Commercial
Escrow (source code)
Depositing code with a third party so you can get it if the provider disappears.
Definition
An arrangement where source code, build instructions and credentials are lodged with an independent agent and released to the client on defined triggers, typically the provider's insolvency or a material breach. It is most common where a provider hosts or maintains something business-critical.
Why it matters
Escrow that is never verified is theatre. The usual failure is a deposit that contains code but not the build environment, secrets or deployment steps, so the release produces something nobody can run. If you buy escrow, pay for a verification test at least once.
Related
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IP assignment
The clause that makes the work you paid for actually yours.
Read the definition ›Vendor lock-in
The cost of leaving a supplier, whether or not anyone intended it.
Read the definition ›Handover
Transferring work and the reasoning behind it.
Read the definition ›Runbook
Step-by-step instructions for operating and fixing a system.
Read the definition ›Next step
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