What we can learn from infrastructure projects about business continuity

‍‍For any business involved in an infrastructure project, it can be incredibly daunting. Such projects can differ when it comes to size, budgets and timescales, but all are high-pressure and require collaboration with different stakeholders. And for infrastructure projects to run on time, efficiently and effectively, business continuity must be prioritised above all else.

This was certainly the case with one of the most exciting infrastructure projects of recent years, the Doha Metro. Escode, the world’s leading provider of software escrow and resilience solutions, was brought into the project to fortify its digital infrastructure which was supplied jointly by Mitsubishi Corporation, Kinki Sharyo, Thales and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and help ensure the Doha Metro would leave a lasting legacy for decades to come.

Going live in 2019, the Doha Metro needed to be ready in time for the footfall of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. But it also needed to support Qatar’s bustling capital for generations to come.

The Doha Metro project took full advantage of the technological advancements we are witnessing in abundance in the world today, but safeguards needed to be put in place to protect against software failure.

Software failure can happen for any number of reasons, whether it be the closure of software businesses or acquisition by another. And with multiple software vendors across the world involved in the Doha Metro project, there were certainly plenty of risks that needed to be mitigated.

‍The vital importance of business continuity

Technological failures have the potential to completely destabilise an infrastructure project, resulting in a myriad of consequences ranging from time lost and mounting costs to serious reputational damage and security threats.

Business continuity must be the top priority in any infrastructure project, and this is where software escrow plays a pivotal role. Escode has been involved in many of the world’s largest infrastructure projects and, it is best practice to ensure that all third-party software supply chain risk is mitigated effectively.

The bedrock of all software is source code. Should software fail, source code can be used to replicate programmes and restore business operations. To ensure source code is available for this purpose, a software escrow agreement can be put into place. These simple tri-party agreements involve a software customer, a software supplier and an independent escrow service provider.

Under the terms of these agreements, software suppliers deposit a copy of software source code, whether for traditional software or cloud-hosted applications, into storage with the third party. By doing so, businesses can access source code should the worst happen, minimising the time and costs that would otherwise have been associated with a prolonged disruption to project operations.

Unlocking potential with cross-collaboration

To make software escrow agreements as effective as possible, cross-collaboration is key. For any infrastructure project, all should be onboard from the offset on the importance of business continuity and the role they need to play to protect software source code.

Of course, all have clearly defined responsibilities under a software escrow agreement. But it is also important that all sing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to best security practices too.

In the case of the Doha Metro, Escode deployed a dedicated project team to work with the various stakeholders, covering project management, technical expertise and legal acumen. We also provided a View platform, to ensure visibility for clients and an easy depositing process for software vendors.

This approach covered every aspect of the Doha Metro project and contributed positively to the initial technical verification processes, which have now largely been completed.

Learning from the Doha Metro project

Now five years into operation, the Doha Metro project has been a huge success. And we are proud that software escrow played a major role in getting this momentous project live.

Not only is the Doha Metro still functioning today, it is thriving. More than half of the World Cup fans who descended on the Qatari capital in 2022 used the metro to get to stadiums, and it continues to play a key role in the lives of residents and visitors of the bustling city hub.

For any business involved in an infrastructure project, the Doha Metro feat is a testament to the vital importance of business continuity planning. The presence of a software escrow agreement can make or break a project, so why take the risk?

Protect your projects from the outset with software escrow and, should the worst happen, you can respond quickly, resume operations and, crucially, protect your business from financial fallout.

You can find out more about Escode’s exciting work with the Doha Metro project on our blog.