Business advisory firm KPMG UK has agreed an alliance with cybersecurity, risk and compliance provider Nuix. The deal will bring the power of Nuix’s patented forensic technology and the combined strength in depth of KPMG’s M&A offering to drive cost savings and act as an accelerator in the M&A market.

The agreement will see KPMG’s Forensic Technology practice deploy Nuix software – a powerful tool that indexes, searches and analyses large volumes of unstructured data. KPMG supports clients in responding to data needs in disputes, investigations, M&A divestments and regulatory and internal reviews.

During M&A transactions, particularly for vendors, there is a pressing need to understand where the critical value information data sits. Questions over who, how and where data is being used requires detailed attention to ensure that it is protected, managed or potentially carved-out. KPMG’s deployment of Nuix software will facilitate this process and mitigate potential risks, such as litigation, non-compliance and increased cost and disruption to business as usual.

Nuix, which is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, has its EMEA base in London, with global operations in the U.S., Ireland, UAE and Germany. Nuix’s eDiscovery capabilities are underpinned by the Nuix Engine, which makes it possible to index and search the largest volumes of unstructured data with unmatched speed and forensic rigor, across complex file and storage types. Nuix’s technology can support digital forensic investigations, information governance, email migration, privacy and data remediation services.

Darren Pauling, Managing Director of Forensic Technology at KPMG, said: “Businesses are generating an increasingly large amount of data each day. While they are realising the hidden value that can be extracted from data, they are often becoming overwhelmed by its volume and complexity. Market consolidation through M&A activity, combined with the pressures of regulatory mandates, such as GDPR, mean that more and more clients need to find ways to better understand and efficiently manage that data.”

“Our alliance with Nuix allows us to access a really powerful tool that will search and analyse data, with unparalleled speed and accuracy. That technical capability will be valuable in helping businesses better identify and protect critical information, particularly data that is personally identifiable and commercially sensitive. Crucially, for the M&A community, this approach can radically accelerate transaction times and speed up data remediation projects, which further bolster the current wave of buyout activity.”

Jonathan Rees, Chief Executive Officer, EMEA at Nuix, said: “Our relationship with KPMG is one that clients across all sectors will benefit from. With the highly talented Forensic Technology team at KPMG, combined with the unrivalled indexing, processing and analysis capabilities of Nuix’s technology, investigations can be conducted efficiently, cost-effectively and comprehensively. At a time when data is being considered the ‘new oil’, it is a powerful partnership. We’re proud that KPMG has such confidence in our solutions.”