9 Practical Uses for Software Bill of Materials

With regulatory developments like the EU Cyber Resilience Act (EU CRA), Executive Order 14028, the FDA's Final Cybersecurity Guidance, and the Cyber Trust Mark certification, the days of asking, what is an SBOM?, appear relegated, for good, to the rear-view mirror in the ever-evolving landscape of software development and cybersecurity.

But, beyond complying with the software security environment of today (and tomorrow), what are some other value-add use cases for the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) as a cybersecurity tool? 

Read on for 10 practical uses for SBOMs that highlight their versatility, and necessity!, in modern software development and testing:

1. Enhancing Software Transparency

An SBOM provides a clear, comprehensive view of the software components within a device, including open-source and proprietary elements. This transparency is important in understanding the software’s structure, dependencies, and potential vulnerabilities.

2. Improving Vulnerability Management

By listing all components, an SBOM allows security teams to quickly identify if their software is impacted by newly discovered vulnerabilities. This rapid assessment helps in prioritizing and remediating issues more effectively.

3. Streamlining Audits

Auditors require detailed information about software and its components. An SBOM provides a ready-made list that can simplify the audit process, making it less time-consuming and more accurate.

4. Enhancing Patch Management

SBOMs make it easier to track which versions of components are used in your software. This helps in ensuring that all parts of the software are up-to-date and that patches are applied where necessary.

5. Supporting Software Supply Chain Risk Management

As software supply chains become more complex, managing risk requires visibility into every component used in the software. SBOMs help identify risks by providing insights into the supply chain, including the security practices of third-party suppliers.

6. Facilitating Software Updates and Maintenance

Maintaining software over time can be challenging without a clear understanding of its composition. SBOMs help developers and maintainers understand what needs to be updated, thus aiding in efficient maintenance and support.

7. Enhancing License Management

An SBOM includes detailed licensing information for each component, which is critical for compliance with open-source licenses. This helps organizations avoid legal issues related to software licensing.

8. Improving Product Security Posture

Organizations can use SBOMs to perform security reviews and risk assessments more effectively. This proactive approach can significantly enhance the security posture of the product.

9. Enabling Better Decision-Making in Software Acquisition

When acquiring software, SBOMs provide valuable insights into the components and their security status, helping decision-makers choose software that aligns with their security standards and business needs.

Unique Differentiators of Finite State Next Generation SBOMs

SBOM Comprehensiveness & Accuracy

Question: In an increasingly crowded marketplace, what makes Finite State's SBOMs unique?

Answer: Finite State stands out in the SBOM landscape through its unique approach to generating SBOMs, leveraging best-in-class binary Software Composition Analysis (SCA).

This binary SCA forms the cornerstone of the Finite State Next Generation Platform, particularly excelling in the analysis of connected devices' firmware. By delving deep into every component with precision, this approach is invaluable for embedded device manufacturers, offering an unmatched level of granularity and continuous visibility.

This level of detail is critical in identifying hidden vulnerabilities and gaining a thorough understanding of the software’s makeup—essential in the complex realm of today's connected devices.

Finite State's binary SCA can see into many types of embedded systems, including those with monolithic and statically-linked binaries. It employs sophisticated binary feature analyses, such as control flow graphs, symbols, and function names, to ensure the detection and identification of software components are both precise and accurate.

Advanced SBOM Management Features

Beyond generating SBOMs, the Finite State Next Generation Platform also excels in helping you manage your SBOMs.

Finite State's platform is designed not just to create SBOMs but to manage them actively through comprehensive, timely, and automated processes.

The Next Generation Platform continuously monitors over 200 sources to identify new or evolving vulnerabilities, promptly alerting users to any potential exposure in their SBOMs. This proactive monitoring is paired with seamless document generation and export capabilities, supporting formats like SPDX, CycloneDX, VEX, and VDR—making it easy to share critical information with regulators, customers, or suppliers.

Additionally, the platform offers automated vulnerability correlation and reporting, which is a must for addressing exploited and zero-day vulnerabilities effectively.

With these tools, Finite State empowers organizations to maintain an overarching view of their portfolio’s components and dependencies, providing unparalleled insights into the supply chain through comprehensive SBOM management that facilitates informed decision-making and strategic responses to emerging security challenges.

See the Next Generation Platform in action today!