Three Proven Tactics for Continuous Software Attestation

Building Trustworthy Software in the Age of Compliance

Regulatory Momentum: SBOMs, Order 14028, and the Cyber Resilience Act

Recent mandates now require every organization to publish a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) and trace the provenance of each artifact (artifact provenance). Executive Order 14028 and the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act set these expectations as the new baseline for security assurance.

Continuous Attestation Across the SDLC

Meeting the law’s letter is only the first step. True software trustworthiness demands that every phase—from code commit to production deployment—undergo continuous attestation. Only a program that can attest to the integrity of the entire SDLC can truly secure the software supply chain.

Three Core Strategies for a Robust Attestation Program

• Automated SBOM Generation – Integrate SBOM creation into your CI/CD pipeline so that each build automatically publishes an up‑to‑date bill of materials.
• Artifact Provenance Traceability – Use cryptographic hashes, secure signing, and metadata tracking to prove that every artifact originates from a verified source.
• Lifecycle‑Wide Attestation Services – Deploy attestation engines that continuously validate code commits, build outputs, and runtime deployments against the defined trust baseline.

1. Adopt signed build artifacts as a baseline

Ensuring Authenticity in Modern Software Pipelines

b>Why signing matters — Software components must prove they originate from a trusted source. Without a digital signature, malicious code can slip through undiscovered, undermining safety and compliance.

Common pitfalls

• Builds stay unsigned in many environments, creating trust gaps.
• Signing is often treated as an optional step rather than a mandatory gate.
• Audit trails become fragmented when signatures are not linked to build context.

Strategic guidance

b>Integrate cryptographic signing into every phase of CI/CD using tools that plug effortlessly into existing build ecosystems. Key actions include:

• Enable automated code signing for each artifact.
• Associate every signature with a verified build context.
• Transform untouched binaries into verifiable assets.
• Create immutable records for auditors and customers alike.

Bottom line

Signing should no longer be an optional setting. Enforcing it as a default requirement at each pipeline stage guarantees authenticity, prevents tampering, and delivers complete auditability across the organization.

2. Automate machine-readable attestations across the SDLC

Continuous Attestation in Modern Software

Challenge: Manual Attestations

Traditional manual attestations fail to keep pace with dynamic pipelines, rapid development cycles, and persistent human error. The result is a fragmented verification process that cannot scale.

Solution: Automated Attestation Engine

Deploy an attestation framework that automatically builds machine‑readable evidence at every stage of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). The engine must:

• Generate evidence in real time during each build stage.
• Collect and verify data without introducing friction.
• Support on‑demand, large‑scale validation of any component’s integrity, origin, and build context.

Strategic Recommendation

Adopt a standard‑based attestation platform, such as in‑toto, to:

1. Capture real‑time attestations at every build step.
2. Ensure integrity verification of software components.
3. Scale verification processes—on demand, at any scale.

3. Implement policy-as-code to enforce guardrails

Attestation Systems Need Enforceable Policies

Why Technical Checks Are Insufficient

Even the most meticulous signing and attestation tools can falter when they lack enforceable policy layers. Attestation alone is not enough; guardrails must block non‑compliant code from advancing through the pipeline. This gap is a governance crisis.

Strategic Action Plan

• Adopt policy‑as‑code frameworks to gate deployments at every stage.
• Configure flexible policies that align with SLSA and SSDF standards.
• Shift organizations from passive visibility to active control.
• Guarantee that only fully attested, compliant artifacts reach production.

Bonus strategy: Centralize and visualize your supply chain intelligence

Modern Attestation Management

Challenges

• Fragmented tools make data consolidation difficult.
• Central intelligence is missing, hindering compliance tracking.
• Audit readiness becomes hard to demonstrate.

Strategic Solution

• Adopt a unified platform to handle attestations, SBOMs, policy violations, and artifact histories.
• Implement comprehensive dashboards that provide real‑time risk visibility.
• Enable forensic capabilities so CISOs and compliance leads can monitor pipelines and prove readiness.

Closing thoughts

b>Building Trust in Modern Software Supply Chains

Why Verification Matters Today

Once compliance was a reactionary measure, it has transformed into a proactive pillar for sustainable software resilience. Modern organizations depend on signed binaries, traceable origins, and automated attestations to establish confidence.

Forward‑Looking Platforms in Action

Leading solutions such as Scribe Security are gaining traction among organizations that anticipate future risks. These tools provide a practical roadmap toward continuous attestation maturity—balancing automation with accountability, and speed with assurance.

Regulatory Scrutiny and Supply‑Chain Threats

As regulatory oversight intensifies and software‑chain attacks surge, adopting a structured attestation path has become essential rather than optional.

Scribe Security: Partnering with Decision‑Makers

As a pioneer in software supply‑chain integrity, Scribe Security collaborates closely with CISOs, compliance officers, and engineering leaders to design effective attestation strategies.

Three Cornerstones for a Scalable Attestation Program

• Automated Artifact Signing – Ensuring every build is cryptographically bound and verified.
• Provenance Tracking – Maintaining a transparent chain of custody from source to deployment.
• Continuous Attestation Workflow – Allowing teams to integrate attestations seamlessly into development pipelines.