Every organization that builds or buys software now relies on SBOM tools to protect its supply chain.
As attacks on open-source and third-party code rise, software bills of materials (SBOMs) give teams visibility into what’s running inside their applications — making it easier to find weak spots and stay compliant as standards evolve.
They pull every dependency and vendor component into one reliable view — something developers, security teams, and compliance folks can finally agree on.
In this blog, we will cover:
An SBOM is a complete list of every component in your software — from open-source libraries to proprietary modules and third-party code — giving teams full visibility into what’s inside each application.
It includes version numbers, dependencies, and licenses so teams can see exactly what’s running in their software.
SBOM tools take the manual work out of tracking software components. They automatically build and update inventories, producing machine-readable lists that teams can use for tasks like vulnerability management and compliance.
Change monitoring: Detect when new or modified components enter the codebase.
Ultimately, it’s about alignment: everyone looking at the same data, trusting what’s in the release.
SBOMs only do their job if every tool and team can read them the same way. That’s why the software community agrees on common formats.
The two most widely adopted are SPDX (software package data exchange) and CycloneDX — each designed to help teams share component data consistently, automate security scanning, and meet compliance requirements.
Ideal for: Legal and compliance teams managing complex open-source portfolios that require deep visibility into licensing obligations.
| Feature | SPDX | CycloneDX |
| Primary focus | Licensing and compliance | Security and vulnerability management |
| Created by | Linux Foundation | OWASP Foundation |
| File formats supported | RDF, JSON, YAML, XML | JSON, XML, Protobuf |
| Use cases | License tracking, open-source audits | Vulnerability tracking, DevSecOps integration |
| Regulatory recognition | Endorsed by NIST and ISO | Widely used in commercial and government security programs |
| Best for | Legal and compliance documentation | Continuous security monitoring and automation |
SPDX and CycloneDX aren’t rivals. See them as complementary tools that tackle different parts of the same problem. Most teams use them together so they can check the compliance box and still keep up with real-time security.
Modern DevSecOps teams rely on automation and visibility to keep software secure. The good thing about SBOM tools is that they deliver both — streamlining workflows to make it easier to see what’s really happening across the codebase.
By embedding SBOM generation and analysis into the CI/CD pipeline, teams can detect risks early, ensure compliance before release, and maintain a continuous inventory of approved components.
Common integration points include:
With this integration, SBOM tools turn compliance from a manual audit task into a built-in, automated layer of software security.
As software ecosystems become more complex, choosing the right SBOM tool depends on what your organization values most — deep security visibility, license compliance, or automation within CI/CD pipelines.
Some tools are built for the big players who need nonstop vulnerability tracking. Others win points for being lightweight and easy for developers to adopt.
Below are seven leading SBOM tools that cover both open-source and enterprise needs — each with its own strengths, integrations, and use cases.
Overview: Kiuwan gives development teams a full picture of their software’s security and composition by combining SAST and SCA in one platform. With its SBOM export feature, teams can easily generate detailed, standards-compliant reports in SPDX or CycloneDX formats — perfect for meeting regulatory and customer requirements. Kiuwan fits right into existing CI/CD pipelines and offers real-time guidance for fixing vulnerabilities, so teams can move fast without sacrificing compliance.
Pros: Deep integration with development tools, automatic SBOM generation, multi-format support, and continuous vulnerability tracking across the software lifecycle.
Cons: SBOM export available only through SCA module, ensuring results remain accurate and security-focused rather than fragmented.
Overview: Anchore Syft scans container images and filesystems to create accurate SBOMs in multiple formats. It’s widely adopted for its simplicity and compatibility with modern DevOps pipelines.
Pros: Easy to use, supports multiple languages, and integrates smoothly with Grype for vulnerability scanning.
Cons: Limited analytics features compared to enterprise solutions.
Overview: FOSSA focuses on open-source license tracking and risk management, offering automated SBOM generation to ensure every dependency is accounted for.
Pros: Excellent license detection, strong compliance reporting, and developer-friendly UI.
Cons: Security analysis features are less advanced than dedicated SCA tools.
Overview: Developed by Microsoft, this tool integrates directly into GitHub workflows to automate SBOM creation during code builds.
Pros: Ideal for developers already using GitHub Actions, with fast setup and open-source transparency.
Cons: Limited to GitHub ecosystem and lacks deeper vulnerability correlation features.
Overview: Dependency-Track analyzes SBOMs to continuously monitor for new vulnerabilities and policy violations. It works seamlessly with CycloneDX files.
Pros: Strong vulnerability detection, open-source, and suitable for large-scale environments.
Cons: Requires setup and ongoing maintenance effort for best results.
Overview: SPDX Tools provide utilities for creating, validating, and consuming SBOMs in the SPDX format, making it the go-to for license auditing.
Pros: Trusted standard, detailed license support, and strong community backing.
Cons: Lacks advanced UI or analytics capabilities found in enterprise products.
Overview: Wiz’s SBOM capabilities are built into its cloud security platform, enabling organizations to map and manage software components across hybrid environments.
Pros: Excellent for large enterprises with complex cloud deployments, strong visualization and compliance tools.
Cons: Premium pricing may limit accessibility for smaller teams.
| Tool | Best for | SBOM Formats Supported | Notable Strength | Type |
| Kiuwan | All-in-one security and compliance | SPDX, CycloneDX | Integrated SAST + SCA with automated SBOM export | Enterprise |
| Anchore Syft | DevOps teams and open-source users | SPDX, CycloneDX | Lightweight, fast scanning | Open source |
| FOSSA | License management and compliance | SPDX | Deep license visibility and compliance reports | Enterprise |
| GitHub SBOM Tool | GitHub-based development teams | SPDX, CycloneDX | Native CI/CD integration | Open source |
| OWASP Dependency-Track | Security monitoring at scale | CycloneDX | Continuous vulnerability tracking | Open source |
| SPDX Tools | Legal and compliance auditing | SPDX | Global standard and strong community support | Open source |
| Wiz SBOM Generator | Enterprise cloud environments | CycloneDX | Unified cloud visibility and compliance mapping | Enterprise |
Real software security starts with seeing what’s really in your code. Kiuwan makes that easy.
Its built-in SCA module automatically creates SBOMs in SPDX and CycloneDX formats, so your team always knows which dependencies you’re using, what licenses they carry, and where vulnerabilities might hide. With Kiuwan, SBOM generation occurs naturally as part of the development process, not as a last-minute chore.
What that means for your team:
It becomes one less thing to chase down at release time, and one more reason your software ships secure.
Book your free demo today to see how Kiuwan fits into your workflow.
An SBOM tool automatically creates a software bill of materials—a detailed list of all components, dependencies, and licenses in your software. It helps teams identify vulnerabilities, track open-source usage, and ensure compliance with industry regulations.
SBOM tools increase transparency by showing exactly what’s inside your code. When new vulnerabilities are discovered, they help security teams identify and patch affected components faster, reducing risk exposure across the supply chain.
SPDX focuses on license compliance and documentation, while CycloneDX centers on vulnerability tracking and security visibility. Many organizations use both formats to meet compliance and security requirements simultaneously.
Most modern SBOM tools integrate directly into CI/CD pipelines, automatically generating SBOMs during builds or scans. This ensures security checks and compliance reporting happen continuously, not just at release time.
Yes. Executive Order 14028, NIST guidance, and other frameworks increasingly require SBOMs for federal procurement and software vendors. Many private enterprises now follow the same standards to strengthen supply chain security.
SBOM tools can scan source code, binaries, container images, and even infrastructure-as-code. Some advanced tools also support cloud-native components, APIs, and third-party integrations.
Automation saves time, eliminates manual errors, and ensures every software release includes an up-to-date inventory of components. It also helps teams maintain real-time visibility across all applications and environments.
SCA tools identify vulnerabilities in open-source dependencies and can export SBOMs directly. SAST tools complement this by analyzing proprietary code for security issues. Together, they provide a full picture of software risk.
Look for multi-format support (SPDX, CycloneDX), CI/CD integration, vulnerability correlation, license detection, export automation, and compatibility with compliance frameworks like NIST and ISO.
Start by selecting an SBOM tool that fits your environment—open-source or enterprise—and integrate it into your build process. Begin generating SBOMs for key applications first, then expand coverage as your DevSecOps processes mature.
