Document sharing is an essential part of collaborative business processes. If it is not done properly it could allow hackers to steal sensitive documents.
Secure Document Sharing involves the electronic distribution of information classified as confidential or private, such as personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI). This is the case for documents that are being developed and distributed to colleagues as part of a collaboration or review process. It is typically used in conjunction with M&A activities and requires a solution that permits the exchange of large files in a secure online environment, and one that safeguards archived and work-in progress documents as well as the collaborative process itself.
The most widely used method is to use cloud-based secure file sharing solutions that permit users to view files online in a controlled manner (e.g. Printing, copying, and the prevention of screenshots are all common methods. It also provides the control of shared folders and files and it can also enable advanced security features, such as audit trails and encrypted.
Peer-to-peer document sharing is a different alternative. It allows computers to connect directly to one another to transfer files, without hosting them on central servers. It can provide some advantages such as a lower storage requirement, fast transfer speeds and an enhanced user experience. However, it also comes with serious risks, including the accidental publication of private information and malware, viruses and worms. It is not recommended to use in environments that are under strict compliance regulations. Mimecast’s Secure Document Sharing solution provides a secure method for teams to share files with other parties, and also internally within the company. It can be triggered manually or automatically, based on administrator-defined policies. It also provides different levels of access and collaboration to ensure that it is in line with organizational governance and best practices for secure sharing of documents.