As mergers and purchases (M&As) increase around the world, cybersecurity is more important than ever before. If confidential information is revealed during M&A due-diligence or post-M&A transactions, the stakes are high.
The good news is that the right software can assist M&A CISOs in ensuring the integrity of data, ensuring compliance, and defending against the risks associated M&A activities. The best data room solution brings together digital tools into one integrated platform that permits easy uploads of files, single sign-on and extensive auditing. This assists compliance teams to maintain control by stopping accidental disclosure.
Virtual data rooms are an effective tool to manage the M&A processes, from due diligence to post-M&A operations and integration. VDRs allow authorized users to quickly review, share, and comment on sensitive documents, without risk of leakage. They also permit users to create activity reports which show who has read or accessed specific pages of documents. These reports can prevent criminals from leaking information as they can be traced to specific users. They also allow M&A CISOs assess the level of attention from potential investors or buyers.
Many M&A deals are founded on the value of intellectual property. Life science companies, for example utilize virtual data rooms to handle everything from clinical trial outcomes and HIPAA compliance to licensing IP and the storage of patient records. When conducting M&A due diligence, it is common for companies to have to provide and review large volumes of documents. This can be a labor-intensive and time-consuming task for both the company that is acquired and the buyer. A VDR lets you share this information safely and efficiently.
Whatever the field, M&A can be a complex business process that may be a significant security risk. The M&A team must be aware of the potential threat posed by competitors, cybercriminals, and angry employees during the operations and integration phases of the M&A lifecycle. These risks could include malware, unauthorised network and system access, sabotage and other disruptions that can make M&A less valuable.
With the right security solutions in place, M&A can be a profitable and rewarding business experience. M&A can be a fantastic opportunity for businesses to add value and expand their global footprint. To ensure that this value is not diminished, a cybersecurity-focused M&A strategy must be in place prior to any transactions are initiated. For more information about this, download our free guide Cybersecurity for M&A: From the M&A Playbook. Todd Thiemann, director of product marketing at ReliaQuest GreyMatter is a Security Operations Platform which helps to make cybersecurity possible through M&A. It gives visibility, cuts through the multi-layered security stacks and helps manage risk and uncertainty to help your business achieve its goals.