SBOM Observer vs Dependency-Track

Explore the differences between SBOM Observer and Dependency Track to see which platform suits your SBOM management needs.

Data Model

Feature
SBOM Observer
Dependency-Track
Data Model
  • Graph
  • All imported data/SBOMs form a single graph
  • Flat
  • One SBOM per project
Operational Model
Track which applications are deployed in which environments
Supported
  • Tracks environments, services, endpoints and deployments
Partial
  • Supports CycloneDX SaaS BOMs
Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange
Supported
Supported
Vulnerability Disclosure Reports
as defined in NIST SP 800-161
Partial
  • Export
Partial
  • Export

SBOM and Other Attestations

Feature
SBOM Observer
Dependency-Track
Attestation Archive
Archive of all SBOMs uploaded to the system
Supported
  • Backed by AWS S3 for high availability
No
CycloneDX SBOM Import
Supported
  • JSON format
  • XML format
Supported
  • JSON format
  • XML format
SPDX SBOM Import
Supported
  • JSON format
  • YAML format
  • RDF/XML format
  • Tag-Value format
No
SLSA Provenance Import
Supported
No
OpenVEX Import
Supported
No
CSAF VEX Import
No
No
CycloneDX export
Supported
Supported
SPDX export
Supported
No

Dependency and Vulnerability Tracking

Feature
SBOM Observer
Dependency-Track
Dependency Analysis
Supported
Supported
Vulnerability Analysis
Supported
  • 12+ programming language ecosystems
Supported
  • <10 programming language ecosystems
Docker Container Vulnerabilities
Supported
  • 15+ OS distributions
No
Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)
Supported
Supported
Impact Analysis (Graphical Visualization)
Supported
  • Graphical Visualization
No
Try SBOM Observer live — upload a demo SBOM or explore our sandbox to see impact analysis in minutes.

Container Security

Feature
SBOM Observer
Dependency-Track
Docker Container Vulnerabilities
Supported
  • 15+ OS distributions
No
Image Layer Analysis
Attribute vulnerabilities to specific layers
Supported
No
Base Images
Identify common base images and their vulnerabilities
Supported
No
Custom Base Images
Identify custom base images and their vulnerabilities
Supported
No

Automation

Feature
SBOM Observer
Dependency-Track
Component Policies
Supported
Supported
Attestation policies
Supported
  • NTIA Minimum Elements template
No
License Compliance Policies
Supported
Supported
Visual Policy Builder
Supported
  • Possible to migrate from visual builder to code
Supported
Policy As Code
Supported
  • JavaScript
  • Rego (Open Policy Agent)
  • Access to the full data model
No

Commercial Support and Integration

Feature
SBOM Observer
Dependency-Track
Managed Solution (SaaS)
Supported
No
Open Source
No
Yes
  • OWASP Foundation
Commercial Support
Supported
No
Service Level Agreement
Supported
No
API integration
Supported
Supported
Above information is based on public information found on the official websites of the vendors at the time of writing. Notice anything incorrect? Please let us know.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Can SBOM Observer help us comply with DORA, NIS2, or EO14028?
Absolutely. Our platform aligns directly with regulatory frameworks like DORA, NIS2, CRA, and EO14028. You can start from policy templates, enforce them in your workflows, and generate audit-ready evidence — all in one place.
Can I integrate my current SCA tool with SBOM Observer?
Yes. SBOM Observer is compatible with most SCA tools and supports SBOMs in CycloneDX and SPDX formats. We ingest their output into our policy and compliance workflows.
Is SBOM Observer a scanner or a platform?
It's a platform. While we provide an open-source tool for SCA, our core value is in automating policy enforcement and proving compliance through SBOM-centric workflows.
Do you support vendor-provided SBOMs?
Yes. You can ingest SBOMs from third-party vendors, validate them against a policy, and include them in your unified compliance view — alongside your own software artifacts.
Is on-premise deployment available for SBOM Observer?
Yes. SBOM Observer supports secure on-premise installations, optionally air-gapped, for organizations with privacy, compliance, or connectivity requirements. Reach out to our to learn more.