Secure Business M&A with Software for Secure Business M&A
As mergers and acquisitions (M&As) increase all over the world cybersecurity is more important than ever. The stakes are high, should confidential information be accidentally divulged to bad actors during M&A due diligence, or accidentally exposed during post-M&A integration and operations.
The good news is that the appropriate software can assist M&A CISOs to ensure the integrity of data, maintain compliance, and guard against the dangers associated with M&A activities. The best data room solution integrates digital tools into one integrated platform that allows for simple uploads of files, a single sign-on, and a comprehensive auditing. This helps compliance teams maintain control by preventing accidental disclosure.
Virtual data rooms are an excellent method of managing the M&A process from due diligence to post-M&A integration and operations. VDRs allow authorized users to review comments, share, and even comment on sensitive documents, without risk of leakage. They also permit users to create activity reports, which reveal who has accessed or read specific pages of documents. These reports will deter malicious actors from leaking information because they can be traced to individuals. These reports also help M&A CISOs to assess the level of interest from potential buyers or investors.
Many M&A transactions are dependent on intellectual property. Life science companies, for instance, use virtual data rooms to handle everything from the results of clinical trials and HIPAA compliance to licensing IP and storage of patient files. During M&A due diligence, it is normal for companies to have to supply and review a large amount of documents. This can be very labour-intensive and time-consuming for both the company that is acquired and the buyer. A VDR lets you share all this information securely and efficiently.
M&A is a complicated business process that poses significant dataroom security risks, regardless of the industry. The M&A team must understand the potential risk from competitors, cybercriminals, and angry employees during the operational and integration phases of the M&A lifecycle. The risks could include malware, unauthorised network and system access, sabotage and other disruptions that can make M&A less valuable.
With the right cybersecurity solutions in place M&A can be a profitable and enjoyable business experience. M&A can be a fantastic opportunity for companies to add value and expand their international reach. To ensure that this value isn’t affected, a specific cybersecurity strategy should be in place prior to any transactions begin. 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 heterogeneous security platforms and minimizing risks and uncertainty to ensure that your business can meet its goals.
