For all businesses, irrespective of the industry they operate in, the most important asset that they can possess is their company data. This data may include customer information, supplier information, operational forms, trade secrets, intellectual property, and whatnot. Due to the immense importance that data poses in company operations, it is essential that companies use systems to safeguard this data, and this is where virtual data rooms come into play.
A virtual data room, also known as a VDR, is essentially a digital repository that can store information. This repository can be used to share information with several parties, which also ensures the data’s safety and security. The possibilities of how a company can use a virtual data room are endless, and given below are three uses of virtual data rooms for all kinds of organizations:
1. VDRs are used to store data
Quite possibly the most common use of virtual data rooms is to store company information. Companies can store all possible data in virtual data rooms including everyday documents such as supplier bills and meeting memos, and even sensitive data such as confidential customer data and operational histories. Companies can store all sorts of data in their virtual data rooms, and then classify this according to sensitivity. This would allow managers to make only certain parties privy to sensitive information while giving all employees access to regular information. Managers can also withdraw or change access to company data depending upon an employee’s changing position in the company.
2. VDRs are used in mergers and acquisitions
Irrespective of the industry they operate in, all companies can experience mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, or joint ventures. In all of these transactions, one party may require the other party to share confidential financial information to conduct due diligence before the merger or partnership can be brought to fruition. In addition to safely transmitting confidential data, companies also have a space to classify and organize data to neatly present it to the other party. How data is presented leaves a lasting impression on the receiving party and may play a role in making or breaking a merger or partnership move.
3. VDRs are used to raise capital
Businesses may need to raise capital from investors now and then. Whether these investors be private investors or the general public, companies will have to present accurate financial information and sales data to relevant authorities to be eligible to raise capital in the first place. This may also include sharing classified information such as intellectual property data or tax information. Companies can use virtual data rooms to share the same with relevant parties, while also ensuring that no data can be reshared or edited by using advanced features and limited permissions in the data room. Companies would be able to see who viewed what documents, and who misused their access for future reference to mitigating risk in such transactions
Virtual data rooms pose several benefits for all companies in all sorts of industries and lines of trade. Companies can benefit from the capabilities associated with using a virtual data room and can hence store and share data with peace of mind.
