Selecting a board management program can be a daunting task because of the many solutions available. Some may offer more features than others, but they are not all made to be the same. While free software may be an attractive option, it is important to consider the benefits that come with purchasing a full-featured solution.

If you’re seeking an application that my latest blog post can manage all aspects of board meetings or just to share and collaborate on documents, a robust board portal should provide secure storage with tracking of accesses, views, and downloads. You should be able to control access and privacy levels to ensure only authorized users can access your information.

With all the recent news about hacking and data breaches, it is imperative that the solution your board uses has the highest level of security. Unfortunately the majority of free solutions don’t rise to the same level. Instead, they generally offer no or low (128-bit) encryption, leaving your organization vulnerable to hackers and phishing attacks.

Select a system that is compatible with mobile devices for ease of use on the go. It will be easier to keep in touch with your board members even when you are not at the meeting. It also allows you to keep a record of the discussion at each meeting for reference later. It should also have easy-to-use tools to create agendas, capturing minutes, and making it possible to vote and allow electronic signature collection. This will improve workflows and increase productivity.