Table of contents
Communicating the Value of Your Company With SBOMs Software
SBOM software, short for Software Bill of Materials tools, provides a complete, machine-readable inventory of the third-party components and dependencies that make up your application. While its use is now prominent in critical sectors such as healthcare, finance, infrastructure, and defense, every modern software company can benefit from adopting SBOM software to increase visibility, enhance security, and prepare for regulatory scrutiny.
Although SBOMs have been around for over a decade, the demand for SBOM software has surged following events like the SolarWinds breach. Governments now require SBOMs from contractors, and corporations are not far behind. Even if your organization hasn’t yet been asked for an SBOM, chances are, that request is coming soon.
Beyond external demands, SBOM software brings internal advantages. When the next zero-day vulnerability surfaces, an up-to-date SBOM allows you to quickly identify where a vulnerable component exists in your codebase, which applications it affects, and whether remediation is necessary. SBOM software is not a complete security solution, but it is a foundational tool that provides essential insight into your software’s architecture.
Why SBOM Software Demonstrates Security Maturity
SBOM software not only improves internal visibility but also strengthens the message you send to your customers and stakeholders. Sharing an SBOM signals that your organization is transparent and proactive about managing software risks. But to ensure this message lands well, there are key principles to follow.
Secure Your Software First
Simply handing over an SBOM does not mean your company is secure. In fact, if your SBOM reveals significant unresolved vulnerabilities, it may backfire. Customers reviewing your SBOM may conclude that your security program lacks maturity and could reconsider doing business with you.
SBOM software is most effective when paired with actual remediation practices. To build a secure foundation, use software composition analysis tools that can:
- Map open source components
- Prioritize vulnerabilities for remediation
- Automatically generate and update SBOMs
These capabilities go beyond static inventories, helping you reduce security debt and back up your SBOMs with confidence.
Be Early With Your SBOM Software Program
Launching an SBOM software initiative before it’s mandatory demonstrates leadership. Being proactive not only shows commitment to security and compliance but also gives you a competitive advantage. Companies that wait until the last minute to implement SBOM tools often face higher costs, rushed deployments, and customer losses.
Even if you’re already required to maintain SBOMs due to regulations, using modern SBOM software ensures your approach is scalable, automated, and audit-ready. Implementing SBOMs early helps you meet future compliance with minimal disruption.
Pair SBOMs With Additional Documentation
While SBOM software provides transparency, SBOMs alone rarely tell the full story. When shared externally, they may highlight issues that appear serious but are ultimately benign or irrelevant without context. That’s why it’s critical to supplement your SBOM with additional information.
Some supporting materials include:
- A list of open source licenses, including any commercial licenses you’ve acquired
- A VEX (Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange) file, which provides context around whether a given vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
These companion documents give stakeholders clarity, reduce the likelihood of misinterpretation, and show that your organization actively investigates and manages risk.
SBOM Software Builds Trust and Resilience
Using SBOM software is no longer just a best practice—it’s becoming a foundational requirement. As software ecosystems grow more complex and attack surfaces expand, organizations need a way to clearly understand what’s inside their code and communicate that understanding to others.
Modern SBOM software offers:
- Machine-readable, scalable component inventories
- Continuous updates to reflect real-time changes
- Integration with vulnerability detection and remediation workflows
By implementing SBOM software, your organization strengthens security posture and earns trust from customers, partners, and regulators alike.
The Bottom Line
SBOM software is essential for any organization that wants to build secure, transparent, and resilient software products. The benefits extend well beyond compliance—SBOMs help you stay ahead of security threats, communicate your security posture confidently, and demonstrate leadership in your field.
However, an SBOM only provides value when paired with meaningful action. Secure your environment, contextualize the data you share, and ensure that your SBOM software tools reflect the maturity of your development and security practices. Done right, your SBOM becomes not just a compliance artifact, but a symbol of your commitment to doing software right.
Start building with smarter SBOMs
About the author
