What Is an SBOM? Types, Components, Formats, and Tips [2025 Guide]

What Is a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM)?

A software bill of materials (SBOM) is a list that identifies all components within a software product. Similar to a list of ingredients for a recipe, an SBOM catalogs all software libraries, dependencies, modules, and any other components that make up a software application. 

It provides information such as version numbers, licensing information, and provenance data, enabling organizations to track what software assets they maintain. This visibility aids in recording and recognizing software assets to support security measures and compliance.

An SBOM acts as a transparency tool to help organizations understand the composition of their software. It is particularly important in a complex software development ecosystem where open-source components and third-party libraries are prevalent. By documenting every component, an SBOM helps in identifying potential vulnerabilities or non-compliant licenses.

This is part of a series of articles about open source security.

Benefits of Implementing SBOMs 

Implementing an SBOM provides organizations with advantages in managing and securing their software assets. Here are some key benefits:

• Improved security: An SBOM allows organizations to identify and address vulnerabilities in their software stack more efficiently. By providing detailed visibility into each component, teams can quickly assess whether a known vulnerability (e.g., a CVE) affects their systems and prioritize remediation.
• Improved compliance management: SBOMs include licensing information for software components, helping organizations ensure compliance with open-source and proprietary software licenses.
• Faster incident response: When a security breach occurs, an SBOM accelerates response efforts by allowing teams to pinpoint affected components and understand their dependencies.
• Better supply chain risk management: SBOMs provide transparency into third-party and open-source components, making it easier to evaluate and mitigate risks from the software supply chain.
• Operational efficiency: By documenting all software components, SBOMs enable teams to manage software updates and patches systematically.
• Increased trust and transparency: Sharing SBOMs with partners, customers, and regulators fosters trust by demonstrating a commitment to security and transparency.

How SBOMs Work

This section outlines the key steps involved in the SBOM creation process, from identifying components to generating standardized documents.

Component Identification

Creating an SBOM starts with identifying all components that make up the software. This includes first-party code, third-party libraries, dependencies, and open-source packages. Each component is cataloged with information such as its name, version, and origin.

The process often relies on tools that scan the source code, build artifacts, or runtime environments to extract a comprehensive list of components. Ensuring accuracy during this step is critical, as any missed components can lead to incomplete SBOMs and overlooked vulnerabilities.

Metadata Collection

Once components are identified, metadata about each is collected to provide additional context. This metadata typically includes licensing information, version numbers, cryptographic hashes, and known vulnerabilities (e.g., CVEs). Provenance data, which details where a component originated and how it was integrated, is also included.

Effective metadata collection helps organizations not only track compliance with licensing obligations but also assess the security posture of their software. Automation tools often simplify this step by extracting relevant data directly from software artifacts and repositories.

SBOM Generation

After gathering all necessary information, the SBOM is compiled into a structured format, such as SPDX, SWID, or CycloneDX. These formats ensure the SBOM is machine-readable and easily shareable across teams and organizations.

Tools that generate SBOMs integrate with development pipelines to automate this process. This reduces manual effort and ensures the SBOM is updated whenever the software is modified. Standardized generation methods also enhance interoperability between different tools and systems, improving usability and consistency.

Learn more in our detailed guide to SBOM generation

Common SBOM Formats and Standards

SPDX (Software Package Data Exchange)

SPDX is a recognized SBOM format that standardizes the way software components are documented. Developed by the Linux Foundation, SPDX enables the sharing of software package information across organizations and projects. Its structure ensures consistent data representation, aiding in license compliance and vulnerability management across diverse software ecosystems.

SPDX files provide details, such as component names, licensing information, and version details, ensuring transparency and traceability. The standardized approach enables interoperability among various tools and environments.

SWID (Software Identification Tagging)

SWID tags offer another method for SBOM creation, providing detailed metadata about software products installed on a system. Developed by ISO, SWID tags are machine-readable and enable automated inventory management. They offer insights into software identity, licensing, and provenance, beneficial for both asset management and security assessments.

The implementation of SWID tags improves asset visibility, enabling organizations to track software usage and licenses. This aids in vulnerability assessments by allowing for precise identification of affected components.

CycloneDX

CycloneDX is an emerging SBOM standard focusing on supply chain transparency and security. Intended for application security environments, CycloneDX emphasizes data accuracy and exchange within and across organizations. It supports automation in SBOM generation and updates, allowing for agile responses to software component changes and vulnerabilities.

CycloneDX emphasizes security, incorporating additional security metadata in its SBOM format. This helps organizations to conduct comprehensive security risk assessments and ensures ongoing monitoring of software environments.

Types of SBOM

There are several types of software bills of materials, suited to different use cases of stages of the software development lifecycle.

Design SBOM

A design SBOM is created during the initial stages of software planning. It provides an inventory of components that are intended to be included in a software product, even if those components do not yet exist. Typically derived from software architecture specifications or proposal documents, a design SBOM helps identify potential compatibility issues early in the development process, such as licensing conflicts or unsupported integrations.

This type of SBOM defines approved or recommended components for use by developers, enabling better planning and resource allocation. However, generating a design SBOM can be challenging due to limited details available at this stage. 

Source SBOM

A source SBOM is generated from the development environment, providing an overview of all source code and dependencies used to build a software product. This includes direct dependencies as well as transitive ones (dependencies of dependencies). It is typically created using software composition analysis (SCA) tools and may involve manual verification or auditing to ensure accuracy.

The source SBOM can identify potential vulnerabilities early, allowing teams to remediate issues before the software reaches the build stage. However, it may not account for runtime or dynamically linked components, as these often depend on the deployment environment. Moreover, SBOMs may contain components that aren’t used in the running application, which reduces remediation efficiency and paints an inaccurate depiction of the actual running application.

Build SBOM

A build SBOM is generated during the software build process, often as part of a CI/CD pipeline. It captures details about the compiled artifact, including intermediate builds, third-party components, and other dependencies integrated during the build. This type of SBOM provides a more accurate representation of the software as it will be delivered.

Build SBOMs are typically generated automatically, with all components added during the build process. Build SBOMs are useful for verifying that the final product matches its intended design. However, they can be limited in identifying dynamically linked or runtime dependencies. Creating these SBOMs may require modifications to the build environment.

Analyzed SBOM

An analyzed SBOM is created by analyzing software artifacts such as executables, containers, or virtual machine images. This is often used in cases where access to the source code or build process is unavailable, such as with legacy systems or third-party software. Analyzed SBOMs are generated using tools that decompose the artifacts to identify their components.

This type of SBOM can verify the accuracy of other SBOMs and uncover hidden dependencies that may not have been documented elsewhere. However, its reliance on heuristics and artifact analysis can introduce approximations or errors.

Deployed SBOM

A deployed SBOM inventories the software components installed on a system. It reflects the state of the software after deployment, often including configuration details and runtime dependencies used to support the application. Deployed SBOMs provide a more comprehensive view of the application in its operational environment.

Generating a deployed SBOM may require changes to deployment processes or additional tools to capture all necessary data. It may not fully represent runtime behavior or components that are only loaded under specific conditions. Organizations can use deployed SBOMs to manage installed software versions and assess the security of deployed systems.

Runtime SBOM

A runtime SBOM focuses on components present and active during the execution of a system. By instrumenting the running application, this type of SBOM captures dynamically loaded libraries, external connections, and other runtime behaviors. It provides insights into what the application is actually using, helping teams reduce unnecessary noise in security assessments.

This approach is particularly useful for application security management, as it ensures focus on active components and potential external risks. However, generating a runtime SBOM requires advanced instrumentation of running software.

Challenges in Adopting SBOMs

It should be noted that organizations often face several challenges when implementing a software bill of materials.

Complexity in Generation and Maintenance

Creating accurate SBOMs requires significant effort and expertise, especially for large-scale software projects with numerous dependencies. This complexity increases with frequent software updates, making it difficult to maintain current and precise SBOMs over time.

Additionally, organizations may encounter integration issues with existing systems and processes. Most traditional tools and workflows are not designed to accommodate SBOM generation and management, requiring significant adjustments.

Integration with Existing Tools

Integrating SBOMs with existing tools and workflows is vital but can be challenging. Many organizations use disparate tools for software development, security, and compliance that may not readily accept SBOM data. This mismatch can result in data silos, limiting the utility of SBOMs across different functions within an organization.

Ensuring Accuracy and Completeness

Missing or inaccurate data can lead to oversight of critical vulnerabilities or compliance issues. Compiling all necessary information requires rigorous processes and effective tools to capture the complete landscape of a software product, considering open-source, third-party, and in-house components.

Best Practices for Implementing SBOMs 

Organizations should implement the following practices to ensure the successful creation and maintenance of software bills of materials.

1. Move To Real-Time SBOM

Regular updates to SBOMs can introduce capacity and inaccuracy issues with how fast software is built and deployed – especially in today’s AI-powered software age. Technologies that are deployed at runtime provide a continuous, real-time SBOM which eliminates the need for manual curation. Further, real-time SBOMs support timely vulnerability management and compliance assessments.

2. Collaborate Across the Supply Chain

Software components often come from diverse sources, making cooperation essential to ensure comprehensive and accurate SBOM documentation. Engaging with suppliers and partners fosters transparency, enabling accurate data exchange.

Creating collaborative frameworks for SBOM sharing improves visibility into third-party risks and enables collective vulnerability management efforts. Establishing open communication channels and shared standards for SBOMs supports consistent compliance and security practices across the supply chain.

3. Educate Stakeholders on SBOM Importance

Awareness of SBOM benefits in security, compliance, and operational efficiency fosters wider acceptance and integration across teams. Training programs that highlight real-world applications and successes of SBOM usage can drive engagement and support at all organizational levels.

Stakeholder education also involves demonstrating SBOM value in risk management and decision-making processes.

4. Leverage SBOMs for Risk Management

Utilizing SBOMs for risk management improves an organization's capability to detect and respond to potential threats. By detailing software components and their origins, SBOMs allow for precise risk assessments and prioritization of vulnerabilities based on exposure and impact. This informed decision-making supports targeted and efficient mitigation strategies.

Incorporating SBOM data into broader risk management frameworks simplifies threat intelligence and response efforts. Organizations can align resources to focus on components that represent significant risks to security and compliance, optimizing protective measures.

Generating Real-Time SBOMs with Oligo

Organizations have attempted to secure their supply chains by requesting SBOMs from vendors, but SBOMs are often incomplete, give no context, and fall out of date rapidly. Oligo ensures that organizations don’t need to trust supplier SBOMs—instead, they can look directly at all the applications they build, buy, and use. By monitoring applications at runtime, organizations can see every link in the supply chain, with no blind spots (like the ones that are inherent to build-time scanners).

See how Oligo delivers a real-time SBOM today.