A virtual data room (vdr) for deal making is an online secure repository that lets companies share data with partners. Virtual data rooms permit due diligence teams to work at their own pace, without the restrictions of a physical room.

In the world of M&A due diligence is often only the beginning page of an exhaustive process, it’s crucial that the parties involved are able to exchange a large volume of documents quickly and efficiently. Whether it’s M&A due diligence, VC funding or capital raising, IPOs or other kinds of liquidity events using the right document management software can make the difference.

The most reliable VDRs that, unlike other free options for document sharing offer strong security features that guard the data from hackers and ensure that it’s not accessed or viewed by third parties. This includes access control settings that allow large teams to collaborate without difficulty, but only view the portions of the documents they require. To provide more transparency, a smart corporate VDR might even include dynamic watermarks that can track who’s downloaded or printed documents.

When selecting a VDR make sure you choose an option that is easy to set up and quick deployment so that you can begin immediately. A VDR for M&A must also offer an archive central to help with post-closing requirements such as regulatory filings and due diligence audits. A flat-rate pricing system that eliminates surprise project fees is also essential.