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In our recent feature on The People of Performance Podcast, we joined James Crissall and SES Secure client Chris Edge, CEO of EDGE IT Systems, for a wide‑ranging conversation on safeguarding SaaS applications, operational continuity, and the major disruption event that saw EDGE IT come under a ransomware and cyber‑attack.
A central theme of the discussion was the role of SaaS Escrow in maintaining operational and functional access to mission‑critical cloud‑hosted applications. When asked why he uses SaaS Escrow, Chris Edge explained:
“We need to think through to the worst‑case scenario. You’ve got to come up with a solution which allows your clients to continue to work. Let’s say EDGE as a company ceases tomorrow. What happens? The Escrow company steps in and they press a button and it runs in the cloud service.”
Despite the maturity of SaaS delivery models, a common misconception persists: that traditional Software Escrow does not apply to SaaS‑hosted applications, and that continuity is automatically guaranteed by the SaaS provider. In reality, being cloud‑hosted does not eliminate the risk of disruption, outage, or loss of access. Commercial failure, cyber‑attacks, data corruption, supplier insolvency, or catastrophic operational incidents can still impact service availability.
As EDGE IT Systems experienced first‑hand, a SaaS Escrow Solution can be invaluable when the unexpected happens.
What are the benefits of a SaaS Escrow Solution?
A SaaS Escrow Solution provides a structured, independently managed continuity mechanism that protects both software vendors and end‑users. The core benefits offered include:
- Guaranteed Continuity of Mission‑Critical Applications
If a SaaS provider experiences a major disruption, whether technical, financial, or operational, the Escrow agent can rapidly restore access to the application and its data. This ensures business‑critical systems remain available, even in worst‑case scenarios such as insolvency or prolonged outage.
- Protection Against Vendor Risk
SaaS vendors face pressures ranging from cyber‑attacks to funding challenges. Escrow mitigates dependency risk by ensuring clients are not left stranded if the vendor cannot continue service delivery.
- Independent Backup of Application and Data
Unlike standard SaaS backups, which are controlled by the vendor, SaaS Escrow provides an independently verified and securely stored copy of the application, environment configuration, and essential data. This removes single‑point‑of‑failure risk.
- Rapid Recovery Through Pre‑Tested Environments
A robust SaaS Escrow Solution includes regular technical testing to ensure the application can be deployed and run independently of the vendor. This dramatically reduces recovery time and eliminates uncertainty during a crisis.
- Compliance and Contractual Assurance
Many industries, such as public sector, healthcare, financial services require demonstrable continuity planning. SaaS Escrow provides a clear, auditable mechanism that satisfies procurement, regulatory, and governance requirements.
- Strengthened Trust Between Vendor and Client
Vendors offering SaaS Escrow demonstrate commitment to transparency and long‑term reliability. Clients gain confidence knowing their operations are protected, while vendors benefit from reduced contractual friction and faster onboarding.
- Mitigation of Cyber‑Attack Impact
As EDGE IT Systems experienced, cyber‑attacks can compromise access to hosted environments. Escrow provides a clean, verified recovery path that is isolated from compromised infrastructure.
Working with SES Secure to Implement SaaS Escrow
At SES Secure, the first step of the client journey is a consultation call to identify the most suitable approach for safeguarding a SaaS application. This includes assessing:
- Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs)
- Impact of downtime
- Role of technical testing
Once the best plan of action is agreed, the SaaS Escrow Solution setup begins. Clients work directly with SES Secure’s in‑house technical experts to ensure the application, environment, and data are fully protected.
SES Secure have been a market leader for over 25 years. In that time, we’ve worked with over 3,000 clients from across 45+ countries. To read about the experiences of our clients, please head to our official Feefo page. With over 200 verified reviews, we’re proud to have been awarded Feefo’s ‘Exceptional’ rating.
Want to watch our full podcast with EDGE IT Systems? You can find it here.