Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) pose unique IT integration challenges to the parties involved in the transaction due to obvious conflicts of interest and the resulting need for secrecy. The acquiring party typically desires to integrate the acquisition target into its own IT infra structure immediately after the transaction closes in order to maximize return on the investment, and minimize business interruption and the potential for customer defection. The acquisition target needs to limit information and data sharing prior to the close of the transaction in order to protect itself in case the transaction falls through.

These conflicting interests lead to a conundrum: How can the acquiring business prepare for rapid integration without having access to the acquisition target’s data prior to the close of the transaction?