What is Software Bill of Materials (SBOM)?

What is a software bill of materials (SBOM)?

A Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is a detailed, structured inventory of all the components that make up a software application. This includes libraries, dependencies, modules, and any other third-party or open-source packages used in the build. SBOMs are machine-readable documents, often formatted in standards like SPDX, CycloneDX, or SWID, that help stakeholders—from developers to auditors—understand what software is composed of, where it comes from, and what risks it may contain.

Why Do SBOMs Matter?

SBOMs play a critical role in modern software development and security. They enhance supply chain transparency by enabling organizations to track every software component and its origin. From a security perspective, SBOMs allow teams to quickly assess whether a product is affected by newly discovered vulnerabilities. They are also essential for compliance and governance, as they help verify licensing obligations and regulatory requirements, especially for software distributed in regulated industries. Furthermore, SBOMs streamline incident response by identifying where vulnerable components exist, reducing the time needed to patch or isolate issues.

How is this different from a vulnerability scan?

While vulnerability scans focus specifically on detecting known security flaws in software, SBOMs provide a full manifest of all components—regardless of whether they are currently vulnerable. Vulnerability scanners often rely on an existing SBOM or a similar list of components to assess risk. SBOMs are proactive: they allow organizations to prepare for future vulnerability disclosures by already knowing what software is in use. They also provide traceability and accountability, which are not core features of traditional vulnerability scans.