Today’s software supply chain is as complex as a global logistics network. Applications are built from hundreds or even thousands of third-party and open-source components, bringing significant security risks with them. One tool that has become increasingly important in this context is the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). But what exactly is it, why do companies need it, and what criteria should an SBOM tool meet?

When it comes to security, lack of transparency is one of the biggest problems. In modern software environments especially, many decision-makers are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a clear overview of the components that make up their applications.

Build processes, transitive dependencies, and libraries loaded at runtime mean that traditional dependency lists or configuration files reflect only part of the picture. This is exactly where a dangerous gap emerges between assumptions and the actual attack surface.

But rising numbers of dependencies, along with indirect and dynamic components, do not have to remain hidden. The Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) has become the go-to way to maintain the visibility companies need. As a structured inventory of all software components—including libraries, versions, and dependencies—it provides transparency into what is actually contained in a piece of software.

SBOM tools help create this foundation for security, compliance, and incident response. In practice, however, not every SBOM automatically delivers the level of transparency companies expect. Many solutions focus primarily on source code and configuration files, meaning they reflect the intended state of the software rather than the software that is actually shipped. In complex build and runtime environments, this creates blind spots that can leave security teams with a false sense of security.

Anyone looking for an SBOM tool should therefore ask not only whether it generates an SBOM, but how it does so and on what basis. The following questions can help distinguish modern, efficient solutions from outdated, traditional ones. If the answer is “yes,” that is a strong sign that the SBOM tool can provide robust security value.

1. Completeness of artifacts

• Does the tool analyze the software that is actually delivered, i.e. the full software package or container image?
• Does it capture both direct and indirect dependencies?
• Are dynamically loaded components taken into account?
• Does it also consider additional artifacts such as microcode, binary firmware blobs, or AI-related blobs?
• Can the tool detect statically linked libraries?

2. Current, real-world software state

• Does identification happen on a component basis, for example through hash or fingerprint methods, rather than only declaratively?
• Can the tool detect obfuscated or renamed libraries?
• Does it inspect and analyze the final binaries?
• Does the solution go beyond simply deriving information from build or configuration files?

3. Automated vulnerability correlation

• Does the tool automatically compare findings against up-to-date CVE data sources?
• Are known exploits taken into account?
• Does it distinguish between theoretical exposure and actual exploitability?
• Are vulnerabilities clearly mapped to specific components?

4. Clear presentation of results

• Does the tool generate structured reports instead of raw data?
• Does it support risk-based prioritization of identified vulnerabilities, for example by severity, exploitability, or reach?
• Does it provide security reporting that supports decision-making?

5. Support for compliance requirements

• Are audit trails and tamper-proof reports available?
• Are the results traceable and easy to verify, for example through detailed reports rather than just SBOM generation?

6. Easy integration into existing processes

• Can the tool be integrated into existing CI/CD processes without major changes?
• Does it support policy gates that stop delivery if defined risks are detected?

Application Supply Guard, for example, is a next-generation SBOM tool designed for ease of use. After registering, users can upload the data they want analyzed. In a short time, they receive not only the SBOM analysis itself, but also a security report that includes all known vulnerabilities listed in current CVE databases and provides a comprehensive risk assessment.

SBOMs are more than a compliance tool—they are the foundation for transparent, measurable, and proactive software supply chain security management. Without them, risks remain invisible and uncontrollable. Modern SBOM tools therefore play a key role in making companies more secure and resilient.