As mergers and acquisitions (M&A) accelerate around the world security is more important than ever for business. If sensitive information is accidentally divulged during M&A due-diligence or in post-M&A operations, the stakes are high.

The good news is that the appropriate software can aid M&A CIOs in ensuring the integrity of data, ensuring compliance, and protecting against the risks associated with M&A activities. The right data room solution integrates digital tools into one integrated platform that permits easy file uploads, single sign-on, and a extensive auditing. This helps compliance teams keep control by keeping out any accidental disclosure.

Virtual data rooms are a great tool to manage the M&A processes, from due diligence to post-M&A processes and integration. VDRs make it simple for authorized users to read, share and comment on sensitive documents without risk of leaks. They also provide the ability to create activity reports that show who has read and accessed specific pages of documents. These reports will deter those who leak data from being caught because they can trace them back to specific users. They also allow M&A CISOs datarooms.in to evaluate the level of interest from potential investors or buyers.

Many M&A deals are founded on the value of intellectual property. Life science companies, for example depend on virtual data rooms to manage everything from clinical trial results and HIPAA compliance to licensing IP as well as storage of patient files. When it comes to M&A due diligence, it’s common for companies to to furnish and review volumes of documents. This can be a very labor-intensive and time-consuming task for both the company that is acquired and the acquirer. A VDR can be used to efficiently transfer all this data on an encrypted platform.

M&A is a complex business procedure that can create significant security risks, no matter the industry. The M&A team needs to understand the potential threat posed by competitors, cybercriminals, and angry employees during the operational and integration phases of the M&A lifecycle. These risks could include malware, unauthorised access to systems and networks as well as sabotage and other types of disruption that could compromise the M&A value proposition.

M&A can become profitable and rewarding business experience if you choose the best cybersecurity solutions. M&A is a great opportunity for companies to add value and expand their reach globally. To ensure that this value is not compromised, a M&A-focused cybersecurity strategy should be in place before any transactions are initiated. To learn more get our free guide Cybersecurity for M&A: From the M&A Playbook. Todd Thiemann is director of product marketing at ReliaQuest GreyMatter, a Security Operations Platform that helps to make cybersecurity possible through M&A, delivering visibility, cutting through the complexity of diverse security platforms and minimizing risk and uncertainty so your company can reach its goals.