Intralinks
Intralinks, a global leader in providing efficient, secure virtual data room systems, is trusted by companies due to its principle of handling mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, and other operations connected with sensitive data. The Intralinks data room is one of the strongest security platforms, leveraged by international leading investment banks, law firms, and corporate dealmakers.
Intralinks, with more than twenty years of experience in this field, has become a respectable player in terms of compliance, reliability, and secure deal management innovations. Its system, enhanced by the platform’s intuitive interface, is structured in such a way that it facilitates intricate, multi-party transactions with accuracy, privacy, and authority.
This review will focus on the major characteristics of the best virtual data room provided by Intralinks, its pricing, pros and cons, and how it is adjusted to startups.
Is Intralinks Virtual Data Room Right for Your Startup?
Selecting an appropriate virtual data room will determine the success of your deal. The following is a brief Intralinks review based on its advantages, drawbacks, and most suited application:
Intralinks Pros
- Bank-grade security and compliance features
- Extensive integrations with enterprise tools
- Full audit trails and granular user permissions
- Scales well for growing teams and multi-phase deals
- Trusted by Fortune 1000 companies and major law firms
Intralinks Cons
- More complex user interface compared to newer platforms
- Higher pricing, less flexible for early-stage budgets
- May be excessive for small or low-volume transactions
The G2 users’ reviews reveal that numerous enterprise customers prefer to use Intralinks due to its robust security and deal-readiness capabilities. The learning curve and high cost are, however, cited as important disadvantages by some users based on their user feedback, being one of the major themes whenever discussing Intralinks pros and cons.
Best For
- Mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
- Large fundraising rounds
- Cross-border or regulated transactions
- IPO preparation and investor due diligence
Intralinks virtual data room is an exceptional solution. This might not be the best option for all startups, but it is a good match when you are involved with high-value, complex, or delicate deals.
Key Intralinks Features That Matter for Deals
Intralinks data room is distinguished by its emphasis on data security at the highest level and a smooth deal execution. The following are the key Intralinks capabilities and their functionality that are critical to M&A, fundraising, and cross-border deals.
Data Room Security
Intralinks provides superior security, which is the priority in an M&A data room. It offers end-to-end encryption, dynamic watermarking, and rigorous access controls. The platform is SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certified, making it fully compliant for sensitive deals. Granular permissions control allows you to decide who will view, download, or edit content, which is necessary for securing confidential files, including intellectual property, in any electronic data room.
Document Management
Intralinks simplifies deal preparation using effective document management capabilities. Users can also perform bulk upload, version documents, and manage communication via the Q&A workflow. These features render the platform optimal for fast-moving tasks and transactions involving numerous stakeholders.
Audit Trails and Integrations
All audit trails and power reporting features provide deal teams with complete access to user behaviors and document viewers. Intralinks integrates with software packages such as Office 365, Google Drive, and Slack to be productive without changing platforms.
Collaboration at Scale
Designed to facilitate cooperation, Intralinks allows real-time coordination of legal teams, consultants, and capital providers. The permissioned sharing model means everyone can access what they need (and nothing more), resulting in a trusted electronic data room for complex, multi-party transactions.
User Experience & Onboarding
How does Intralinks work? The process of installing an Intralinks data room is not too technical and requires less effort than the newer systems. The users begin by setting up a project, establishing roles, and configuring permissions. Adding users is easy, and documents can be uploaded via drag-and-drop or in multiple uploads.
Dashboard & Navigation
Intralinks user experience is intended for professional deal groups. The main dashboard allows quick access to the main folders, see what is going on with the projects, and track user activity. Navigation is workable, but may seem outdated to users accustomed to sleeker interfaces. Saying that, professional M&A teams are going to love its to-the-point design and the power to get deep.
Mobile Experience
Intralinks provides a mobile application that enables one to access documents safely on the move. It has limited capabilities concerning the desktop version, but can be used to review files or track activity during a deal phase.
Admin Tools & Support
Administrators can control users, assign permissions, and monitor usage. It provides an online help desk that individuals, including external partners, can search, and it offers support through phone, chat, or email. Larger clients also receive onboarding support through Intralinks, which is an advantage during the planning of complex or regulated transactions.
Although it lacks the most intuitive UI, Intralinks is one of the best virtual data room solutions available to dealmakers with serious credentials.
How Intralinks Keeps Sensitive Startup Data Safe
Intralinks offers enterprise-level protection for data room security. It has a purpose-built platform that manages sensitive information exchange during M&A, fundraising, and strategic partnerships.
The Intralinks are SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certified, which facilitates robust internal regulation and data protection. It also complies with GDPR and CCPA, so it can be used in the United States and other countries. This renders Intralinks security framework one of the most reliable in the market, especially during post-merger integration.
Core Security Features
As a secure virtual data room, Intralinks includes advanced features such as:
- Granular user permissions to restrict access by document, folder, or role
- Dynamic watermarking to deter leaks and track file sharing
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) for added login security
- Remote document disabling to revoke access at any time
These aids ensure total control over who can view, download, or forward files, vital when disseminating confidential term sheets, financials, or IP.
Why It Matters for Investors & Advisors
Strategic buyers, legal counsel, and big-name institutional investors require tight data room protections. Any threat to data security or access control may be a red flag or a speed bump on a deal. Intralinks provides confidence to support legal, compliance, and reputational requirements in high-value transactions.
Customer Support & Success
When deals are fast-moving, it is always necessary to have strong VDR support.
Intralinks provides 24/7 customer service where users are assisted at all times regardless of their time zone. The support can be provided during a call, via email, and through the live chat option.
New customers have the advantage of facilitated onboarding and training sessions as an option. Intralinks provides dedicated account managers for bigger projects or enterprise accounts. Such experts assist in streamlining the data room installation and utilization throughout the deal.
How-tos, video tutorials, and FAQs are also available on Intralinks. It is a useful guide for one-time users and teams who want to solve the problem or get access to advanced features.
Responsive Intralinks customer support and custom success programs mean the platform extends beyond the software to support teams at every point of the deal.
Intralinks Pricing Overview
The Intralinks VDR cost is higher compared to other providers. It goes with an enterprise-level solution designed to handle complex deals. Its high standards and sophisticated features form a good price to pay for long-lasting transactions, even though the cost might be too high for small or short-term transactions.
For comparison:
- There are cheaper or flat monthly fees that are available with entry-level VDRs (such as Firmex or DocSend).
- Intralinks is more suitable as an enterprise product; its pricing is also high due to its security and technical support infrastructure.
Free Trials/Discounts
There is no free trial version of Intralinks on the site; still, a live demonstration can be requested by potential customers. Startup or early-stage companies can receive custom pricing on a negotiation basis, especially for long-term projects or partnerships, based on thorough research.
For large transactions, Intralinks has the best virtual data room pricing, but it is probably far more than any lean startup requires or an occasional diligence project.
Intralinks Alternatives Comparison
Although Intralinks is an effective platform, it is not perfectly suitable for all deals. Here’s a VDR comparison table to consider whether it is the appropriate virtual data room to fit your requirements:
Provider | Best For | Key Strengths |
Intralinks | Enterprise M&A, IPOs, cross-border deals | Bank-grade security, global support |
Ideals | Mid-to-large deals, VC & PE | User-friendly, highly customizable |
FirmRoom | SMBs, due diligence | Affordable, intuitive, fast setup |
Ansarada | Compliance-heavy deals, IPOs | AI tools, readiness scoring, governance |
DocSend | Early-stage fundraising, pitch sharing | Simple UI, analytics, low-cost |
Select Intralinks when you have high-stakes M&A, IPO preparation, or cross-border transactions where compliance, control, and expert services are paramount. Choose other intralinks competitors, such as FirmRoom or DocSend, if you are a startup that needs a once-in-a-minute setup, low prices, and less deal volume download.
Are you still searching for Intralinks alternatives? Compare virtual data rooms to find the best virtual data room service provider based on price, features, and application.
How Startups and Teams Use Intralinks VDR
Intralinks is a safe place to store files; it is also a comprehensive virtual data room for due diligence, which enables startups to streamline workflows during crucial growth and fundraising processes. Intralinks is used among startups and other expanding organizations across many high-impact situations:
- Fundraising. Present financials, investor decks, cap tables, and keystone contracts to VCs or PE firms without fear of leakage.
- M&A deals. With its enterprise-level M&A data room, Intralinks manages and safeguards confidential materials in an acquisition or exit.
- Legal and compliance. Concentrate NDAs, IP ownership documents, and regulatory files in a single location to simplify their review process by legal counsel.
- Partnership due diligence. Provide restricted access to prospects to strategic partners interested in the joint venture assessment or commercial joint venture exploration.
Typical User Setup
With Intralinks, the majority of startups tailor data access regarding roles:
- Investors have read-only access to financials, projections, and pitch decks.
- Advisors and legal teams can view all legal, IP, and compliance documents.
- Board members have access to governance documents, business plans, and performance data.
It ensures security and the ability to control what people can see — a critical aspect of Intralinks’ work during the deal prep process.
Folder Structure Example
The following logical arrangement will help you easily locate what they require while you retain oversight and control over the diligence process:
01 – Company Overview
02 – Financial Statements
03 – Cap Table & Equity
04 – Legal Documents
05 – IP & Tech Stack
06 – Contracts & Agreements
07 – Team & HR
08 – Customer & Market Data
Final Verdict: Is Intralinks Virtual Data Room Right for Your Startup?
Intralinks is ideal for big startups, companies with heavy M&A engagements, and cross-border compliance or legal teams. For multi-party transactions, confidential information, or a government inquiry, Intralinks ensures the privacy, authority, and assistance you can count on.
However, you might be better off with a lighter, cheaper VDR, such as FirmRoom or DocSend, when dealing with a shorter-term fundraise or a smaller round of diligence. These platforms provide faster onboarding, an easy-to-use interface, and are less expensive for shaven-down teams.
Visit the pricing guide and draw parallels between Intralinks and other providers to decide which platform suits your budget, deal size, and feature requirements.
FAQ
- What is Intralinks used for?
Intralinks is used for secure document sharing, M&A due diligence, fundraising, and compliance-heavy transactions. - Is Intralinks secure?
Yes, Intralinks offers bank-grade security, encryption, granular user permissions, and compliance with major data protection standards. - How much does Intralinks cost?
Pricing depends on project size, deal type, and user count; most quotes are provided on request. - What are the main features of Intralinks VDR?
Secure document sharing, Q&A, audit logs, advanced permissions, reporting, and integrations. - What are the alternatives to Intralinks?
Leading alternatives include Ideals, FirmRoom, Ansarada, and DocSend.
Can startups use Intralinks for fundraising?
Yes, but it’s best suited for larger or more complex rounds and M&A transactions.