In recent years, the adoption of open-source software in development has surged, now comprising up to 90% of what's built.
There is a crucial aspect to consider when integrating open-source software components.
To make sure their software is safe, companies need to know exactly what's in it.
It is like a label for software, which lists all the parts and their relationships - like a mix of open-source pieces, third-party parts, and the company's own code.
In the U.S., software developers are increasingly adopting the Software Bill of Materials, influenced by new government information security policies that require more stringent software security measures.
A key aspect of this order, detailed in Section 4, involves formulating guidelines for secure software development and procurement practices.
The document recognizes SBOM as a crucial element for ensuring software integrity and managing risks associated with the software supply chain.
Automation Support facilitates the automatic generation of SBOMs and machine-readability to allow for scaling across the software ecosystem.
This format is widely used for documenting information about software licenses and components.
Developed by the Linux Foundation, SPDX standardizes the way organizations communicate the software components and licenses used in their products, thereby simplifying compliance.
Developed by the International Organization for Standardization, SWID tags are XML structures that provide unique identification for software products.
They help in managing software inventory and ensuring compliance with licenses.
SWID tags are particularly useful for software asset management and cybersecurity purposes.
Software license management: With an SBOM, companies can easily keep track of licenses for third-party and open-source software.
Software development lifecycle improvement: SBOM makes the whole process of creating, deploying, and maintaining software more efficient.
Developers list all the software dependencies in an initial SBOM as they write code.
The Future of SBOM. SBOM is particularly crucial for companies that supply software to government entities, notably in sectors like defense and aerospace.
While useful, SBOM is not a panacea for software supply chain and assurance challenges, as recognized by NTIA. It's one of many tools, not an all-encompassing fix.
The effectiveness of SBOMs hinges on widespread adoption, which is still in progress, with standards and requirements evolving.
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This Cyber News was published on securityboulevard.com. Publication date: Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:13:05 +0000