01
Algorithm metadata
Algorithm family, key length, purpose, protocol context, validity window, and ownership.
Cryptography · Inventory
A CBOM is how cryptographic work stops being guesswork.
A Cryptographic Bill of Materials, or CBOM, is a structured inventory of the algorithms, keys, certificates, libraries, and cryptographic dependencies running across an enterprise estate. It turns invisible cryptographic sprawl into something teams can analyze and act on.
Without a CBOM, cryptographic posture, PQC migration, and regulator-facing evidence are mostly inference and manual sampling. With one, teams can locate weak algorithms, map exposure, prioritize remediation, and measure change over time.
Live
inventory posture
Continuously refreshed rather than sampled
Context-rich
asset model
Algorithm, owner, usage, dependency, and exposure
Foundational
program impact
Supports risk, migration, and evidence work
01 · What a strong CBOM should include
02
Exposure context
Where the asset is used, whether it is external-facing, and which business services depend on it.
03
Dependency relationships
Connections to applications, libraries, certificates, PKI chains, devices, and suppliers.
02 · What teams can do once CBOM exists
Risk scoring
Identify weak or aging cryptographic assets and rank them by business impact and external exposure.
Migration planning
Group assets into dependency-safe PQC waves rather than broad replacement campaigns.
Supplier review
Challenge third-party cryptographic posture with a more exact record than questionnaire-only responses.
Evidence production
Show auditors and customers which algorithms are present, where exceptions remain, and how posture is changing.
03 · Common failure modes without CBOM
Teams rely on architecture diagrams that were never meant to reflect cryptographic reality.
Migration sequencing is driven by ownership guesses rather than dependency evidence.
Audit answers come from spreadsheets and spot checks instead of a system of record.
Supplier cryptography remains opaque until a deadline forces emergency review.
FAQ
Questions teams ask before investing in CBOM programs
01
Is a CBOM just a list of libraries?
No. A useful CBOM includes algorithms, certificates, keys, protocol context, business ownership, dependency relationships, and exposure, not just software-component names.
02
Why is CBOM different from a CMDB or asset inventory?
Because it is purpose-built for cryptographic decision-making. It captures the cryptographic attributes and dependency context that generic asset systems rarely model well.
03
Can CBOM help outside PQC migration?
Yes. It also improves cryptographic posture management, third-party reviews, control evidence, and response to newly deprecated algorithms or libraries.
Want a live CBOM, not a spreadsheet exercise?
Quanterios discovers cryptographic assets continuously and turns that inventory into posture, migration, and evidence workflows.