Software escrow helps organisations reduce the risks of relying on third-party software. An escrow agent, like Escode, securely stores the source code of business-critical applications and makes it available if the software vendor is no longer able to support the product, based on pre-agreed release conditions such as:
For companies that rely on business-critical software, escrow arrangements play an important role within wider business continuity, operational resilience, stressed exit and third-party risk management programmes.
Maintaining confidence and preparing for unexpected supplier events, giving you the legal right and means to rebuild and recover critical software.
Build trust and overcome procurement concerns without compromising ownership or control of your intellectual property.
Provide tangible evidence of risk controls for managing dependency on business-critical software suppliers, and strengthen stressed exit plans.
Offering a recognised contractual mechanism for mitigating software supplier risk and addressing dependency on business-critical applications.
Protecting software value and reducing operational risk during mergers, acquisitions, investment transactions and financing activities.
Review critical software suppliers, assess dependency risks and prioritise applications where continuity planning is most important.
Book a Risk AssesmentEstablish a clear escrow agreement that defines deposit requirements, verification services and circumstances under which materials may be released.
Explore Escrow AgreementsSoftware vendors manually upload or automate deposits of source code, documentation and recovery materials through Escode's secure portal.
Explore Intelligent DepositingIndependent testing verifies that deposited source code, documentation and materials are complete, usable and can support recovery if needed.
Explore Levels of VerificationIf predefined release conditions are met, Escode follows an agreed release process to provide access to deposited materials.
Explore Release Conditions
Your technology stack may include a mix of cloud platforms, SaaS applications, AI and specialist software. When a software supplier can no longer support a critical application, whether due to insolvency, acquisition, service deterioration or other unforeseen circumstances, organisations need a clear plan to maintain continuity and manage risk.
Automated deposits and repository integrations help ensure deposited source code and supporting materials are updated alongside ongoing software development and release cycles.
Organisations remain accountable for software dependencies, and while the risks cannot be eliminated, they can be managed by establishing appropriate continuity controls and demonstrating that contingency measures are in place for critical software.
Download our guide to learn how software escrow works and why it’s essential for ensuring business continuity. Discover how Escode’s specialised solutions protect your mission-critical applications.
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Escode is built for the way you actually work now: seamless integrations with your vital tools, automatic updates as your code evolves, and clear governance that fits modern cloud, SaaS teams and on-premise.
View connects directly with popular repositories and development tools to automate version capture and deposit updates, reducing manual administration and helping ensure escrow materials reflect the latest software releases.
A deposit alone does not guarantee recoverability. Our verification services assess whether deposited source code, documentation and related materials are complete and capable of being rebuilt and redeployed. The resulting ISO 9001-aligned verification reports provide evidence of third-party risk controls for internal audits, governance processes and regulatory compliance.
Pre-agreed release conditions, supported by a structured validation process, provide certainty for enterprise customers and reassurance for software vendors that valuable intellectual property remains protected unless contractual release criteria are satisfied.
Monitor your escrow portfolio through View, our secure online platform, with personalised dashboards, market-leading security and 24/7 visibility into deposits, agreements, verification activity and changes made to deposited materials over time.
Structured onboarding and expert guidance help organisations establish escrow arrangements efficiently, with ongoing support throughout the lifecycle of the agreement.
Escode works with 14,000+ organisations across 135+ countries, supporting industries where software risk, regulation, and resilience really matter. We understand the challenges each sector faces and provide practical solutions across diverse technical environments.
Don’t leave your operational resilience to chance. Speak with our specialists to review your current third-party risk framework, evaluate your compliance requirements, and build an escrow strategy tailored to your business continuity goals.
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