2 February, 2026
Supply Chain Security in the Cloud: A Customer Perspective
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Sectors
Escrow for the Energy industry
Assurance for critical energy supply at all times
Introduction
The energy supply depends on continuously available digital systems and reliable data.
Energy supply depends on continuously available digital systems and reliable data. In a sector that operates under strict supervision by the Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) — acting as the watchdog for security of supply, fair market practices, and consumer protection — digital continuity is not optional, but mandatory. Grid operators, energy suppliers, and producers must demonstrably maintain control over their critical IT systems and supply chain dependencies.
The energy sector relies heavily on software to manage generation, transmission, and distribution of energy. SCADA, EMS/DMS, market communication, and metering systems form the backbone of a stable and secure energy infrastructure. If a software vendor fails or a business-critical application becomes unavailable, grid stability, security of supply, and regulatory compliance can be immediately at risk. In a regulated environment where the ACM oversees continuity obligations and duty of care, such risks are unacceptable.
Escrow enables energy organizations to fulfill this responsibility in a concrete and verifiable way. By securely and independently safeguarding source code, data, configurations, and documentation, organizations retain access to critical systems — even in cases of bankruptcy, contractual breach, or prolonged vendor disruption. In doing so, escrow not only strengthens operational resilience, but also supports governance, auditability, and regulatory oversight. For energy companies operating under ACM supervision, escrow serves as a practical instrument to structurally safeguard security of supply and digital control.
Energy
Escrow in the energy industry
1) Critical energy systems as the backbone
From grid monitoring and outage management to market communication and metering data the energy value chain depends on IT systems.
With Software Escrow you secure source code configurations and technical documentation for systems such as SCADA DMS EMS and market applications.
With Data Escrow you ensure continued access to metering data asset data grid models and market reporting including data models and export procedures.
With SaaS Escrow organizations retain guaranteed access to vital cloud services and underlying data ensuring operational continuity even in the event of supplier failure.
2) Supply reliability and business continuity
In the event of incidents cyber threats or supplier insolvency swift action is required. Escrow enables controlled release so that internal teams or trusted third parties can take over maintenance and operations. This minimizes risks to grid stability outage recovery and customer service.
Release conditions are carefully aligned with the operational risks and continuity requirements specific to the energy sector.
3) Intellectual property protection and sector specific customization
Energy organizations often rely on customized solutions for grid modeling integrations with market parties IoT and OT environments and optimization algorithms. Escrow guarantees access to this customization without compromising the intellectual property rights of suppliers.
At the same time escrow clearly defines what is required to safely continue operations including version control deployment procedures test scenarios and environment dependencies.
4) Regulatory compliance NIS2 GDPR IEC 62443 ISO 27001
Escrow supports demonstrable measures for information security and operational resilience. This includes recovery procedures audit trail documentation and risk management across the supply chain. Verification reports support audits regulatory oversight and executive accountability.
For energy companies subject to NIS2 requirements escrow is a concrete control mechanism to strengthen digital resilience.
5) What we safeguard
Source code configurations and architecture documentation
Grid models metering data structures and data migration procedures
Integrations with SCADA OT market platforms and external ecosystem partners
Installation upgrade and recovery manuals
Runbooks for emergency scenarios RTO and RPO assumptions and fallback processes
6) Verification & operational reality
In addition to integrity checks we perform build verification and functional testing where appropriate. Our reports provide clear insight into dependencies such as infrastructure middleware security components and external interfaces including step by step guidance to safely activate systems in an alternative environment.
Partners in Energy
In the energy sector reliability and continuity are essential.
Together with our partners energy companies grid operators and IT vendors Escrow4all ensures uninterrupted digital continuity for business critical energy systems.
Every client is unique to us, which is why we follow a proven process:
01
Analyis
A close look at your unique business case and requirements.
02
Advice
What solution fits best, based on our expertise and years of experience?
03
Execution
A secure process — both technically and legally sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions for you.
Is your question not listed? Feel free to contact us — we’re happy to help.
Escrow is particularly relevant when your organization depends on:
Critical IT systems or cloud services from external suppliers, such as SCADA systems, EMS or DMS platforms, MDM systems, energy trading platforms, billing systems or customer portals
Legal, regulatory or contractual requirements that require demonstrable continuity, recoverability and fallback scenarios
Business critical data such as metering data, grid and asset data, market data or customer data that must remain continuously accessible
SaaS or managed services without internal control or on premises fallback capabilities
In these situations, escrow acts as a structural safety net to safeguard operational continuity, cyber resilience and regulatory compliance within the energy organization.
Escrow supports demonstrable measures for information security, operational resilience and business continuity within the energy sector. This includes documented recovery procedures, audit evidence and control of supply chain and third party risks across critical energy systems. Verification reports support regulatory audits, supervisory reviews and accountability towards management, regulators and other stakeholders.
For energy organizations subject to NIS2 and other sector specific security and resilience requirements, escrow is a practical and concrete control to strengthen digital resilience and continuity of critical energy operations.
If a supplier goes out of business or essential software becomes unavailable, escrow allows for the release of source code. This enables internal engineers or external partners to restore, migrate, or continue development of systems — preventing downtime and securing the continuity of production, broadcasting, and content delivery.
The cost of an escrow arrangement is determined by three main components:
The type of deposit, such as source code, SaaS, data only or a sector specific customized deposit
The required level of verification, ranging from a technical integrity check to full build and functional verification
The number of releases and updates per year. More frequent releases require more intensive verification
Would you like immediate insight into the costs for your organization? Use our escrow calculator and receive an instant indicative price estimate.
Control and process oversight
Escrow4all ensures that any release or disclosure request is handled strictly in accordance with the contractually defined steps and timelines. We verify whether the request has been submitted correctly and completely and operate exclusively within the framework of the escrow agreement.
Escrow4all does not take a substantive position in disputes and does not act as a decision maker or arbitrator.
Release procedure
When the release conditions are met and the procedure has been correctly followed, the deposit is released in accordance with the provisions of the escrow agreement. If the parties do not reach agreement, the dispute is submitted to the designated independent arbitrator, as defined in the agreement.
This approach ensures a neutral allocation of roles, legal certainty for all parties involved and a careful, transparent and auditable release process.
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