Document sharing is a crucial element of collaborative business processes. If it is not done correctly, this can open the door for hackers to steal sensitive documents.
Secure Document Sharing involves the distribution of data classified as confidential or private, such as personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI). These include work-in-progress documents which are shared with colleagues for collaboration and review. It is often used in M&A activities, and requires a solution that allows large documents to be exchanged within an extremely secure online environment.
The most widely used method is through cloud-based secure file sharing solutions that allow users to access their files online in a controlled way (e.g. printing, copying and screen-shot prevention). It also gives you access control for shared folders and files and can allow advanced security options, such as audit trails and encryption.
Peer-to-peer document sharing is another alternative. It allows computers to connect directly to transfer files, without hosting them on central servers. It offers some advantages, including reduced storage requirements, higher transfer speeds, and a more customizable experience. However, it also comes with serious risks which include the accidental publication of private information and malware, viruses, and worms. It is not recommended to use in environments that are subject to strict compliance rules. Mimecast’s Secure Document Sharing solution provides a secure method for teams to share files with external parties as well as internally across the company. It can be triggered manually or automatically, based on administrator-defined policies. It also provides different levels of collaboration and access to align with organizational governance and best practices for secure sharing of documents.