When a questionnaire asks about SBOMs, answer with four facts: whether you generate them, in which format, how often and for which artifacts, and how a customer can get one. Then separate the SBOM from any promise about vulnerabilities, which is a different claim.
Typical questions
Expect variations of: Do you produce an SBOM for your software? Can you provide it to customers? Do you monitor components for vulnerabilities? Do you track licenses? Each is its own answer.
Facts to establish first
Before writing, check what actually happens in your pipeline.
- Do you generate SBOMs at build time? Build time generation usually reflects what shipped better than a scan of source.
- Which format? Commonly CycloneDX or SPDX. Name the one you use and the version if you know it.
- Which artifacts? Each service, container image, desktop or mobile app? Say which are covered and which are not.
- How often? Per release, nightly, or on demand.
- Where do they live? Stored with the release, or generated when asked.
A sample answer
"We generate an SBOM at build time for each released container image and application package in CycloneDX format. SBOMs are stored with the release artifacts. We can share the SBOM for the version a customer runs on request under NDA. Services in development are not yet covered."
The last sentence matters. It is true, and it prevents a reviewer finding the gap later.
Do not merge SBOM and vulnerability claims
An SBOM lists components. It does not say they are safe. Answer vulnerability monitoring separately: how you match components against advisories, how you decide what is exploitable, and what timelines you target for fixes. See answering vulnerability SLA questions.
Sharing policy
Decide whether you will hand out SBOMs openly, under NDA or only for contracted customers. Component lists can reveal internal libraries, so many vendors share under NDA. Write the policy down so every answer matches.
Quality over presence
A reviewer who opens your SBOM will see whether it has versions, identifiers and a timestamp. An SBOM with names only is of limited use. Check yours before you offer it.
Where tooling helps
Safeguard generates and analyzes SBOMs and runs dependency scanning, which can supply both the file and the evidence behind the answer.
Quick check
Do we need a VEX document too?
Not for most questionnaires. Offer one only if you can maintain it, since a stale VEX statement is worse than none.
Is a source repository scan an SBOM?
It can produce one, but it may differ from what shipped. Say how yours is produced.
Last reviewed: 19 October 2026.
