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  • Products
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        At Datasite, we make sure every aspect of your deal is covered. From marketing and engagement. Through analytics and due diligence. To closing and post-merger integration. Our virtual data room consists of four core products that help you automate the entire M&A lifecycle.

    • Overview
      • Overview

        Datasite virtual data room suite is the best way to manage any due diligence process and share sensitive data. We make sure every aspect of your deal is covered. Our virtual data room consists of four core products that help you and your team automate the entire end-to-end M&A lifecycle.

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    • Datasite for You
      • Datasite for You

        The Datasite value is unique to each customer. Tell us a little about yourself, and we’ll propose a solution that drives the greatest ROI for you and/or your client.

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      • Datasite Outreach

        Whether compiling buyer lists, or executing outreach activities and managing NDAs, Datasite Outreach is your essential resource for the deal marketing process.

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      • Datasite Prepare

        Datasite Prepare accelerates deal preparation with AI indexing, smart categorization, redaction & VDR integration to bring you into due diligence with a click.

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    • Datasite Diligence
      • Datasite Diligence

        Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room (VDR) includes sophisticated analytics, an integrated redaction tool, ironclad security & world-class support with fast setup.

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      • Datasite Acquire

        Datasite Acquire is dedicated to the needs of the buyside on single or multi-asset purchases.

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      • Datasite for Restructuring

        Whether you’re shedding a few assets or engaged in a more complex workout, Datasite can help you complete transactions professionally, securely and efficiently.

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    • Datasite for IPOs
      • Datasite for IPOs

        Datasite ensures a secure and agile IPO process management for issuers, advisors, and underwriters. Our data room solutions, support and 25+ years experience, keeps your IPO secure and your team nimble to optimize outcomes.

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    • Datasite for Buy-Side
      • Datasite for Buy-Side

        Tired of messy, overly-manual sell-side reviews? Luckily, there’s a better way. Find out how top buyers are creating centralized, repeatable processes from the comfort of their own data room using Datasite.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for Sell-Side
      • Datasite for Sell-Side

        Datasite data room solutions empower dealmakers with the broadest reach to maximize valuations, breakthrough technology to breeze through due diligence, and insights to generate the best deal outcomes.

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        Whatever your industry. Whether you are in corporate development, investment banking, private equity, or perhaps something else. Datasite gives dealmakers around the world the tools they need to succeed across the entire deal lifecycle.

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        Corporate development professionals rely on Datasite M&A software for their sensitive transactions. Whatever deal stage, our M&A platform puts you in control.

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        The premier SaaS solutions for the M&A lifecycle. Working with boutique, middle market, and bulge bracket banks on transactions in over 170 countries.

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        Datasite is the premier legal due diligence solutions provider for M&A practitioners and law firms globally. More than a virtual data room, Datasite allows for automation of legal workflow across the entire deal lifecycle.

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        Whether you’re working on M&A, capital markets, or restructuring – Datasite helps energy & power companies complete transactions faster than ever.

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        Datasite supports the entire M&A lifecycle helping Financial Institutions to transact with confidence and act quickly while keenly managing risks & regulations.

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        Whether you’re looking at a licensing, listing or M&A, achieve your objective quickly and keep sensitive data secure with Datasite.

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        From manufacturing to transportation to defense, we understand the needs of your sub-sector. Datasite can help you keep your sensitive information secure.

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        Learn about the solutions available for making better, more secure technology deals happen with Datasite Diligence virtual data rooms.

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        We are Datasite. Creators of momentum, eliminators of doubt and builders of tomorrow. The leading SaaS provider for the M&A industry. However you do your deals. This is the place to make them.

    • About
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        The best people. And the best technology – a SaaS platform that works across the M&A lifecycle. However you do your deals. This is the place to make them.

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        Ready for the next big challenge? Grow your career, and join our experienced global team, transforming the world of M&A software.

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        Reach out to Datasite, wherever you are in the world, and we’ll get you moving closer to your goals. Get the world-class support you need, anytime, anywhere. We’re available 24/7/365, in up to 18 languages.

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October 29, 2020

3 Data Room Security Capabilities Every Legal Advisor Should Mandate

BY STEVE J. TIE SHUE, SENIOR DIRECTOR - PRODUCT MARKETING

There’s been seeming inertia among some M&A legal advisors to simply accept whichever data room another advisor on a deal, or their client, selects – particularly on mid-size or smaller deals. Surprising since the law firms on a transaction often stand to lose the most in the event of a data breach or cyber-attack. Look no further than recent headlines to identify the reputational risk at stake in similar situations. Here are three bedrock security requirements all lawyers should mandate for any platform used to manage financial transactions.

1.     It’s not a data room if it wasn’t built for transaction management

There’s a reason pre-VDR data rooms were kept under actual lock & key – requiring detailed access logs of those who entered. With research finding more than 25% of law firms have experienced some kind of data breach, legal advisors would do well to avoid accepting “good enough” file-sharing programs to function as quasi-deal rooms. Sure – the platform may allow you to share files “securely” but how secure is it? Was its architecture actually designed for regulatory compliance – ahem GDPR / CCPA – and transmission of highly sensitive financial and human capital information?

VDRs should be closely vetted to confirm compliance with international security standards (Is it ISO certified? Has there been SOC 2 Type 2 auditing?). Similarly, vulnerability and penetration testing cadence, backup and encryption protocols, and confirmation of the cloud computing service on which the solution runs should all be validated before signing any SOW or end-user license agreement.

"more than 25% of law firms have experienced some kind of data breach"

2.     Managing authorized VDR users at the content and feature levels is a non-negotiable  

Legal advisors on both the buy-side and sell-side report typically working with more than fifteen stakeholders during due diligence. That’s a lot of people accessing files and communicating about open issues and key findings. Complicating things further is the fact that not everyone should have access to the exact same files or capabilities.

Data rooms should allow administrators to customize the experience of every user – granting access ranging from a single file or folder to every document uploaded and indexed. Similarly, it should be simple to restrict core permissions like printing and downloading files as well as enhanced capabilities like data analytics and redaction.

"data rooms should allow administrators to customize the experience of every user"

3.     VDR security is only as good as the support team behind it

Dealmaking exists within a truly global community – cross border deals approach a third of all transactions in some years. This means the fabled 2 AM fire drills – often becoming war stories traded by M&A lawyers during social hours – may actually occur at 2 PM for other members of the deal team across the world and require immediate human intervention.

Having 24/7 client support – not just an online form or email address that may at best get answered within a day or two – makes all the difference in staying regulatory compliant or safeguarding confidential information. Ditto for multi-lingual support for assisting on escalations of this nature.

Pro tip: Consider data rooms offering single sign-on (SSO) authentication – it significantly improves security while reducing login credential fatigue. Plus, your technology office will be happy you’ve identified a preferred vendor to help reduce the reputational risk of your law firm.

More than nine thousand financial transactions are securely managed within Datasite Diligence each year. Click here to request a demo or to speak with a local consultant to learn more about our ironclad security and 24/7/365 client services team – fluent in eighteen languages.

Driving Client Experience

Best practices for optimizing legal advisor-client engagement to win more mandates

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Speed up due diligence. Reduce costs. Share information securely.

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  • Products
      • Products

        At Datasite, we make sure every aspect of your deal is covered. From marketing and engagement. Through analytics and due diligence. To closing and post-merger integration. Our virtual data room consists of four core products that help you automate the entire M&A lifecycle.

    • Overview
      • Overview

        Datasite virtual data room suite is the best way to manage any due diligence process and share sensitive data. We make sure every aspect of your deal is covered. Our virtual data room consists of four core products that help you and your team automate the entire end-to-end M&A lifecycle.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for You
      • Datasite for You

        The Datasite value is unique to each customer. Tell us a little about yourself, and we’ll propose a solution that drives the greatest ROI for you and/or your client.

        Learn more
    • Datasite Outreach
      • Datasite Outreach

        Whether compiling buyer lists, or executing outreach activities and managing NDAs, Datasite Outreach is your essential resource for the deal marketing process.

        Learn more
    • Datasite Prepare
      • Datasite Prepare

        Datasite Prepare accelerates deal preparation with AI indexing, smart categorization, redaction & VDR integration to bring you into due diligence with a click.

        Learn more
    • Datasite Diligence
      • Datasite Diligence

        Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room (VDR) includes sophisticated analytics, an integrated redaction tool, ironclad security & world-class support with fast setup.

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    • Datasite Acquire
      • Datasite Acquire

        Datasite Acquire is dedicated to the needs of the buyside on single or multi-asset purchases.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for Restructuring
      • Datasite for Restructuring

        Whether you’re shedding a few assets or engaged in a more complex workout, Datasite can help you complete transactions professionally, securely and efficiently.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for IPOs
      • Datasite for IPOs

        Datasite ensures a secure and agile IPO process management for issuers, advisors, and underwriters. Our data room solutions, support and 25+ years experience, keeps your IPO secure and your team nimble to optimize outcomes.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for Buy-Side
      • Datasite for Buy-Side

        Tired of messy, overly-manual sell-side reviews? Luckily, there’s a better way. Find out how top buyers are creating centralized, repeatable processes from the comfort of their own data room using Datasite.

        Learn more
    • Datasite for Sell-Side
      • Datasite for Sell-Side

        Datasite data room solutions empower dealmakers with the broadest reach to maximize valuations, breakthrough technology to breeze through due diligence, and insights to generate the best deal outcomes.

        Learn more
  • Solutions
      • Solutions

        Whatever your industry. Whether you are in corporate development, investment banking, private equity, or perhaps something else. Datasite gives dealmakers around the world the tools they need to succeed across the entire deal lifecycle.

    • Corporate Development
      • Corporate Development

        Corporate development professionals rely on Datasite M&A software for their sensitive transactions. Whatever deal stage, our M&A platform puts you in control.

        Learn more
    • Investment Banking
      • Investment Banking

        The premier SaaS solutions for the M&A lifecycle. Working with boutique, middle market, and bulge bracket banks on transactions in over 170 countries.

        Learn more
    • Law Firm
      • Law Firm

        Datasite is the premier legal due diligence solutions provider for M&A practitioners and law firms globally. More than a virtual data room, Datasite allows for automation of legal workflow across the entire deal lifecycle.

        Learn more
    • Private Equity
      • Private Equity

        Datasite empowers private equity professionals to advance with confidence during every stage of the PE life-cycle & complete transactions with ease.

        Learn more
    • Energy & Power
      • Energy & Power

        Whether you’re working on M&A, capital markets, or restructuring – Datasite helps energy & power companies complete transactions faster than ever.

        Learn more
    • Financial Institutions
      • Financial Institutions

        Datasite supports the entire M&A lifecycle helping Financial Institutions to transact with confidence and act quickly while keenly managing risks & regulations.

        Learn more
    • Healthcare & Life Sciences
      • Healthcare & Life Sciences

        Whether you’re looking at a licensing, listing or M&A, achieve your objective quickly and keep sensitive data secure with Datasite.

        Learn more
    • Industrials
      • Industrials

        From manufacturing to transportation to defense, we understand the needs of your sub-sector. Datasite can help you keep your sensitive information secure.

        Learn more
    • Technology, Media & Telecom
      • Technology, Media & Telecom

        Learn about the solutions available for making better, more secure technology deals happen with Datasite Diligence virtual data rooms.

        Learn more
  • Insights
  • Community
      • Community

        Stay up to date with the latest developments and innovation in M&A. Network with fellow dealmakers and global thought-leaders. Datasite is your platform to contribute, to confer, to collaborate. Our aim is to put you at the center of everything.

    • Events & Webinars
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        Stay up to date with the latest developments and innovation in M&A. Join us at one of our live events, and learn something new.

        Learn more
    • Dealmaker's Circle
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        Help identify the technology needs of dealmakers across the M&A industry. Sign up for the Dealmaker's Circle and shape the future.

        Learn more
  • Company
      • Company

        We are Datasite. Creators of momentum, eliminators of doubt and builders of tomorrow. The leading SaaS provider for the M&A industry. However you do your deals. This is the place to make them.

    • About
      • About

        The best people. And the best technology – a SaaS platform that works across the M&A lifecycle. However you do your deals. This is the place to make them.

        Learn more
    • Careers
      • Careers

        Ready for the next big challenge? Grow your career, and join our experienced global team, transforming the world of M&A software.

        Learn more
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        Questions about Datasite, M&A, or Data Rooms? We have the answers for you.

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    • Success Stories
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        Datasite, the maker of Datasite Diligence virtual data room platform, helping dealmakers in more than 170 countries (and every industry) close more deals, faster. See our success stories.

        Learn more
  • Contact
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        Reach out to Datasite, wherever you are in the world, and we’ll get you moving closer to your goals. Get the world-class support you need, anytime, anywhere. We’re available 24/7/365, in up to 18 languages.

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Datasite provides secure software solutions for managing the full spectrum of financial transactions — including M&A, restructuring & administration, and capital raising. Our intuitive platform offers ironclad security enabling file sharing and collaboration within and across organizations. More than a virtual data room (VDR), Datasite supports advisors and their clients across the entire deal lifecycle with secure collaborative software that shortens timelines for buy-side and sell-side teams from deal sourcing and deal preparation to post-merger integration (PMI) while meeting regulatory compliance — including GDPR and CCPA requirements. As the premiere virtual data room for M&A due diligence globally, Datasite is consistently recognized for breakthrough technologies like our AI/ML-enabled capabilities and automated redaction tools. Beyond due diligence, Datasite provides transaction and document management solutions for investment banks, corporate development, private equity, and law firms across industries.