Intralinks Data Room

Intralinks is one of the top trusted and established virtual data rooms (VDRs), known for its strong security and reliability. 

While it’s widely used in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), banking, and other financial transactions, it’s also becoming a go-to solution for complex real estate deals. 

In this Intralinks review, we’ll explore how Intralinks virtual data room helps real estate professionals manage high-stakes transactions with confidence, from large asset sales to cross-border investments.

What is Intralinks?

Intralinks is a technology company that offers virtual data room solutions to support the process of sensitive and confidential data sharing during complex and sensitive transactions and high-security projects.

Besides VDR functionality, Intralinks also has other products: DealCentre AI, FundCentre, SecurityHub, and VIAElite. All products aim to ensure a streamlined and secure process of sensitive data management.

Intralinks is a part of SS&C Technologies — the company completed the acquisition of Intralinks in 2018. 

Thanks to the variety of robust data security and management features, Intralinks is widely used in situations where the confidentiality of information is particularly important. It includes:

• M&A (from due diligence process to post-merger integration)
• Fund management
• Financing
• Syndicated lending
• Risk management
• Capital raising
• Investor reporting
• Intellectual property management
• Regulatory compliance
• Real estate deals

The global presence of Intralinks VDR provider accounts for more than 6.6 million users worldwide from different industries, such as energy, life sciences, real estate, technology, legal, consumer retail, global banking, financial services, and more.

Key features for real estate deals

Among the variety of offered services, these features are especially beneficial for the real estate sector:

• Structured deal workflow
  Intralinks helps manage complex real estate deals, like selling large portfolios, multifamily properties, or mixed-use developments. It keeps the entire process on track and well-organized, so you don’t miss important steps.
  
• Granular user permissions and access control
  Thanks to granular security features and permission settings, you can decide exactly who can view, edit, or download each file. This is especially useful when you’re working with different parties like brokers, lawyers, lenders, or joint venture partners, ensuring everyone sees only what they need.
  
• AI-powered document organization
  The system uses artificial intelligence to sort and organize large volumes of financial, legal, and zoning documents. This means you can quickly find what you need without wasting time digging through files.
  
• Automated Q&A management
  This feature is perfect for deals involving multiple buyers or auctions. It keeps all questions in one place, making it easy to respond quickly and avoid confusion or duplicate answers.
  
• Real-time insights
  You can track all the user actions inside Intralinks’ cloud-based data storage. This way, you see which documents are getting the most views and who’s spending time on them. This helps you spot serious buyers or investors and better understand their interests.
  
• Mobile access
  You can easily and securely access the platform from mobile devices, be it your phone or tablet, wherever you are. The functionality is the same across desktops and mobile dedicated apps.
  
• Watermarking
  Every document inside Intralinks VDR has a watermark, which prevents users from downloading or printing sensitive files without permission to do so.

Use cases in real estate

Here’s when exactly Intralinks comes in handy in the real estate sector:

1. Sale of high-value commercial real estate or logistics assets. Intralinks makes it easy to manage large, complex sales involving office buildings, shopping centers, or logistics hubs. It helps you organize documents, track buyer interest, and speed up the closing process.
2. International or institutional investor deals requiring strict data compliance. When working with global or institutional investors, it’s critical to follow strict data rules. Intralinks keeps all information secure, organized, and compliant with international standards.
3. REIT or fund-level due diligence and asset evaluation. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) and large funds need to review many assets before investing. Intralinks helps them easily access and review all necessary financial and legal documents in one secure place.
4. Debt and equity fundraising for development projects. Whether you’re raising money from lenders or investors, Intralinks keeps everything organized and transparent. You can share financial plans, permits, and project details securely with potential investors.
5. Cross-border real estate M&A transactions. Intralinks supports deals across countries by offering secure document sharing and communication tools, such as the Q&A section. It helps buyers and sellers work together smoothly, no matter where they’re located.

Ease of use and support

Here are a few facts to know about Intralinks’ user interface:

• Availability on all types of devices
  Both desktop and mobile interfaces are clear and intuitive, which makes it easy for all users to navigate through the Intralinks virtual data room. Yet, some users indicate that some parts of the interface can be slow.
  
• Learning curve
  Intralinks is built for professional use, so it may take some time to learn. However, they offer 24/7 global customer support to help you every step of the way.
  
• Efficient document management
  With the help of such features as drag-and-drop and document indexing, uploading and managing large piles of sensitive information is a breeze.
  
• Focus on experienced real estate teams
  The platform provides a secure, professional workspace. It’s ideal for real estate pros who handle complex deals, but might feel advanced for casual users or smaller brokers.
  
• Guided setup for complex deals
  Intralinks helps you set up detailed folder structures, manage lots of users, and organize structured deals. This makes it easier to handle large projects without getting overwhelmed.

Security and compliance

Here’s what Intralinks can offer in terms of security:

• Industry-leading certifications
  It includes ISO 27701, GDPR, CCPA, and SOC 2 Type II.
  
• Secure logins and user access
  Intralinks offers multi-factor authentication and single sign-on options, making sure only authorized users can access your data room. You can also set specific permissions for each user or group.
  
• Strong document protection
  Intralinks uses advanced encryption to keep your files safe, both when stored and when shared. You can also add watermarks and redact sensitive files.
  
• Control even after sharing
  With the UNshare feature, you can revoke access to a document at any time, even after someone has downloaded it. This ensures you maintain control over your information throughout the deal.

Collaboration and deal acceleration

Intralinks ensure all the parties involved in the deal or project can effectively collaborate with each other, which, in turn, can significantly accelerate the decision-making process. There are:

• Video conferencing
  With the help of Zoom integration, deal sides can conduct presentations, discussions, or Q&A sessions.
  
• Q&A section
  For getting prompt answers to arising questions, there’s a dedicated Q&A section. It involves posting a question on a specific file so that the responsible specialist can provide you with an expert answer.

Pricing

Intralinks doesn’t share pricing information or pricing models on its official website. So to get concrete numbers, you need to contact sales representatives who can calculate customized pricing. 

According to user feedback, Intralinks cost is somewhat on the higher end — some clients state that they’re almost always more expensive than other data rooms.

It makes Intralinks pricing the perfect fit for enterprise clients, and too advanced or costly for small, one-time property sales. In other words, it’s best suited for large real estate firms or investors who handle frequent or complex deals.

Pros and cons

Final verdict: Is Intralinks right for your real estate deal?

Intralinks is a strong choice for institutional investors, private equity firms, large brokerages, and cross-border advisory teams handling complex or high-value real estate transactions. It’s especially useful when speed, security, and compliance are critical, such as in regulated or multi-party deals. 

However, if you’re managing a smaller, local sale or prefer a simpler tool, Intralinks may be more than you need.

FAQ

What is Intralinks used for? 

SS&C Intralinks is a secure platform and business software designed to facilitate the sharing and management of sensitive documents during complex financial transactions. It’s widely used for M&A, fundraising, capital raising, real estate, and other high-stakes deals where data security and regulatory compliance are crucial.

Is Intralinks a good company?

Intralinks is recognized for its robust security features and has a strong reputation in the financial services industry. It is trusted by more than 6.6 million users worldwide.

Who competes with Intralinks?

Intralinks’ competitors include iDeals, Ansarada, Datasite, DFIN (Donnelley Financial Solutions), Digify, Box, ShareFile, Admincontrol, SecureDocs, and Firmex. These Intralinks alternatives offer similar services tailored to various business needs and transaction complexities.