As mergers and purchases (M&As) increase around the world, cybersecurity is more important than ever before. The stakes are extremely high when confidential information is accidentally divulged to bad actors during M&A due diligence, or accidentally disclosed during post-M&A integration or operations.
The good news is the right software can assist M&A CISOs in ensuring the integrity of data, ensuring compliance, and defending against the risks associated with M&A activities. This includes the right data room solution that consolidates different digital tools into a single integrated platform with easy file uploads and single sign-on, and offers complete auditing and reporting which helps compliance teams maintain control and avoid accidental disclosure.
Virtual data rooms can be a wonderful way to manage the M&A process from due diligence to post-M&A integration and operations. VDRs allow authorized users to read and comment on sensitive documents without the risk of leaks. They also have the capability to generate activity reports that detail who has accessed and read specific document pages. These reports can prevent malicious actors from leaking information because they can be traced back to individuals. These reports also allow M&A CISOs to assess the level of interest from potential buyers or investors.
Many M&A transactions are built around intellectual property. Life science companies, for instance, use virtual data rooms to manage everything from clinical datarooms.in trial results and HIPAA compliance to licensing IP and storage of patient records. In the course of M&A due diligence, it is common for companies to have to supply and review a large amount of documents. This can be time consuming and labor intensive for both the business that is acquired and the acquirer. A VDR can be utilized to efficiently transfer all of this information over an encrypted platform.
Whatever the industry, M&A can be a complex business procedure that can create significant security risks. The M&A team must understand the risk posed by cybercriminals, competitors and disgruntled employees during the integration and operation phases of the M&A lifecycle. These risks could include malware, unauthorised access to systems and networks and sabotage as well as other kinds of disruptions that could undermine the M&A value proposition.
With the right cybersecurity solutions in place, M&A can be a lucrative and enjoyable business experience. M&A can provide businesses with an opportunity to expand their footprint and create value. Before any transaction can be initiated there must be an M&A focused cybersecurity strategy should be implemented to ensure the value of this deal is not compromised. To learn more read our free guide, Cybersecurity for M&A from the M&A Playbook. Todd Thiemann is director of marketing for the product of ReliaQuest GreyMatter, a Security Operations Platform that makes cybersecurity possible through M&A by providing visibility, cutting through the complexity of multiple security stacks, and reducing the risk and uncertainty so that your business can meet its goals.