Technology isn't just causing data breaches or social media faux pas for your company. It's also changing the way in which businesses conduct their mergers and acquisitions, according to Sara Josselyn of Norton Rose Fulbright in a recent post.

“Technological advancements such as online data rooms, corporate search services and information databases have increased the speed at which deals are made,” she says, relying on a recent report from Mergermarket Group entitled “Rebooting the Deal Process: How Technology is Changing the Art of M&A.” Here are some of her takeaways from the data:

• Access to Information: There is now more information accessible to the parties in a corporate transaction than ever before, giving them “insight on industry trends,” as well as helping to “narrow the gap on divisive issues,” explains Josselyn. “The proliferation of information technology has also served to level the playing field between the largest and smallest firms,” since all have access to the same information regardless of their size.
• Risks: The increase of information also presents risks, such as data leakage. “The use of technology to exchange and store data comes with the risk that this data will fall into the wrong hands,” she says, noting that publically traded companies with prominent public profiles are at particular risk.
• Limits: Although technology can affect deals, the research concedes “there is a distinctly human aspect of deal making.” In-person negotiations can help the parties identify interests and priorities. “It remains to be seen if technology can replace the handshake and the other distinctly human elements of M&A,” says Josselyn.