The cybersecurity landscape has evolved rapidly, particularly after President Biden's Executive Order on Cybersecurity (EO 14028) in May, which has put securing software supply chains in the spotlight. The increasing focus on safeguarding the software supply chain has led businesses to seek strategies to comply with relevant requirements, such as software supply chain risk management (SSCRM) and software bills of materials (SBOMs). To help organizations make sense of SSCRM and adopt effective practices, we have identified the 12 essential elements of a successful software supply chain strategy. These elements consider the entire software lifecycle, from creation to end-user operation, and highlight the contributions of various stakeholders in maintaining supply chain security. Note that the order of these elements is not hierarchical but grouped by their interrelationships.
Group 1: Asset Inventory, SBOM, and Provenance
The first group of elements deals with asset inventory, SBOM, and software provenance. IT and operations teams are responsible for maintaining an accurate inventory of software assets and their associated dependencies, which is crucial for prompt patching and incident response. An up-to-date and complete SBOM detailing each software's dependencies is essential for impact analysis during security incidents, such as vulnerability disclosures.
Group 2: Securing Development Environments and Integrity Attestation
The second group of elements comprises securing development environments, attesting to the integrity of released software, and understanding possible quality or security issues in a software product. The application development team and their adherence to DevSecOps or secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) processes primarily drive these responsibilities. Securing the development environment is vital to guarantee the integrity and functionality of any produced artifacts.
Group 3: Regulatory and Licensing Compliance, Unexpected Functionality
The third set of elements covers regulatory and licensing noncompliance, as well as unexpected functionality contained in a software product. Both procurement and end-users downloading or using software should remain attentive to these issues. Non-compliance requires special attention, as a single attribute out of compliance can lead to severe consequences.
Group 4: Governance Policy and Reporting
The final duo of elements relates to governance policy definition and reporting. By implementing effective business controls and risk management for software supply chains, organizations can mitigate potential risks across the other elements. Usage context and risk boundaries should also factor into the approval process for suppliers, services, and libraries. Implementing a software supply chain risk management process aligned with these 12 elements can help businesses stay ahead of emerging threats and regulatory requirements. SSCRM is not limited to producing or requesting an SBOM but encompasses a comprehensive set of responsibilities and practices across stakeholders in the software lifecycle.
With AppMaster, SMBs and enterprises stand to benefit from a more accessible and efficient approach to building secure backend, web, and mobile applications. AppMaster's no-code platform minimizes technical debt, enabling rapid response to changing requirements while maintaining robust security standards. By integrating the 12 elements of suitable SSCRM into businesses' application development workflows, stakeholders can contribute to an overall secured software supply chain.
