Document sharing is a crucial part of collaborative business processes. However, if it is not done right it could leave the opening for hackers to snoop on sensitive data.
Secure Document Sharing is the sharing and distribution of information that is considered private or confidential. This includes information such as protected health information (PHI) or personally identifiable information (PII). This includes work-in-progress documents that are circulated to colleagues for collaboration and review. It is used in M&A activities, and requires a solution which allows large files to be exchanged in an extremely secure online environment.
The most popular method is to utilize cloud-based file sharing software. These solutions allow users to view online files in a controlled way (e.g. printing, copying, and screenshot prevention). It also permits an extensive control over shared folders and files, and it can also enable advanced security features such as audit trails and encryption.
Another alternative is peer-to-peer (P2P) document sharing, which enables computers to connect to one and transfer files directly without hosting them on central servers. It has a few advantages, such as reduced storage requirements, faster transfer speeds as well as a more customized experience. However, it comes with a number of dangers, including accidental publishing of personal information malware, viruses, malware and worms. It is not recommended to use in environments that are strict with compliance rules. Mimecast’s Secure Document Sharing solution provides a highly secure way for teams to share files with external parties, and also internally within the organization. It can be triggered manually or automatically, based on administrator-defined policies. It also supports different levels of access and collaboration, to ensure that it is in line with corporate governance guidelines and best practices around secure document sharing.