Due diligence data room advantages overview

Due diligence requires a thorough audit of documents with confidential information to prepare for potential mergers and acquisitions transactions. For processes like this, it’s important to have a secure space where all files can be stored and shared with legal teams and other professionals involved. 

A data room for due diligence provides a high level of security and gives businesses all of the needed tools to securely share documents for an M&A transaction. With additional management features, a virtual data room becomes a necessity that ensures efficiency.

Here are the main benefits that businesses get when they use due diligence data rooms:

Provides a high level of security

Security is a key aspect you should consider when choosing a due diligence data room. Virtual data room software provides the ability to have full control over all documents in the data room for due diligence. Additionally, security features, such as permission levels, watermarking, and access limits ensure the documents are secure.  

It’s very important that a data room complies with international security standards and that the provider has earned security certifications. The compliance standards that a due diligence data room provider should offer include:

  • SOC 1/SSAE 16/ISAE 3402
  • SOC 2 Type II
  • FISMA, DIACAP, and FedRAMP
  • HIPAA/ITAR 
  • DOD CSM Levels 1-5

Makes file management quicker and easier

File management is very easy when using a data room due to various management tools and features. There are drag-and-drop file upload features and bulk uploads that make transferring files to the data room much quicker and more efficient. 

Other great file management features include: 

  • File viewer. You can quickly review files in the data room without the need to download them or use another viewer. It provides file visibility and saves time. 
  • Keyword search. The keyword search feature allows you to find needed files quickly by only typing a few words. 
  • Indexing options. You can create a certain structure for due diligence documents, sort out files in folders and mark them. This way, you will know where to look if you quickly need a specific document. 

The VDR is a great tool for organizing all files. You can easily access whatever document you need, export it in PDF, or download it. So if you have a situation when you quickly need to send a document for review, you can immediately provide the relevant file.

Track activity and review analytics

In many due diligence data rooms, administrators can track a user’s activity, see log-in/log-off times, and determine which documents were viewed and for how long. 

These tracking features enable admins to figure out which files are the most important at the moment. There is also a dashboard with an overview of the tasks the team is currently working on, so it’s easier to see the progress of the procedure.

Makes collaboration smoother and more effective 

Collaboration features in data rooms include a Q&A section and the commenting feature. They help to make workflow smoother, as team members can leave comments directly in the documents and other users will be immediately notified. The Q&A section allows users to ask questions or send certain document requests.

There are also notification features to make sure users receive updates on the process. Users receive emails if they aren’t logged into the data room. Also, users can create request templates to send due diligence requests automatically when needed. 

These templates can include different requests for files, specific documents, or tasks. There are also various attachments that can be used to set due dates, add comments, etc. When using a virtual data room, you can seamlessly integrate the latest information, and all team members will be notified about the changes.

Serves as a time- and cost-efficient solution

There are many ways where a due diligence data room can save much time, including:

  • Fast communication. You don’t need to use various communication channels as everything is stored in the data room. There is no need to deal with long emails or Slack threads. With convenient search and indexing features, you can find the needed document in a few seconds. 
  • Quick access to files. All files are organized and easy to access, so there won’t be a problem quickly finding a specific document for a review or audit.
  • No duplicate work. You will avoid duplicate work as you see who is working on a certain task or dealing with a specific document.

Justin Tinker, Marketing and Business Development Director at Imprima Group stated that “Virtual data rooms have revolutionized the due diligence process for M&A deals and related transactions within the financial and legal sectors over the past 10 years.” 
There are many benefits to using a data room for due diligence that will transform traditional processes in your company and make complex transactions quicker and easier to complete.