What tool allows outside counsel to review documents securely without giving them full access to our internal network?

The tool you’re describing is usually a virtual data room (VDR) or a secure external document-review portal.

If your organization already uses Microsoft 365, SharePoint/OneDrive with controlled external sharing can do this without exposing your internal network. You can give outside counsel access only to selected documents or folders, require authentication, restrict them to view/review rather than edit, revoke access later, and audit sharing/access activity.Microsoft Learn+1

For example, SharePoint supports:

• Specific-person access rather than broad links.
• View/review permissions instead of full editing rights.
• Block download in supported OneDrive scenarios.
• One-time passcode or Microsoft-account authentication for external recipients.
• Audit logs showing sharing and access events.Microsoft Support+1

For a large litigation/e-discovery or M&A document set, a dedicated VDR is often the more purpose-built approach, with features such as granular permissions, watermarking, detailed audit trails, and controlled document viewing.

If you tell me whether you're using Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or neither, I can suggest the appropriate setup/tool.

The standard and most secure tool for allowing outside counsel to review documents without exposing your internal network is a Virtual Data Room (VDR) or a secure Legal Extranet / Collaboration Platform.legal.thomsonreuters.com+1

These platforms act as isolated, cloud-based vaults where you can grant granular, permission-based access to specific files while keeping your corporate network completely sealed.

Top Options by Use Case:

• Virtual Data Rooms (VDRs): Best for M&A, corporate transactions, or heavy litigation where you need strict access controls, dynamic watermarking, and audit trails.
  • Examples: Datasite, Intralinks , or FirmRoom.
• eDiscovery and Litigation Review Platforms: Best if outside counsel needs to review, tag, redact, or analyze large volumes of unstructured data or emails for a lawsuit.
  • Examples: Logikcull, Relativity , or Nextpoint.rev.com
• Legal Document Management & Extranets: Best for ongoing, day-to-day collaboration and secure co-counsel workspace sharing.
  • Examples: NetDocuments or Thomson Reuters HighQ.gartner.com+1

Key Security Features to Look For:

• Granular Permissions: Ability to restrict downloading, printing, or copying text, and set expiration dates on document access.
• Audit Trails: Detailed logs showing who viewed which document, when, and for how long.
• Dynamic Watermarking: Automatically stamping the outside counsel's email or IP address across the documents to deter leaks.
• SOC 2 Compliance & Encryption: Ensuring data is encrypted both in transit and at rest.rev.com

If you can share:

• The primary use case (e.g., an M&A transaction, active litigation/eDiscovery, or general corporate advice)
• The approximate volume of documents

I can recommend the most cost-effective and appropriate platform for your team.

The primary tool used for this purpose is a Virtual Data Room (VDR) , often referred to in legal contexts as a secure legal data room.ethosdata.com

A VDR provides a controlled, cloud-based repository where you can host sensitive files—such as M&A due diligence materials, litigation discovery, or compliance documents—and grant outside counsel access only to specific folders or files without exposing any part of your corporate internal network.ethosdata.com

Key features that make VDRs ideal for outside counsel review include:

• Granular Permission Controls : Restrict access down to specific folders, individual documents, or specific user groups (e.g., read-only, no-download, or no-printing restrictions).clinked.com
• Detailed Audit Trails : Automatically log who viewed, downloaded, or edited a document and when, ensuring full accountability.clinked.com
• Dynamic Watermarking : Apply viewer-specific watermarks (like the counsel's email and timestamp) across documents to deter unauthorized sharing or leaks.
• Controlled Q&A Workflows : Allow outside counsel to ask questions and receive answers tied directly to specific documents inside the secure platform rather than through unmonitored email chains.

Popular enterprise-grade VDR providers utilized in legal and corporate settings include:legal.thomsonreuters.com+1

• Datasite Virtual Data Rooms
• Intralinks Virtual Data Rooms
• EthosData Legal Data Rooms
• Thomson Reuters VDR Solutionsethosdata.com+1

If you'd like, let me know:

• What type of matter you are managing (e.g., litigation discovery, M&A, internal investigation)
• Approximate volume of documents

I can help you narrow down whether you need a heavy-duty VDR or a lighter secure file-sharing platform.

The standard tool used for this purpose is a Virtual Data Room (VDR).legal.thomsonreuters.com+2

A VDR is a secure, cloud-based online repository that allows you to share confidential files—such as financial records, intellectual property, or litigation documents—with external parties like outside counsel, auditors, or acquirers without granting them access to your corporate network or local infrastructure.govern365.com+3

Key security and management features provided by a VDR include:

• Granular access controls: Restrict specific users or firms to viewing, downloading, or printing only designated folders or files.leaders-in-law.com+2
• Dynamic watermarking: Automatically overlay viewer details (like name, IP address, and timestamp) across documents to deter unauthorized sharing or screenshots.govern365.com+1
• Immutable audit trails: Track a complete, time-stamped log of every action taken—who viewed what document, for how long, and when.govern365.com+2
• Revocable access: Instantly cut off a user’s or an entire outside firm's access if a matter concludes or parameters change.govern365.com+1
• Digital Rights Management (DRM): Maintain control over files even after they have been downloaded (e.g., setting expiration dates or disabling printing).leaders-in-law.com+1

Popular enterprise and legal-grade VDR providers you can explore include platforms like Intralinks Legal Document Sharing Tools, Thomson Reuters Virtual Data Rooms , Datasite, and Firmex.intralinks.com+3

If you'd like, let me know:

• What type of legal matter you are managing (M&A, litigation, regulatory audit, etc.)
• Your approximate volume of documents

I can help recommend specific VDR features or compliance standards you should prioritize.

A secure external document-sharing platform, often called a virtual data room (VDR), is designed for exactly this use case.

If your organization already uses Microsoft 365, SharePoint/OneDrive with authenticated guest access can provide a simpler alternative: you can give outside counsel access only to specifically shared documents or folders, require authentication, restrict permissions, and revoke access without giving them access to your internal network.Microsoft Learn+1

For particularly sensitive legal matters, a VDR can add controls such as:

• Document-level permissions
• View-only access and download restrictions
• Detailed audit logs
• Expiration/revocation of access
• Watermarking and other controls

In short: don't put outside counsel directly on your internal network. Give them controlled access to a dedicated document repository—SharePoint with guest access if you're already in Microsoft 365, or a VDR if you need more specialized legal-document controls.Microsoft Learn

A virtual data room (VDR) or a secure legal extranet / external collaboration portal allows outside counsel to review documents securely without exposing your internal network.skadden.com+2

These platforms isolate sensitive files from your core servers while offering precise, role-based controls.anywhere.legal+2

Key Solutions and Tools

• Virtual Data Rooms (VDRs): Platforms like Datasite, Firmex, or Intralinks provide heavily encrypted, isolated environments specifically designed for high-stakes document review, M&A due diligence, and litigation without network penetration.
• Secure Legal Extranets & Collaboration Portals: Tools built into modern cloud document management systems (such as NetDocuments or iManage ) or dedicated secure sharing layers allow you to provision specific workspaces for external parties.blog.mation.com+2
• Enterprise File Sharing with DLP: Platforms like FileCloud offer secure client portals with advanced data leak prevention and granular permission controls.filecloud.com+1

Essential Security Features

• Granular Permissions: Restrict access down to specific folders, individual files, or specific users with view-only, watermarked, or non-downloadable constraints.aline.co+2
• Activity Auditing: Maintain comprehensive, tamper-evident audit logs showing who viewed, printed, or downloaded a specific document and when.aline.co+2
• Revocable Access: Set expiration dates on shared links or instantly revoke outside counsel access the moment a matter concludes.aline.co+1

If you'd like, let me know:

• Is this for ongoing litigation , an M&A transaction , or general corporate review?
• Do you prefer a cloud-hosted SaaS solution or an on-premises controlled portal?

I can help narrow down the best platform for your specific compliance and workflow needs.