Software Escrow


TÜV SÜD Software Escrow

Your software solution – Software in safe hands

Companies, official bodies, municipal councils, non-profit organizations and cultural institutions alike know that they must ensure their business-critical software is safeguarded if they want to maintain competitive edge.

In a worst-case scenario, they must be able to prevent their software from losing value and avoid major disruption to their business operations. To do this, they need to be able to access their software source code.

Software escrow is the guarantee of continuity in all key business processes. The central feature of the service is the deposit of software source code with an impartial third party (TÜV SÜD as software escrow agent) by the software licenser. If an event occurs that is defined as a “release event” in the escrow agreement, the software source code is released to the licensee of the software, enabling the licensee to continue to utilize, expand and optimize the software.

Escrow Service: How it works

Escrow Service comprises an initial analysis of the object to be deposited (completeness, compliance of description with deposit agreement, readability etc.) and physical deposit in suitable premises (air-conditioned, fireproof, restricted access).

Services include modification services (updating and upgrading the deposited code) as required and verification of the deposited code (source code, executable application) to various degrees of precision from sampling to full verification.

Project-specific deposits, custom models

We also offer software quality assurance, testing of functionality, ergonomics and security, acceptance testing of software systems, and consulting services offering assistance with recognized requirements and their implementation.

Your benefits from TÜV SÜD Software Escrow Service:
    • Safeguards business-critical software and the intellectual property of the software producer.
    • The software user retains access to the source code, thus protecting him against the event of failure on the part of the licenser.
    • The software producer provides his customers with significantly enhanced security.
    • The service delivers competitive edge for software producers.

Interested in more details of TÜV SÜD Escrow Services? Click here to find out more.