SBOM For Your Software Supply Chain: Added Visibility or Security Risk?

The Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is an emerging tool designed to improve third-party vulnerability management and reduce risks associated with software dependencies. SBOM artifacts provide a snapshot of all package versions included within or referenced by a product, offering insight into its security posture. While they can increase transparency for customers and expedite risk assessments, their static nature limits their value in incident response. If not updated regularly, SBOMs could become outdated and less useful. Additionally, shared product documentation exposes source code architecture and potential vulnerabilities, which could be exploited by hackers. To mitigate these risks, organizations should adopt comprehensive SBOM solutions that visualize risks, assist in the triage and remediation process, and expedite mitigation efforts.