In a world where software powers almost everything – from apps on your phone to critical infrastructure – it’s more essential today to know what makes up the software we rely on.
A Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is like an ingredient list for software. Just as a food product has a list of ingredients to show what’s inside, an SBOM provides an itemized list of all the components inside a piece of software (like libraries, frameworks, dependencies, and modules) – it’s essential to know what makes up the software. This blog helps organizations understand what’s inside their software to improve transparency, security, and compliance.
Why does SBOM matter?
Software today isn’t written entirely from scratch. Developers rely on open-source libraries and third-party libraries to build programs faster. However, if any component has a vulnerability or an outdated version, it can introduce security risks into the software. SBOMs play a vital role by giving transparency about what’s inside the software.
Imagine buying a packaged food product: if you have allergies, you’d check the ingredient list to make sure it’s safe to eat. Similarly, SBOM helps companies and users verify if the software is secure, up-to-date, and compliant with necessary licenses.
Without knowing exactly what’s inside, it becomes harder to:
- Detect security vulnerabilities – If a library used in the software has a known issue, it may put the entire product at risk.
- Ensure compliance – Some software components come with specific licenses or usage rules.
- Track updates – Knowing what components are included makes it easier to apply patches or updates.
What goes into an SBOM?
Here’s what you typically find in an SBOM:
| Component names | The specific libraries or dependencies used in the software. |
| Version numbers | To track which versions of each components are included. |
| Licensing information | Whether the software follows licenses (like MIT or Apache) and how it can legally be used. |
| Dependencies | If the components rely on other software to function. |
| Supplier information | The source or vendor that provided the component. |
How SBOM Enhances Security and Compliance?
- Identifying Vulnerabilities:
If a security flaw is discovered in a library, the SBOM allows teams to quickly identify and fix it by tracking which version they’re using. This helps in patching vulnerabilities before they become serious risks. - Tracking Software Dependencies:
Some components rely on others to function. If one dependency has an issue, it can affect the entire software system. SBOM helps map out these relationships, ensuring smooth software operation. - Regulatory Compliance:
SBOM ensures companies follow licensing rules. For example, using software that requires attribution or limits commercial use without knowing the terms can lead to legal trouble. - Incident Response:
When an attack or breach happens, organizations can use SBOMs to isolate vulnerable parts of the software and act quickly.
Backstage – as an Internal Developer Portal
As companies grow, developers work on many different tools and services, making it hard to keep track of everything. Backstage—an internal developer portal created by Spotify—aims to solve this by centralizing all development resources in one place. Think of it as a one-stop-shop for developers, where they can find:
- Documentation for various tools and services.
- Templates for starting new projects.
- Dashboards showing the status of software builds and deployments.
Benefits of Using Backstage:
- Improves productivity: Developers spend less time searching for information.
- Standardizes processes: Ensures everyone in the organization follows best practices.
- Simplifies onboarding: New developers quickly get up to speed with access to all needed resources.
With Backstage, companies can create a smooth and efficient development environment that keeps everyone on the same page.
Who Uses SBOMs?
- Developers:
Developers use SBOMs to ensure they are using secure and compatible components in their applications. - Security Teams:
Security professionals rely on SBOMs to monitor vulnerabilities and ensure software integrity, across applications & business units within the organization(s). - Compliance Officers:
Legal teams use SBOMs to ensure the software complies with licensing requirements, avoiding licensing violations. - End Users and Customers:
Customers may request SBOMs to verify the safety and reliability of software they purchase or integrate into their systems.
Conclusion
As software systems grow increasingly complex, SBOMs play a crucial role in helping both developers and users maintain confidence in the software they build and rely on. Whether you’re a business acquiring software or a developer creating it, having insight into its components through an SBOM promotes enhanced security, reliability, and efficiency.
As we come to an end of my thoughts, an SBOM provides the transparency needed to manage software effectively in today’s complex, interconnected world. While Backstage acts as a central hub where all software resources, tools, and processes are organized – it requires the discipline, strong leadership, building a cultural of accountability, embedding Backstage into daily workflows – to fully exploit the potentials it provides. There are more areas that I can expand on this topic, and I hope to write them in future blogs in time.
Thank you for reading my nightly thoughts!
#software-supply-chain-security #developer-experience