The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has introduced a Hardware Bill of Materials (HBOM) framework to enhance supply chain security. This framework aims to provide a consistent and standardized way for vendors to communicate information about hardware components in physical products to purchasers.
CISA believes that this structured approach to HBOMs will help organizations mitigate economic and security risks, ultimately bolstering overall resilience in supply chains.
The HBOM framework includes a comprehensive naming methodology for attributes of components, a format for identifying and sharing information about various types of components, and guidance on the appropriate HBOM information to provide based on its intended use. It is designed to be flexible, allowing purchasers and vendors to adapt it to their specific needs or use cases. The framework emphasizes the importance of capturing HBOM information at the time of sale or exchange of goods and recognizes the need for updates throughout a project’s lifecycle.
Additionally, the framework addresses the complexity of the supply chain by providing a method for describing the “nesting” of components when vendors purchase assemblies from third parties.
It also offers a taxonomy of component/input attributes, allowing organizations to include relevant information in their HBOMs based on their specific requirements. This move by CISA reflects the growing emphasis on supply chain security, mirroring similar efforts in the realm of software, such as Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) mandates introduced to mitigate supply chain attacks.
