IBM lets some countries review product source codes under conditions: Report

IBM said Friday it allowed some countries to review, under strict control, portions of its product source code to detect any security flaws in its software.

Reuters reported, citing a person familiar with IBM's policy China was among countries, that IBM allowed to view its source code.

The reviews need to be conducted using an IBM security application and the company ''does not let people take the code out of the room,'' the source said who did not wish to be named considering the sensitivity of the matter.

IBM said in a statement without making any reference to China that ''strict procedures are in place within these technology demonstration centers to ensure that no software source code is released, copied or altered in any way.''

''IBM does not provide government access to client data or back doors into our technology,'' the company added.

According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited two people briefed on the practice, in a report earlier Friday, IBM was allowing officials from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to examine code.

The report said, the reviews would make IBM the first major US tech company to comply with Beijing's recent demands for a stronger hand in foreign technology there.

In  Gartner ranked June IBM Security the fastest-growing vendor in the worldwide security software market, based on 2014 revenue. (See: IBM ranked fastest-growing vendor in Gartner Worldwide Security Software Study).