Virtual Data Room Question

[Mel81x]

I know we are all a tech-savvy bunch so I figured I'd ask here to see if anyone has any suggestions for me. I have a friend who wants to setup a VDR but he doesn't want it from a service provider. Instead, he wants to do all the work in-house and if there is software he can install on an IIS box to get it done then he'd like to take that route. I have scoured Google to see if I can point him in the right direction but while I search, I was wondering if anyone is working with a VDR and can point me in the right direction of installed software on servers to get this done. I am even open to a Linux solution as long as it can provide users extranet facilities and the usual DRM functions that VDRs offer.

 

I don't think I am going to find anything and will have to tell him to go back and hire some people to get this done for him with a maintenance contract but if someone has any knowledge on this it would be muchos appreciated.

 

If you don't know what a VDR is then here you go

 

What is a Virtual Data Room?

[Matthew]

I work for a Virtual Data Room provider and use linux. You are right in assuming that there really isn't anything with the same level of security available.

 

You could try Sparkleshare, but I don't think you could get any of the real security features that data rooms have without some serious level of programming skill. For example, Sparkleshare probably wouldn't let you have different access levels (unless you made several different accounts with several different versions of the same documents, and the versioning issues would probably negate the reason for the VDR to begin with), won't let you restrict printing or disable screenshots, automatic backup, IP logging, User ID and IP document watermarking, DRM, document control, activity tracking reports, or automatic emails when existing logins are used from new IP addresses. If you are using it for something like a Merger or an Acquisition, I would suggest getting a real VDR (and keep yourself from getting sued if legal or human resources info gets out), if you are just trying to host things other than that, you might get away with Sparkleshare.

 

Even though I work with a VDR provider (and have a VDR), I still use Dropbox (Sparkleshare is just an open-source version of Dropbox that can be used on your own server and, unlike Dropbox, doesn't limits the amount of data you can host for free) for photos and business documents that need less security and more convenient access. So, there is a place for both,but if he specifically wants a VDR, I would suggest going with a provider. You're just not going to get real security from a free product.

[Mel81x]

Thanks for the reply but I think they are going with a build from the ground up solution now and a development house that is going to give them what they need with maintenance as well. I did take a look at the options you provided but unfortunately they are in talks already. Thanks anyways