Datasite

4
5.0/5
4.7/5
4.7/5

About Datasite

Datasite provides everything needed for dealmaking in one place. It assists in preparing for the transaction, conducting due diligence, and performing a post-merger integration. Thanks to their Sandbox feature, AI-powered tools, redaction, Q&A workflows, and the View As feature, Datasite assists dealmakers in accelerating the deals’ completion and effectiveness.

Datasite LLC — formerly called Merrill Corporation — is a software provider founded in 1999 as a subsidiary of Datasite Global Corporation, and headquartered in Minneapolis, United States. 

Document security features

Datasite Diligence protects the content stored in its data rooms with a vast array of industry-leading security measures and features. Among those are the features listed below.

  • Data security training for all employees. This ensures the people working for Datasite are constantly aware of security requirements, and always comply with them to the full.
  • Annual testing of security response. This reduces the likelihood of security breaches that might happen because of new or overlooked loopholes in Datasite security.
  • Physical security measures. Personnel who are physically present at Datasite facilities can only access them with a key card, and external suppliers entering the premises must be registered in a database and accompanied at all times by a member of the Datasite staff.
  • Customizable watermarking. When using Datasite virtual data room, administrators can include customizable watermarks in shared documents, so that every user will see his own personal information watermarked into the documents they access. This strongly discourages the users from sharing sensitive data without authorization.
  • Granular user permissions. When administrators decide who can view, edit, download and print documents from the virtual data room, they can decide that down to the level of each individual user.
  • AI redaction. This feature makes it easy to erase confidential information even from documents that have thousands of pages. The admin only has to specify which kinds of data they want erased, and the AI tool will automatically look for and find all the places that information appears in the document, then delete it.
  • View as. When an admin is attributing permissions to an individual data room user he can impersonate that user so as to view the data room exactly as the user would. This makes it easy for the admin to know exactly what each user can see and do in the data room.
  • Two-factor authentication and multi-factor authentication. Administrators and users can add an extra level of security to data room access.
  • Periodic, automatic password resets. This measure increases data room access security by eliminating the possibility that an old password be used to hack into a user’s account.
  • Single Sign-On. Instead of having to sign on separately to each software solution in the Datasite suite users only need to sign in once into Datasite, and can access all solutions from there. This reduces the number of vulnerable places a hacker would try to attack — Datasite protects that one entry and all is well.
  • Data encryption in transit and at rest. In the event of a data breach that would allow unauthorized people to get their hands on confidential data, this feature ensures the data remains protected. It doesn’t matter if the data was stolen when stored or during transmission — documents stored in Datasite Diligence are encrypted at all times, so data thieves will not be able to access the information in them.
  • Vulnerability assessment by a third party. Independent professionals periodically test Datasite’s defenses, so that any weak points can be discovered and repaired before hackers have the opportunity to exploit them.

Collaboration and document management features

When they want to upload multiple files onto the data room, admins and users can either email them in or just use the drag and drop functionality to transfer the files from their computer folders directly onto the data room. Apart from this, Datasite Diligence collaboration features are similar to those found in other virtual data rooms.

Customer support

This data room provider offers its customers several support options. Phone support landlines are available for the United States, Canada, Latin America, EMEA, and APAC countries. 

Datasite clients can also use the provider’s portal to contact live 24/7/365 chat support, as well as to see demo videos, register for live training classes, and access customer forums. 

Alternatively, clients and prospects can contact Datasite by email. Support for users of the Datasite data room is provided in 20 languages.

Free Trial
No
Deployment
Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based
Support
Email/Help Desk
24/7 (Live Rep)
FAQs/Forum
Knowledge Base
Chat
Training
In Person
Live Online
Webinars
Video
Documentation

Additional features

The Datasite data room includes several AI-based tools which radically reduce the time needed to create a data room index, rename and organize documents, or redact information from them. 

Another feature is the possibility of creating Q&A rooms, where users can ask questions and get answers from expert team members all in one place.

Pricing plans

Like most virtual data room providers, Datasite does not provide any information on Datasite Diligence prices or pricing plans on their website.

Compare TOP-3 leaders

Features
ideals data room
intralinks
logo smartroom
User feedback
4.7
3,8
3,5
Ease of use
4.7
3.6
3.0
Ease of setup
4.7
3.6
3.0
Value for money
4.6
3.6
1.0
Customer care
4.8
4.3
4.0
Pros/cons
  • 24/7 chat support
  • 30-second response time
  • 8 levels of access
  • 25+ file formats
  • 15 languages support
  • Search with OCR
  • Advanced Q&A module
  • No
  • 24/7 live support
  • 4 levels of access
  • AI-redaction tool
  • Multi-format support
  • 8 languages support
  • Advanced Q&A
  • No bulk user invitation
  • 24/7 live support
  • Different levels of access
  • Multi-format support
  • Advanced Q&A
  • No project managers
  • No multilingual interface
  • No auto-indexing
Pricing range
Drag & drop upload
Personal manager
Bulk user invitation
Search with OCR
Auto-indexing
Multilingual access
Activity reports
Detailed audit trail
Activity notifications

Features Checklist

128-Bit SSL Encryption 256-Bit SSL Encryption Data Backup Document Expiry Dynamic Watermarks ISO 27001 Certified SSAE 16 Certified Virus Scanning
Permission Groups Set User Permissions Two-Factor Authentications
Branded Website Bulk Uploads Drag and Drop Files Full Text Search Q&A Section Scroll-Through Viewer
iPad Application Mobile Device Interface Multi-Language Support
Audit Logs Automatic Audit Reports Document Version Control

Product Reviews

4.0
Jun 18, 2022
DataSite Merrill is a solid virtual data room. It never goes down, the support team is there for us at any moment we need it, and the interface is easy to understand. The software might lack some advanced features I can see other providers offer. But we’re more than satisfied with what we have.
Dax Hamilton Chief Operating Officer
4.0
Apr 7, 2022
As a financial firm, we need all our tools to be trustworthy so that our clients can trust us, too. That’s why Merrill virtual data room is the perfect fit for us. This provider exists for a long time, and everyone knows it. So when we need our clients to share their data with us, they know it’s alright because we’re using Merrill.
Garnett Peter Business Manager
5.0
Jan 30, 2022
We’re using the Merrill virtual data room to exchange files with our clients and partners for several years now. Over this time, I couldn’t find something that would put me off. However, we pay for the service way more that we would’ve paid if we used another provider. But the well-known and trustworthy name is worth it.
Barney Gabriels Finance - Manager
4.0
Sep 23, 2018
In my company, we’re using Merrill VDR for due diligence and internal document management. So far, we’re satisfied with the service as we’re using it for almost a year now. The data room is simple and has all the features we need to work with documents. I don’t see any flaws here.
Stafford Martin Legal Assistant
5.0
May 26, 2018
Even though DataSite Merrill might be not as advanced as other data rooms are, we needed the provider to be well-known. I have a law firm, and most of our clients are rather old-fashioned. They appreciate us using a provider they know and understand. So I have no complaints.
Wilton Winship Marketing Director
4.0
Feb 12, 2018
Merrill VDR is not the first provider we’re using. But so far, it seems to fit us better than other solutions. I like the simple interface that is not overloaded with the functions I don’t need. We’re using the data room to manage the documents, and Merrill provides us with everything we need for that.
Elvis Byrd Analyst
4.0
Nov 1, 2017
Our company has been using Merrill Corporation for over a year. We are quite satisfied with the security the data room provides and its basic features. The virtual data room operated exactly as promised.
Lara Howard, analyst, Bridgewaters Associates
5.0
Oct 15, 2017
We enjoy working with DataSite data room. The best things about this data room are its security measures, easy interface and welcoming specialists who offer a 24/7 assistance and training. We used Merrill DataSite for our IPO and it was a great way to present our documents to potential investors.
Ethan Singh, security manager, Busch Paulson Schuh LLP
4.0
Oct 4, 2017
Our experience with this data room provider has been truly good. One of the best things I would like to mention was the optical character recognition which allows searching for information even in PDF documents. For me this is one of the most useful features. Despite this and many other convenient features I had to change the provider because of the high price of Merrill services. I have found another VDR provider with a better price-quality ratio.
Peter Riley, CIO, EVL Investments
4.0
Sep 28, 2017
Merrill DataSite is a really smart solution which meets most business needs of our company. We are using the repository for document storage and due diligence. The service is easy to get setup and didn't require us to purchase servers or any software although their rates are on the higher side.
Jonathan Jordan, financial planner, Still Street Asset Management
View more reviews

FAQ

Datasite is a top provider of software solutions empowering a full lifecycle of financial transactions, from M&A and due diligence to restructuring, administration, licensing, capital raising, and more. Datasite's data room is trusted among investment bankers, law firms, corporate developers, and many other dealmakers worldwide.
Datasite is a virtual data room (VDR) that provides secure, organized, and efficient management of confidential information for collaboration between parties. It is used for a variety of purposes, such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions, due diligence processes, financial reporting, and investor relations.
Datasite is an industry-leading provider of secure data rooms and virtual collaboration solutions. They are dedicated to helping businesses large and small achieve their goals by providing secure, efficient and easy-to-use solutions.
4.7/5
4.8/5
4.8/5
View profile
3.6/5
4.1/5
-/5
View profile
-/5
-/5
-/5
View profile
4.2/5
4.4/5
4.4/5
View profile
4.1/5
4.5/5
4.5/5
View profile
4.3/5
4.6/5
4.6/5
View profile
4.0/5
4.2/5
-/5
View profile
4.3/5
4.6/5
4.5/5
View profile
5.0/5
4.7/5
4.7/5
View profile
-/5
5.0/5
-/5
View profile
4.7/5
4.8/5
4.8/5
View profile
3.6/5
4.1/5
-/5
View profile
-/5
-/5
-/5
View profile
4.2/5
4.4/5
4.4/5
View profile
4.1/5
4.5/5
4.5/5
View profile
4.3/5
4.6/5
4.6/5
View profile
4.0/5
4.2/5
-/5
View profile
4.3/5
4.6/5
4.5/5
View profile
5.0/5
4.7/5
4.7/5
View profile
-/5
5.0/5
-/5
View profile

Datasite user rating

Ease of use 4.5
Quality of support 4.7
Value for money 3.9
Would buy again 3.0
To make sure you have the best possible experience on our site, we use cookies. By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies.
Learn more
To top

Selection Help

0% completed TOP provider according to your answers

Selection Help

0% completed TOP provider according to your answers