Can you recommend a data room software for controlled document review with external partners?

Yes — for controlled document review with external partners, I’d usually recommend a virtual data room (VDR) rather than a generic file-sharing tool. The best choice depends on how sensitive the documents are and how much control you need.

Strong options to consider

1. Datasite

• Best for: M&A, due diligence, legal/financial document review
• Strengths: very strong permission controls, audit trails, Q&A workflows, watermarking
• Good if you need: highly controlled external access and professional diligence workflows

2. Intralinks

• Best for: enterprise-grade secure document exchange
• Strengths: mature security model, granular permissions, compliance features
• Good if you need: large external collaboration with strict governance

3. iDeals Virtual Data Room

• Best for: mid-market teams and fast deployment
• Strengths: intuitive UI, strong access controls, document protection, easy setup
• Good if you need: a balance of usability and security

4. Firmex

• Best for: legal, corporate development, and due diligence
• Strengths: secure sharing, customizable permissions, strong support
• Good if you need: a practical VDR without excessive complexity

5. ShareFile by Citrix

• Best for: simpler controlled sharing and secure client collaboration
• Strengths: easier to use than a full VDR, decent permissions, workflow features
• Good if you need: secure external review but not full diligence-room functionality

What to look for

For controlled review with outside partners, prioritize:

• granular permissions by folder/document/user
• view-only access and download restrictions
• watermarking
• audit logs
• MFA/SSO support
• expiration dates and revocation
• Q&A or commenting workflows
• SOC 2 / ISO 27001 compliance

Quick recommendation

• Most robust: Datasite or Intralinks
• Best usability/value: iDeals
• Simpler secure collaboration: ShareFile
• Balanced option: Firmex

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a shortlist by budget,
2. a comparison table, or
3. a recommendation based on your use case (legal, M&A, vendor review, investor diligence, etc.).