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The latest updates on all SCANOSS products and topics

  • SCANOSS Platform Powers a Series of Stellar Open Source Contributions

    The beauty of the Open Source movement is truly revealed when diverse minds and talents unite to make innovations that push boundaries. And witnessing the recent contributions leveraging the SCANOSS platform, one can’t help but marvel at the collective spirit of this community.

    The VSCode Plugin

    In an age where AI-assisted coding is quickly becoming the norm, this plugin acts as a sentinel, ensuring compliance checks for developers. No longer do they have to toggle between platforms or take tedious steps to ensure that their code is compliant. With this plugin, SCANOSS brings the compliance check right to where the magic happens: the developer’s coding environment.

    Find it at: https://github.com/scanoss/vscode.extension

    The Japanese Language Contribution to SBOM Workbench

    Recognising the global footprint of open source and the need to cater to a diverse developer base, the inclusion of the Japanese language to the SBOM Workbench is a commendable contribution. It not only amplifies its reach but truly epitomises the inclusivity that the Open Source movement stands for.

    Find it at: https://github.com/scanoss/sbom-workbench/pull/601

    FOSSology Integration from version 4.3.0

    The integration of FOSSology with SCANOSS adds a layer of finesse to the open source software analysis. Particularly intriguing is its ability to detect undeclared Open Source. For example, FOSSology now detects the license of a file even when the file lacks a license header. The integration of FOSSology with SCANOSS magnifies the dedication towards rigorous license compliance and the emphasis on validating against potential plagiarism.

    Find it at: https://github.com/fossology/fossology/releases/tag/4.3.0

    The Mystery Contribution

    Whispers have it that there’s a forthcoming integration with a highly popular IDE. All eyes are on the upcoming EclipseCon event this October, where the curtains will be lifted, revealing this exciting contribution to the world.

    Witnessing these contributions, one is reminded of the ethos of Open Source – a collaborative spirit, a pursuit of excellence, and an unwavering commitment to pushing the envelope for the greater good. As SCANOSS continues to champion Open Source License Compliance, these contributions are a testament to the community’s passion, innovation, and dedication. They truly embody the essence of what makes Open Source so incredibly special.

  • Demystifying SBOMs: Why SPDX and CycloneDX Aren’t Enough

    The software industry has seen a significant shift towards greater transparency and documentation, and a prime example of this trend is the increasing use of Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs). SBOMs serve as critical inventory lists, documenting the various open-source software components used in a particular product or application. However, there’s a dangerous misconception permeating throughout the industry: the notion that merely producing an SBOM is enough, without paying due diligence to its contents.

    This approach to SBOMs is akin to a company undergoing a tax audit and feeling accomplished for presenting an Excel sheet filled with financial data, without giving any thought to the accuracy or completeness of the spreadsheet’s contents. It is important to remember that, in both cases, the document is only as good as the data it contains. An incomplete or incorrect Excel sheet will not fare well in a tax audit, and an inaccurate SBOM could lead to licensing conflicts, security risks, and potential legal issues.

    Just as there are standards for financial data presentation, there are also standard formats for SBOMs, such as SPDX (Software Package Data Exchange) and CycloneDX. However, these are simply formats – the containers in which data is presented. A well-formatted SBOM is worth little if the information within it is not thoroughly checked, verified, and accurate.

    This brings us to an important point: Not all SBOMs are created equal. An SBOM’s reliability is determined by the thoroughness of the software inventory it represents. And here is where many companies fall short. The rapid advancement of programming tools, fuelled by AI-assisted coding, has made the integration of open-source components nearly effortless, often to the point of being involuntary. This ease of use can result in the inadvertent introduction of open-source elements into a codebase without the necessary documentation, leaving SBOMs incomplete or, even worse, misleading.

    So, how can this be addressed? The answer lies in integrating a rigorous open-source code scanning process into software development workflows. This process ensures the identification of all open-source code files and snippets, regardless of their size or how deeply they are embedded or integrated.

    One of the leading solutions in this arena is SCANOSS, which provides a robust and effective mechanism for detecting all open-source code in your project. It compares your codebase against millions of open-source components to identify any matches, ensuring a complete and accurate SBOM.

    To sum up, the creation of an SBOM is not the final accomplishment but rather the first step in the journey towards responsible open-source software management. A truly effective SBOM should accurately reflect the entirety of the open-source code used, and achieving that requires a comprehensive approach that includes the use of tools like SCANOSS. Only then can we move beyond the illusion of accomplishment and towards the reality of responsible, transparent, and legal use of open-source software.

  • Challenging the Downplay of Plagiarism in AI-Generated Code 

    The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in coding has brought about a radical shift in the way software is developed. AI tools like CoPilot and ChatGPT are becoming essential contributors to the code base in many software projects. However, a significant concern that these advancements have spawned is the risk of generating code that may infringe on existing copyrights. Despite the gravity of this issue, it has been observed that some entities, notably companies providing Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools lacking the appropriate functionality, tend to downplay the issue of plagiarism validation in AI-generated code. 

    One of the common misconceptions perpetuated is that the challenge of license compliance in AI-generated code is akin to managing code fragments common to all programming or like the autocomplete feature in Google’s search engine. This comparison is fundamentally flawed. AI-generated code has been proven to duplicate intricate, unique, and copyright-protected segments of code. Therefore, managing license compliance is a more complex and graver task than handling common expressions or auto-complete suggestions. 

    Some also hold the view that the ongoing class action lawsuit against GitHub is the sole issue in this space. However, the threat of potential copyright infringement by AI tools does not hinge on a single lawsuit’s outcome. It is a pervasive issue that extends beyond any one case and demands constant vigilance and comprehensive mitigation strategies. 

    Another area of contention lies in the approach towards validating AI-generated code. Several SCA tool providers advise using tools that can only recognize complete, untouched open-source files. While this approach might serve to detect blatant violations, it overlooks a myriad of subtler transgressions. AI tools can and do generate variations of code that closely resemble open-source code, deviating by a word or two, which would evade detection by such SCA tools. Therefore, a more discerning approach that can identify copyright infringements at the granular level of code fragments is essential. 

    A narrow focus on specific AI tools, while disregarding the rest, presents a skewed picture of the landscape. Conclusions drawn on such incomplete evidence could be dangerously misleading. Any conversation or risk mitigation strategy concerning AI-generated code must incorporate the full range of AI tools contributing to the coding space, not just a selected few. 

    False positives, or erroneous alerts of copyright infringement, are often raised as a significant concern against scanning code fragments. However, it’s essential to remember that not all flagged fragments are false positives. Some indeed are genuine cases of copyright infringement. Instead of avoiding fragment or snippet scanning altogether, the focus should be on improving the accuracy of detection. 

    There is also a tendency to dismiss the copyrightability of code fragments, deeming them unworthy of attention in risk management. Such assumptions are precariously baseless and need reconsideration. Even minor fragments of code could carry copyright claims, requiring meticulous scrutiny to avoid infringement. 

    We need to understand the reality of AI-generated code. It can and does generate verbatim copies of Open Source, copyrightable code. This underlines the substantial risk posed to license compliance. We should therefore resist any attempts to downplay the issue and strive to evolve our approaches towards more effective solutions for plagiarism validation in AI-generated code. The ethical implications of AI use in software development call for robust, comprehensive, and vigilant plagiarism validation. Let us not obscure this reality with flawed logic or narrow perspectives. 

    Check out SCANOSS to learn more about staying compliant in the new landscape of AI-assisted coding. 

  • SCANOSS Announces Vulnerability Checking for SBOMs as a Free Service

    SCANOSS, a leading provider of software composition analysis (SCA) and Open Source Intelligence, has announced the release of CPE to PURL (Package URL) relations as open source. This move will allow organizations to keep track of known vulnerabilities in any of their SBOM (Software Bills of Materials) securely, anonymously and free. Security is of the utmost importance when it comes to managing software assets, and the ability to track and manage dependencies is a crucial aspect of ensuring the security and compliance of an organization’s software assets.

    CPE (Common Platform Enumeration) is a standardized naming system for IT products and platforms, including operating systems, applications, and hardware. It is important for organizations to know the CPE for each open source component they use, as it allows them to connect with the known vulnerabilities associated with that component as listed in the CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) database. By tracking and managing these dependencies, organizations can ensure that their applications are secure and compliant.

    PURLs, on the other hand, are package, unique URLs that can be used to identify and locate online resources, such as software assets. By linking CPEs to PURLs, organizations can more easily track and manage the dependencies in their software applications, as well as ensure that they are using the most up-to-date versions. This process is known as creating a SBOM, which is a complete list of the dependencies in a software application and the known vulnerabilities associated with each one.

    The release of CPE to PURL relations as open source will have several benefits for organizations. First and foremost, it will allow them to more easily track and manage the dependencies in their software applications, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and minimizing the risk of security vulnerabilities. It will also enable organizations to more easily share information about their software assets with other parties, such as suppliers and customers.

    In addition, the open source nature of CPE to PURL relations will allow organizations to customize and extend the functionality of the system to meet their specific needs. This will enable them to better meet the unique requirements of their business and ensure that they are able to fully leverage the benefits of the system.

    Overall, the release of CPE to PURL relations as open source by SCANOSS is a significant development for organizations looking to more effectively track and manage the dependencies in their software applications. It will enable them to ensure compliance with industry regulations, minimize the risk of security vulnerabilities, and more easily share information with other parties. The ability to connect CPEs to known vulnerabilities listed in the CVE database is particularly important for ensuring the security and compliance of an organization’s software assets.

    SCANOSS is the first open, configurable OSS Inventory & Intelligence platform that was built specifically for modern DevSecOps and supply chains, empowering them to deliver greater license, security, quality and provenance visibility for the broader DevOps team and supply chain partners. By freeing developers to focus on writing great, compliant code that they and their team can completely trust, applications are finished earlier, their quality is consistently higher, and development costs are dramatically lower. For more information, please visit https://scanoss.com/landing/purl2cpe.

  • Navigating the Rights of Developers in AI-Assisted Software Development 

    AI-assisted software development has brought unprecedented productivity and efficiency to the coding process. However, it has also raised concerns about the rights of developers and the compliance of AI-generated code with licensing and plagiarism regulations.  

    The Problem 

    One of the main concerns with AI-generated code is the potential for unintentional replication of existing code. While developers have always learned from copyrighted code, the use of AI introduces new complexities. The level of granularity in human language compared to source code is different, and there is a possibility that AI-generated code may produce an exact replica of input code used during its training. This raises questions about the origin and ownership of the generated code and highlights the need for thorough code reviews.

    The Solution 

    To ensure compliance with relevant licenses and regulations, developers can use a comprehensive, snippet and plagiarism detection capable Software Composition Analysis (SCA) solution. These tools can analyze source code, build files, and dependencies to detect any Open Source components and provide detailed information about their licensing and compliance status. By using SCA tools, developers can identify any potential issues with AI-generated code and ensure that it complies with relevant licenses and regulations. 

    SCANOSS

    One such SCA tool is SCANOSS, which offers a comprehensive, snippet and plagiarism detection solution for managing AI-generated code. With its advanced scanning capabilities and Open Source compliance, SCANOSS provides a robust solution for developers to effectively navigate the challenges associated with AI-assisted software development. SCANOSS goes beyond traditional static code analysis tools by specifically focusing on Open Source components, which are often critical building blocks of software projects. This makes it particularly well-suited for managing AI-generated code that may include Open Source components. 

    Another advantage of SCANOSS is that it is entirely Open Source, meaning that it is transparent and can be audited by the development community. SCANOSS has gained widespread acceptance within the Open Source community and has been validated in European courts, further attesting to its reliability and compliance with relevant regulations.  

    While tools like SCANOSS can provide technical assistance in managing AI-generated code, fostering a culture of compliance and best practices within the development community is equally crucial. Educating developers about the importance of license compliance, plagiarism prevention, and responsible use of AI in software development can help raise awareness and promote ethical practices. 

    Conclusion

    AI-assisted software development offers tremendous benefits, but it also presents challenges related to licensing, plagiarism, and security. By using comprehensive SCA tools like SCANOSS and promoting a culture of compliance and best practices, developers can effectively navigate these challenges while upholding ethical and legal standards in the field of software development. To learn more about how to help your organization navigate AI generate code, head over to SCANOSS.com 

  • Complying with Executive Order 14028: How SCANOSS Can Help Generate Complete SBOMs

    Executive Order 14028, signed by President Joe Biden on May 12, 2021, aims to strengthen the United States’ cybersecurity posture. One of its key provisions requires the generation of Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs) for software sold to the federal government. In this article, we’ll discuss how SCANOSS can help companies generate complete SBOMs, address the need to detect undeclared components in the era of AI-assisted coding, and differentiate from SBOM generating tools that only detect declared dependencies.

    The Importance of Complete SBOMs in Compliance with Executive Order 14028

    A comprehensive SBOM is crucial for ensuring the security and compliance of software products. SBOMs provide an inventory of all software components, including open-source libraries and dependencies, used within a software product. This transparency enables organizations to identify and manage potential security vulnerabilities, licensing issues, and other risks associated with third-party code.

    However, not all SBOM generating tools are equal. Many tools only detect declared dependencies, potentially missing critical components and files that might introduce security and compliance risks. This is where SCANOSS comes into play, offering a more comprehensive solution for generating SBOMs that include both declared and undeclared components.

    SCANOSS: A Comprehensive Solution for SBOM Generation

    SCANOSS is an affordable, open OSS Inventory & Intelligence platform designed to help organizations generate complete SBOMs by detecting both declared and undeclared components. This comprehensive approach is particularly important given the increasing adoption of AI-assisted coding tools, which can introduce compliance risks if not properly managed.

    AI-assisted coding tools can inadvertently incorporate third-party code fragments without proper attribution, potentially violating licensing requirements or introducing security vulnerabilities. SCANOSS addresses this challenge by comparing code fingerprints against the largest knowledgebase of open source to detect undeclared components, files, and even snippets.

    SCANOSS supports ingestion and generation of both SPDX and CycloneDX specifications, ensuring compatibility with widely accepted SBOM formats. Organizations can use SCANOSS to generate SBOMs through the user interface called Audit Workbench or via the command-line interface (CLI) for easy automation from other systems.

    Conclusion

    In the era of evolving cybersecurity threats and increasing regulatory requirements, organizations need comprehensive tools to help them generate complete SBOMs and maintain compliance. SCANOSS offers a robust solution that goes beyond merely detecting declared dependencies, ensuring that even undeclared components, files, and snippets are identified and accounted for. By leveraging SCANOSS, organizations can confidently comply with the provisions of Executive Order 14028 and mitigate security and compliance risks associated with their software products.

    To see how you too can generate a complete SBOM, head to SCANOSS.com.

  • Demystifying SBOMs: Composition, Specifications, and SCANOSS’s Comprehensive Detection Capabilities

    In today’s world of software development, managing and understanding the composition of software applications is crucial for security, compliance, and efficient development processes. A Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is a critical tool that provides detailed information about the components used in a software application, enabling developers and organizations to have a clear understanding of the open source software (OSS) used in their products. In this article, we will explore the composition of an SBOM, discuss the SPDX and CycloneDX specifications, and delve into how SCANOSS can help organizations enhance their SBOMs with comprehensive detection capabilities.

    SBOM Composition

    An SBOM contains detailed information about the components used in a software application, including their names, versions, licenses, and associated metadata. It provides a comprehensive list of both direct and indirect dependencies, enabling organizations to track the provenance of OSS components and assess potential security, legal, and compliance risks. By maintaining an accurate and up-to-date SBOM, organizations can proactively address potential vulnerabilities, ensure compliance with licensing requirements, and streamline their software supply chain management.

    SPDX and CycloneDX Specifications

    Two widely used specifications for SBOMs are the Software Package Data Exchange (SPDX) and CycloneDX. Both specifications aim to standardize the way SBOM data is represented, making it easier for organizations to exchange and process SBOM information.

    The SPDX specification is an open standard created by the Linux Foundation, providing a uniform format for sharing software package metadata. It covers various aspects of software licensing, including licenses, copyrights, and security vulnerabilities. SPDX helps organizations automate the generation, exchange, and processing of SBOMs, facilitating compliance and reducing the risks associated with OSS usage.

    CycloneDX, on the other hand, is a lightweight specification focused on providing a minimal and extensible SBOM format. It is designed to meet the unique needs of modern software supply chain security, enabling organizations to share and consume SBOM information more efficiently. CycloneDX emphasizes security, enabling developers to quickly identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities in their software applications.

    SCANOSS and Comprehensive Detection Capabilities

    SCANOSS is an innovative OSS Inventory & Intelligence platform designed to help organizations generate and maintain accurate SBOMs, offering comprehensive detection capabilities for both declared and undeclared dependencies. With its unique ability to detect undeclared components, files, and snippets by comparing code fingerprints against the largest knowledgebase of open source, SCANOSS empowers organizations to gain a complete understanding of their software composition.

    Supporting both SPDX and CycloneDX specifications, SCANOSS allows organizations to seamlessly ingest and generate SBOMs in their preferred format. This flexibility ensures that organizations can easily exchange and process SBOM information, streamlining their software supply chain management processes.

    SCANOSS offers an intuitive user interface called Audit Workbench, which enables developers to generate SBOMs with ease. Additionally, the platform provides a Command Line Interface (CLI) for easy automation from other systems, allowing organizations to integrate SBOM generation into their existing workflows.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, understanding the composition of an SBOM is crucial for effective software supply chain management, security, and compliance. By leveraging the SPDX and CycloneDX specifications and harnessing the power of SCANOSS’s comprehensive detection capabilities, organizations can gain a 360-degree view of their software components and mitigate potential risks more effectively. With SCANOSS, developers can confidently produce secure and compliant code, ensuring that their applications are finished earlier, of higher quality, and with lower development costs.

    If you too would like to gain a 360-degree view of your software components, take a look at SCANOSS.com.

  • SBOM Essentials: Enhancing Security and Compliance with SCANOSS

    Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs) have become increasingly important in today’s world of software development, where open source software (OSS) components are extensively used. SBOMs provide vital information about the OSS components used in an application, making them crucial for effective software composition analysis (SCA), license compliance, and security management. In this article, we will discuss what SBOMs are, why they are important, and how SCANOSS can help improve the accuracy and effectiveness of SBOMs by detecting both declared and undeclared components.

    What is a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM)?

    A Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is a comprehensive inventory of all OSS components used in a software application, including their versions, licenses, and dependencies. It serves as a “recipe” for an application, providing an overview of all the ingredients, allowing developers and organizations to have better visibility and control over their software supply chain.

    Why are SBOMs Important?

    • License Compliance: SBOMs help organizations ensure that they comply with the licensing requirements of the OSS components they use. Violating license terms can lead to legal and financial consequences, making it crucial to have accurate information about the licenses associated with each component.
    • Security Management: With the increasing number of cybersecurity threats, organizations need to be aware of the potential vulnerabilities in their software supply chain. SBOMs provide information on the OSS components used in an application, allowing organizations to identify and manage any known vulnerabilities.
    • Improved Collaboration: SBOMs can facilitate collaboration between development teams and their supply chain partners by providing a clear understanding of the OSS components used in a project. This information enables better communication and coordination when addressing security, license, or other issues related to OSS components.
    • Regulatory Compliance: In response to growing concerns about software supply chain security, governments and industry groups are increasingly mandating the use of SBOMs. Accurate and comprehensive SBOMs can help organizations meet these regulatory requirements.

    How SCANOSS Can Help: Detecting Declared and Undeclared Components

    SCANOSS is the first affordable OSS Inventory & Intelligence platform built for modern DevSecOps and supply chains. It delivers 360° visibility and control over OSS security, license, and export risks by creating and maintaining accurate SBOMs. SCANOSS goes a step further by identifying both declared and undeclared OSS components.

    Declared components are those explicitly listed in the source code, while undeclared components are those used but not listed. SCANOSS utilizes advanced techniques to identify these undeclared components, providing a more comprehensive view of the software supply chain and reducing the risk of OSS vulnerabilities going undetected.

    By detecting both declared and undeclared components, SCANOSS helps organizations create a more accurate and complete SBOM. This information enables them to better manage license compliance, address security vulnerabilities, improve collaboration, and meet regulatory requirements.

    Conclusion

    The rising importance of SBOMs in software development highlights the need for accurate and comprehensive information about OSS components used in applications. SCANOSS offers a powerful solution that empowers DevSecOps teams and their supply chain partners to confidently produce secure and compliant code while delivering greater license, security, quality, and provenance visibility. By detecting both declared and undeclared components, SCANOSS enables organizations to create more accurate SBOMs, allowing them to better manage their software supply chain and address the growing challenges of license compliance, security, and regulatory requirements. Head over to SCANOSS.com to learn how you can produce a complete an accurate SBOM… For free!

  • The Power of Visibility: Managing Open Source with Complete SBOMs and SCANOSS 

    Introduction

    As software development continues to rely heavily on open source components, establishing an effective open source management strategy becomes essential for organizations. A crucial part of this strategy involves generating comprehensive Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs). In this article, we will explore the importance of SBOMs, how SCANOSS can help detect both declared and undeclared components, and how the concept of “you cannot manage what you cannot see” illustrates the need for complete visibility in managing open source components. 

    The Importance of SBOMs in Open Source Management 

    An SBOM is an inventory of all software components used within a product, including open source libraries and dependencies. It enables organizations to gain visibility into their software composition, identify and manage potential security vulnerabilities, licensing issues, and other risks associated with third-party code. The phrase “you cannot manage what you cannot see” highlights the importance of SBOMs in managing open source components effectively. 

    Executive Order 14028, signed by President Joe Biden, emphasizes the need for generating SBOMs in the context of strengthening national cybersecurity. Compliance with this order further underlines the necessity for organizations to have a thorough understanding of their software composition. 

    SCANOSS: Enhancing SBOMs and Open Source Management

    SCANOSS is a comprehensive OSS Inventory & Intelligence platform designed to help organizations generate complete SBOMs, detecting both declared and undeclared components. This ability to identify undeclared components is vital, as traditional SBOM generating tools only detect declared dependencies, potentially leaving companies exposed to security and compliance risks. 

    The increasing adoption of AI-assisted coding tools introduces additional compliance risks, as these tools can inadvertently incorporate third-party code fragments without proper attribution. SCANOSS addresses this challenge by comparing code fingerprints against its vast knowledgebase of open source, detecting undeclared components, files, and even snippets. 

    SCANOSS supports ingestion and generation of both SPDX and CycloneDX specifications, ensuring compatibility with widely accepted SBOM formats. Organizations can use SCANOSS to generate SBOMs through the user interface called Audit Workbench or via the command-line interface (CLI) for easy automation from other systems. 

    Conclusion

    In today’s software landscape, visibility is crucial for managing open source components effectively. Organizations need comprehensive tools like SCANOSS to generate complete SBOMs and maintain a strong open source management strategy. By embracing the concept of “you cannot manage what you cannot see,” organizations can gain full visibility into their software composition, comply with regulations like Executive Order 14028, and mitigate security and compliance risks associated with their software products. To produce your own complete and accurate SBOM and gain 360-degree visibility on your open source, visit SCANOSS.com now.

  • Five SBOM Challenges in Embedded Development 

    Introduction

    The development of embedded systems has become increasingly complex, with a wide range of hardware and software components coming from different sources. The use of third-party software and components can increase development efficiency but also introduces new challenges such as supply chain risks, compliance issues, and security threats. In this context, Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs) are essential to identify and manage these risks, but they also present significant challenges in the embedded development process. This post explores five reasons why SBOMs are a challenge in embedded development and how SCANOSS can help. 

    Lack of visibility 

    Embedded systems are composed of a multitude of components, including hardware and software, with each component having its own dependencies. The lack of visibility into these dependencies can make it difficult to identify and track all the components, making it challenging to create accurate SBOMs. Without a comprehensive understanding of the system’s components, it is impossible to accurately assess risks and ensure compliance. SCANOSS provides a comprehensive overview of all the components used in the system, including their dependencies, licenses, and vulnerabilities, giving developers a complete view of their system’s components. 

    Manual processes 

    Creating an SBOM can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, requiring manual verification of each component used in the system. This manual process can lead to errors, omissions, and inconsistencies, making it challenging to maintain an accurate and up-to-date SBOM. SCANOSS automates the process of creating an SBOM, using AI algorithms to identify and verify all the components used in the system, reducing the time and effort required to create and maintain an SBOM. 

    Lack of standardisation 

    Embedded programming languages lack standardised dependency management, which makes it challenging to identify and track all the components used in the system. This lack of standardisation can lead to confusion, making it difficult to share and compare SBOMs across different organisations. SCANOSS supports multiple SBOM formats, including SPDX, CycloneDX, and SWID tags, making it easy to share and compare SBOMs across different organisations. 

    Supply chain risks 

    The use of third-party software and components in embedded systems introduces new risks, such as supply chain risks, where a single vulnerability in a component can have far-reaching consequences. Identifying and managing these risks requires a detailed understanding of the system’s components and their dependencies. SCANOSS provides detailed information on the vulnerabilities and dependencies of each component, allowing developers to quickly identify and mitigate supply chain risks. 

    Compliance issues 

    The adoption of AI-assisted coding introduces new risks in terms of compliance. While AI-assisted coding can increase development efficiency and reduce the likelihood of errors, it can also generate code that may not comply with legal or regulatory requirements. This is particularly true in safety-critical applications, where compliance with standards such as DO-178C, ISO 26262, or IEC 61508 is essential. When using AI-assisted coding, it is important to ensure that the generated code is checked for compliance, just like any other code. This means that an accurate and up-to-date SBOM is needed to identify and manage the components used in the AI-assisted coding process. Additionally, any AI algorithms used in the coding process must be thoroughly tested and validated to ensure that they produce compliant code. SCANOSS can help address these risks by providing comprehensive information on the components used in the AI-assisted coding process, including any third-party libraries or frameworks. This information can then be used to create an accurate and up-to-date SBOM, which can be used to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. 

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, the development of embedded systems has become increasingly complex, with a multitude of components and dependencies coming from various sources. Creating and maintaining accurate and up-to-date SBOMs is essential to ensure compliance, manage supply chain risks, and mitigate security threats. However, the challenges associated with SBOMs can be significant, including lack of visibility, manual processes, lack of standardization, supply chain risks, and compliance issues, including those introduced by the adoption of AI-assisted coding. Fortunately, Scanoss can help address these challenges by providing comprehensive information on system components, automating SBOM creation, supporting multiple formats, identifying and mitigating supply chain risks, and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. With SCANOSS, developers can confidently manage risks in embedded systems, ensuring the security, compliance, and reliability of their products. To see how you too can avoid these development challenges within the embedded space, head to SCANOSS.com now!