Bridging the Gap: Integrating SBOM into Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM)
In an era where software supply chain attacks and third-party breaches are on the rise, organizations can no longer afford to manage their vendor risks without complete visibility into the software components they rely on. One critical advancement in strengthening Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) is the integration of a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) a detailed list of all components, libraries, and dependencies in a software product.
SBOM and TPRM form a powerful framework for organizations to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with their vendors and the software they provide.
A Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is a formal record containing the details and supply chain relationships of components used to build software. Think of it as an ingredients list for software — it outlines open-source components, version numbers, licenses, and known vulnerabilities (e.g., CVEs).
The U.S. Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity (2021) and similar regulations across the EU have emphasized the need for SBOMs to ensure transparency and accountability in software procurement and integration.
Most TPRM programs focus on evaluating vendor security posture, regulatory alignment, and contractual safeguards, but often overlook the software supply chain risk. This blind spot has led to high-profile incidents like the SolarWinds attack and Log4j vulnerability exposure.
Integrating SBOM into TPRM processes helps organizations:
1) Identify software vulnerabilities early before vendors introduce them into your environment.
2) Assess vendor security hygiene by evaluating how they manage and respond to open-source vulnerabilities.
3) Ensure license compliance and avoid legal risks from unapproved or misused components
4) Improve incident response by rapidly tracing exposure across all vendors using affected software components.
Integrating SBOM into the Third-Party Risk Management lifecycle brings deep visibility into vendors’ software components, enabling early identification of vulnerabilities and licensing risks. It strengthens due diligence by validating open-source dependencies and tracking component-level exposures during ongoing monitoring.
SBOM insights enhance vendor risk scoring and enable faster response to software supply chain threats. This integration transforms TPRM from reactive oversight into proactive software assurance.
With the growing demand for secure-by-design software and vendor transparency, organizations that adopt SBOM-driven TPRM gain a competitive edge.
Whether you’re navigating GDPR, NIS2, ISO 27001, or critical infrastructure regulations, integrating SBOM insights into vendor evaluations sets a new standard for accountability and assurance.
The convergence of SBOM and TPRM isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s a strategic imperative. As threats evolve and software supply chains grow more complex, organizations must rethink how they evaluate and trust third-party products and services.
Integrating SBOM into your TPRM framework delivers visibility, reduces risk, and helps meet evolving compliance demands—before the subsequent breach makes the headlines.