european air transport
European Air Transport (EAT) makes software escrow an intrinsic part of business continuity strategy
About
European Air Transport (EAT), based in Brussels, Belgium, is a Belgian Airline licensed to fly scheduled and unscheduled cargo and passenger flights all over the world.
The company provides commercial air transport in Europe and Africa, mainly for DHL Worldwide Express.
Challenge
In 2001, EAT implemented a maintenance and engineering management system (TRAX Maintenance) in order to manage its aircraft maintenance and supply chain more effectively. The supplier, TRAX Software, provides business-critical software applications to some of the world's largest airlines
TRAX Software has worked with NCC Group since 2000 to arrange Escrow protection for its clients and therefore recommended that provision for Escrow was specified in the purchase contract.
Since arranging Escrow cover with NCC Group in 2001, EAT had undergone a review of its business continuity arrangements and wanted to revisit its escrow arrangement and make escrow an intrinsic part of its risk management strategy.
Solution
EAT took the decision to increase its level of protection by commissioning NCC Group to conduct rigorous 'Full Verification' testing of the TRAX application source code.
Full Verification testing is a process where the source code is actually re-built into the user's software application, requiring the full co-operation of the supplier to ensure all relevant components, scripts and source code are present.
The entire build process is audited and recorded within the resulting Full Verification report which could then be used by EAT to build and maintain the application should it ever become necessary for the source code to be released under the terms of the Escrow agreement.
Result
“With many computer services companies going out of business each year, Escrow cover is essential for all organisations that depend on software applications to deliver services to their customers,” commented Jon Leigh, Director of Escrow Solutions.
If TRAX Software became unable to meet its contractual obligations and couldn’t continue to provide support for its application, NCC Group would release the material held and EAT can then decide to carry out support and maintenance in-house or appoint a new supplier to do this on its behalf.
Brian Luther, TRAX Project Manager at EAT commented; "Our business continuity strategy now specifies that all applications which are fundamental to the operation of our business must be protected under Escrow and the additional testing process and resulting comprehensive documentation assures me that, should we need to, we can gain access to the source code and carry on as normal. "
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NCC Group is a leading global provider of independent IT assurance, security and consultancy services. As a trusted advisor, we help over 15,000 public, private and not for profit sector organisations, including 92 of the FTSE 100, to make the most efficient use of information and technology and to manage the associated risks.
Quote
"Our business continuity strategy now specifies that all applications which are fundamental to the operation of our business must be protected under Escrow and the additional testing process and resulting comprehensive documentation assures me that, should we need to, we can gain access to the source code and carry on as normal."
Brian Luther, TRAX Project Manager, EAT
Challenge
Since initially arranging Escrow cover, EAT had undergone a review of its business continuity arrangements and wanted to revisit its escrow arrangement and make escrow an intrinsic part of its risk management strategy
Solution
EAT took the decision to increase its level of protection by commissioning NCC Group to conduct rigorous 'Full Verification' testing of its supplier’s source code
Results
If TRAX Software was unable to provide support for its application, NCC Group would release the application’s source code, allowing EAT to decide to carry out support and maintenance in-house or appoint a new supplier to do this on its behalf