-time view of their software supply chain, and be prepared to take swift and effective action when issues arise.
