Software Escrow: Verifying and Updating the Source Code Is Crucial

When it comes to escrow, it’s essential to understand that regular verification and updates of the source code are absolutely critical. Without proper checks, escrow offers little real assurance.
Depositing code isn’t something you do every day, and that makes it easy for small errors to slip in unnoticed unless a reliable validation process is in place.

Check your software

At a very basic level: if you don’t even verify whether the software can be opened, things can go wrong quickly when you actually need it. It may sound obvious, but in practice, this step is often skipped.
For example, a notary involved in an escrow arrangement is unlikely to perform any technical checks — not out of unwillingness, but simply due to a lack of expertise.
That’s why the first step in our process is an integrity check, where we verify whether the code has been submitted properly and is technically accessible.

Can the source code be used?

At Escrow4all, we go further than just storing code. If needed, we also check whether the application can actually be built from the source code. Sure, the original developer knows how to do it — but could someone else with tech skills, who wasn’t part of the original team, do the same? That’s the kind of thing that really matters when push comes to shove.

Prevent outdated versions

Because software development is typically continuous, keeping the escrow deposit up to date is just as important as the initial setup. Without regular updates and checks, you may quickly end up with an outdated version. And in the event of an incident, the last thing you want is to fall back six months in time due to missing the most recent source code.

Always up-to-date with GIT Repository

The methods for keeping source code up to date are continually improving. Today, in about half of all cases, data is securely delivered to us via a version control system — often through a Git repository. We integrate directly with tools that developers commonly use, such as GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, to ensure that what we store is always current. We support synchronization across multiple labels to maintain accuracy and continuity.

Final tip: If you choose to implement escrow, make sure it’s an active arrangement. Passive escrow setups — where deposits are made but rarely updated — carry significant risk. When you need the source code most, outdated versions may let you down. Active escrow is the only way to ensure true continuity.

Contact us

Would you like to know more about this topic or discuss your situation with us?
Feel free to contact us — we’d be happy to help and look forward to hearing from you.