Software supply chain management is the practice of overseeing and protecting all components, vendors, and processes involved in your software ecosystem. As organizations rely on more third-party software solutions, maintaining visibility and security across this complex network becomes increasingly challenging.
Modern supply chains involve multiple vendors, complex dependencies, and evolving security threats. Organizations need robust protective measures to ensure business continuity and maintain security across their entire software lifecycle.
At Escode, we transform these challenges into manageable processes. Our software escrow agreements and software escrow verification solutions provide the visibility, security, and control you need to protect your entire software supply chain while maintaining productive vendor relationships.
“Being proactive and placing security and resilience at the start of any development means that we can confidently explore ideas and push boundaries, safe in the knowledge that we are managing any risk associated with our software supply chain responsibly”.
Andy Ellis
Head of NatWest Ventures
Having a clear software supply chain management policy, supported by robust processes and tools, delivers crucial benefits. It helps organisations maintain visibility, control risks across multiple vendors, and ensure the reliability and security of every component within their software ecosystem.
Provides full visibility over all software components and vendors, reducing hidden risks.
Identifies vulnerabilities early to prevent disruptions before they impact operations.
Supports continuity by protecting critical and legacy systems from vendor failures.
Reduces vendor lock-in by securing access to essential software assets and documentation.
Ensures compliance by aligning with industry regulations and demonstrating resilience to stakeholders.
Enables faster response to supply chain incidents with clear recovery plans and protocols.
Strengthens security through continuous testing and validation of third-party code.
Improves collaboration between vendors and internal teams to streamline software delivery.
But even with strong policies and tools in place, one critical safeguard is essential to manage vendor-related risks effectively and maintain continuity when disruptions happen. This is where software escrow supports and strengthens your software supply chain management.
Vendor lock-in occurs when organizations become overly dependent on a single software provider, making it difficult or costly to switch vendors or modify systems. This is particularly risky with specialized software solutions that integrate deeply into business processes. Software escrow reduces this risk by ensuring you always have access to your software's source code and build materials.
Legacy systems often form the backbone of critical business operations, especially in industries like finance and manufacturing. These older systems become increasingly vulnerable when vendors stop providing critical updates and patches or support, creating significant business risk. Software escrow protects your legacy operations by guaranteeing access to original source code and documentation required to maintain and update the application independently of the vendor.
Modern software environments typically involve multiple interconnected vendors and solutions. This creates a complex web where one vendor's failure can trigger problems across the entire system, much like a chain reaction. Software escrow provides protection at critical points in your vendor network.
Industries face increasing regulatory pressure to maintain control over their software supply chains. From financial services to healthcare, regulators demand robust business continuity plans and clear software governance. Software escrow agreements and verification exercises enable businesses to comply with regulatory requirements by providing evidence of documented and tested business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
Organizations must plan for potential disruptions in their software supply chain. This includes having detailed business continuity plans for recovering from service interruptions or vendor failures. Software escrow strengthens these plans by providing guaranteed access to all materials needed for recovery and enabling businesses to test the effectiveness of plans independently of the software vendors.
Software supply chains face constant security threats, requiring regular testing and validation of third-party code. Organizations need to verify the security of software components before they enter production environments. Software escrow supports this through verification exercises and SAST, helping identify vulnerabilities in source code before they can impact your operations.
Join 14,000 customers in 135+ countries
If a vendor fails, you can take control. A Software Escrow Agreement guarantees access to the source code, data, and materials behind critical applications, enabling rapid recovery and minimal disruption. Learn more.
Having a business continuity plan isn’t enough, you need to know it works. Software Escrow Verification enables you to test your plan and provides documentation for audits, training, and compliance. Learn more.
If your vendor goes down, you don’t have to. SaaS Escrow secures code, data, configurations, credentials, and environments, so you have what you need to restore your application with minimal disruption. Learn more.
Book a call to learn how Software Escrow supports software supply chain management.
