Understanding the HBOM Framework

Feel like you're drowning in a tsunami of hardware components?
The recent release of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) Task Force's "Hardware Bill of Materials Framework" emphasizes the growing concern over risks within the ICT supply chain. Organized and co-chaired by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), this initiative's overarching goal is to foster industry-government collaboration to address the myriad of ICT supply chain risks faced by stakeholders ranging from critical infrastructure owners to local governments. 
 
Understanding the HBOM Framework 
At its core, the HBOM Framework offers vendors a structured and consistent way to communicate with hardware component purchasers. By ensuring clarity in the components and attributes associated with any product, it paves the way for informed risk evaluations and effective mitigation strategies. 
One of the most compelling insights shared by past Task Force reports is the dual nature of risks associated with hardware components – they pose both economic and security threats. The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the need for visibility into upstream supply chain constraints, specifically those arising from over-dependence on single-source or specific regional suppliers. 
 
How Does Sepio Factor In? 
Sepio's solution is perfectly aligned with the objectives and recommendations put forth in the HBOM Framework. As the framework calls for tools to illuminate supply chains, Sepio's system scan offers an unmatched capability to discover unmanaged and rogue devices, thereby addressing one of the most pressing vulnerabilities in the hardware supply chain. 
Moreover, as organizations grapple with ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, like those that prevent the purchase of equipment made using slave labor, tools like Sepio's can play a crucial role. By providing transparency into the actual hardware components present within an organization's network, Sepio's solutions can assist in verifying the authenticity and integrity of those components. 

In an age where supply chain risks can jeopardize both economic and security landscapes, frameworks like CISA's HBOM are more crucial than ever. Leveraging tools like Sepio can not only ensure compliance but also safeguard an organization's IT infrastructure from latent threats, as recently noted by Gartner, mentioning the Sepio and Lenovo joint offering (ThinkShield Hardware Defense Powered by Sepio) which addresses the need for Zero Trust Hardware Access and continuous HBOM monitoring. As the cyber landscape evolves, so must our tools and strategies – and Sepio stands at the forefront of this endeavor.