Paul McCarty -- The Burrito Analogy of the Software Supply Chain

The Application Security Podcast

"Visualizing the Software Supply Chain" is a project which aims to kick off a discussion about the scope and breadth of the software supply chain.

Paul McCarty emphasizes the importance of understanding what's in the software supply chain to secure it effectively. He uses the burrito analogy, stating that you can't decide if you want to eat it if you don't know what's in it. We discuss the nuances around the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) and the importance of understanding the differences between various SBOMs, especially for companies that deploy frequently.

The conversation also covers third-party components, such as APIs, SaaS solutions, payment gateways, and identity providers, which are part of the software supply chain. Paul gives the example of Stripe, a payment platform that includes software components and SaaS.

Paul's project helps people understand the different threats associated with each category in the software supply chain. The episode concludes with a call to action for organizations to prioritize understanding their software supply chain and leveraging automation as much as possible.

Gain valuable insights into securing the software supply chain and consider guidance on actionable steps organizations can take to enhance their security.
Four key takeaways from the episode:

1. Understanding the Software Supply Chain: Paul McCarty emphasizes the importance of understanding the scope and breadth of the software supply chain. He suggests you can't secure or have a valuable conversation about the software supply chain if you don't know what's in it.
2. The Role of Third-Party Components: Third-party components in the software supply chain are crucial. These can include APIs, SaaS solutions, payment gateways, and identity providers. Paul uses Stripe as an example to illustrate this point.
3. The Nuances of the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM): SBOM has nuance. We highlight the importance of understanding the differences between various SBOMs, especially for companies that deploy frequently.
4. Threat Thinking in the Software Supply Chain: We appreciate the depth of threat thinking in Paul's project. This approach helps people understand the different threats associated with each category in the software supply chain.

Links:

• https://github.com/SecureStackCo/visualizing-software-supply-chain
• https://github.com/6mile/DevSecOps-Playbook

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