Background
Intralinks has been running virtual data rooms since 1996, longer than anyone else in our line-up. That history shows in who uses it: banks, insurers and listed groups whose procurement teams prefer a supplier they have already vetted. It scores 8.8 overall in our table, strong on security and deal tools, weaker on ease of use and value for money.
Fit for regulated UK work
If your business is regulated by the FCA, outsourcing a system that holds client or deal data is not a casual decision. You will want a supplier that can answer detailed due diligence on its controls, offers SSO so your staff log in through your own identity provider, and keeps a complete audit trail you can rely on if the regulator asks. Intralinks ticks those boxes, with SOC 2, ISO 27001, SSO, two-factor login, redaction and document rights control.
It also fits AIM and IPO preparation, where a nominated adviser, reporting accountants and lawyers all need controlled access to verification materials over several months.
| Regulated-firm checklist | Intralinks |
|---|---|
| ISO 27001 | Yes |
| SOC 2 | Yes |
| Single sign-on | Yes |
| Full audit trail | Yes |
| Redaction | Yes |
| On-premise option | No, cloud |
Day-to-day use
The trade-off for depth is effort. Administrators new to Intralinks typically need onboarding before they are comfortable setting permissions across several bidder groups, and occasional users on the buy side can find navigation slower than in more modern rooms. Our ease of use score of 7.5 reflects that. If your deal team runs data rooms once or twice a year, factor in training time.
There is no AI toolset or e-signature in our data, and no mobile app. For a long-running regulated process, that matters less than the controls above.
One practical consideration on UK bank-led deals: if the lender or arranger already licenses Intralinks across the firm, its staff will be familiar with the interface and its compliance team will have approved it. That can remove weeks of vendor onboarding, and it is often the real reason Intralinks is chosen on a refinancing or a syndicated facility. Ask your counterparties early which rooms they have already approved, because it may shape the shortlist more than any feature comparison.
Bulk upload and a full audit trail help with the end of a process too. When a regulated deal completes, many firms archive the whole room, including Q&A and access logs, as part of their own record-keeping. Ask how the archive is delivered, in what format and how long Intralinks keeps a copy before deletion.
Pricing and contracts
Intralinks prices by quote and does not offer a free trial. Large rooms on long processes can be expensive, so ask for a quote in pounds, confirm how overruns and extra users are charged, and check VAT treatment. Enterprise contracts can take time to agree, so start early if your timetable is tight. Our data room costs guide explains what drives a quote.
Rivals to shortlist
Datasite is the closest like-for-like option, adding AI tools, a mobile app and stronger buyer analytics. Venue by DFIN is worth a look for capital markets work, though it scores lower on ease of use and lacks two-factor login in our data.
| Intralinks | Datasite | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.8 | 9.0 | 7.5 |
| SSO | Yes | Yes | No |
| Two-factor login | Yes | Yes | No |
| AI tools | No | Yes | No |
When to choose something else
If you are not regulated and your deal is a mid-market private sale, the procurement burden of an enterprise contract may outweigh the benefit. A room with published pricing and a free trial will let you start within the week.
Questions people ask
Is Intralinks suitable for FCA-regulated firms?
It holds SOC 2 and ISO 27001 and supports SSO and a full audit trail, which help with outsourcing due diligence. Your firm still needs to assess it against its own FCA obligations.
Does Intralinks offer a free trial?
Not according to our data. Ask for a demonstration and plan for a procurement step.
Can Intralinks be used for an AIM admission?
Yes, it suits long verification processes with several advisers needing controlled access.
Where does Intralinks host UK data?
We have not confirmed its hosting regions. Ask where your room's files sit and which subprocessors are used.
