ShareVault

Overview

ShareVault is a virtual data room with an unusually long track record and a clear specialism. Founded in 2003 (originally as Pandesa) and rebranded in 2010, it has been used by tens of thousands of organisations across dozens of countries, with a pronounced lean towards life sciences, biotech, pharma and other tightly regulated sectors. That heritage shapes the whole product: where some rooms optimise for a quick sell-side M&A process, ShareVault optimises for defensible, compliance-grade document control.

We ran a hands-on trial in June 2026, creating a room, loading a representative diligence set, configuring granular permissions and testing the security controls the way a regulated NZ transaction or fundraising process would. This review covers what we found and, honestly, where it fits for New Zealand readers versus where a local pick like Ellty or a purpose-built ANZ tool makes more sense.

Features

The core strengths sit in document control and compliance tooling. ShareVault offers customisable, granular permissioning, dynamic watermarking, screen-capture blocking, IP-address tracking, two-factor authentication and “remote shredding”, the ability to revoke access to files even after they have been downloaded. Every user action is logged in a complete audit trail, which is exactly the evidence trail counsel and regulators expect.

For large, document-heavy processes it adds genuinely useful organisation features: a tag-based index, inter-document hyperlinking so reviewers can jump between related files, and Click Wrap agreements that force acknowledgement before access. Built-in connectors to DocuSign, Box, Dropbox and Google Drive reduce the friction of moving material in and out. Files are protected with AES-256 encryption both at rest and in transit.

Security and compliance

This is where ShareVault clearly differentiates. Its certification list is broad, commonly cited coverage includes SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27001 (and 27017/27018), HIPAA, HITRUST and FedRAMP Moderate, along with GDPR alignment. Notably, it supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11, which matters for life-sciences and medtech organisations running regulated processes.

For New Zealand users, that posture comfortably covers the questions a legal adviser will ask under the Privacy Act 2020 around access control, logging and data handling. If your deal touches health data, clinical IP or FDA-regulated products, increasingly relevant for NZ biotech and medtech firms raising offshore capital, this depth is a real, not cosmetic, advantage. Always confirm the current certification scope directly with ShareVault, as accreditations are renewed and updated over time.

The New Zealand angle

The honest caveat is geography. ShareVault’s support and go-to-market are centred on the United States and Europe, so there is no dedicated New Zealand or ANZ presence and no local-hours support desk. For a straightforward NZ mid-market M&A deal or a property syndication raise, that time-zone gap, and a feature set weighted towards regulated industries, can be more than you need.

Where it earns its place for NZ readers is the regulated end of the market: a biotech spin-out from a university, a medtech company running international diligence, or any process where 21 CFR Part 11 and HIPAA-grade controls are non-negotiable. In those cases the compliance depth outweighs the lack of a local footprint. For general NZ deal-making where local support and ANZ deal norms matter most, options such as Ansarada or a lighter, self-serve tool like Ellty can be a closer fit. You can also compare options on our reviews hub and by use case under solutions.

Pricing

ShareVault uses flat-fee pricing with unlimited users, which many teams prefer for budgeting because costs do not spiral as you add reviewers to a room. Plans scale with storage and feature tier rather than seat count. It sits in the mid-to-upper band of the market, indicative entry pricing is around NZD $650/month, with higher tiers for larger or more feature-rich rooms, and a free trial to evaluate it on a real file set. Because published NZD figures are indicative and vendor pricing changes, confirm current numbers and contract terms with ShareVault before committing.

Verdict

ShareVault is a capable, mature data room that is genuinely excellent at what it was built for: compliance-heavy, regulated and life-sciences diligence. Its security credentials are among the deepest in the market and its flat-fee model is easy to plan around. The trade-offs are the absence of dedicated New Zealand support and a feature weight that can exceed the needs of a simple local deal. If you are a NZ biotech, medtech or pharma organisation running regulated diligence or an offshore raise, shortlist it. For simpler local transactions, its specialist depth may be more than you need.

FAQ

Is ShareVault suitable for New Zealand companies?

Yes, particularly regulated and life-sciences organisations. Its security and compliance coverage meets the expectations of NZ legal advisers, though there is no local support desk, so factor in US/Europe time zones for help.

What makes ShareVault different from other data rooms?

Its depth in regulated-industry compliance, including FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and HIPAA support, plus document-control features like remote shredding, screen-capture blocking and Click Wrap agreements. It is built for defensibility more than speed.

How much does ShareVault cost in NZD?

Pricing is flat-fee with unlimited users, scaling on storage and feature tier. Indicative NZD entry pricing is around $650/month, with a free trial available. These figures are indicative only, confirm current pricing directly with ShareVault.

Does ShareVault offer a free trial?

Yes. ShareVault offers a free trial, which we recommend using to load a representative file set and test the permission and security controls before you commit.

Who should choose ShareVault over Ellty?

Organisations with strict regulatory requirements, biotech, pharma and medtech firms needing FDA or HIPAA-grade controls, may prefer ShareVault’s specialist depth. For general New Zealand deals where local support and ANZ deal norms matter most, a lighter, self-serve tool like Ellty is worth comparing.