Public vs Private File Request Links: When Each Makes Sense

A file request link lets people upload documents directly to you. One of the first decisions when you create one is who should be able to use it: anyone who has the link, or only people you’ve permitted.

When we first built file request links at DocChief, they were private only. Then we received many requests from users who wanted a public option, so we added it. The reasons behind those requests are a good guide to when each option makes sense.

When a private link is right

In most cases, privacy is important, and a private link is the right choice.

Private file request links are for situations where the documents are confidential and the senders are known: employees sending company records, founders sending equity documents, outside counsel sending board materials, clients sending documents to their law firm or accountant. You know who should be sending, and nobody else should be able to add documents to the record.

A private link protects the integrity of what you receive. It keeps unexpected or unwanted files out of an important record, and it gives you a clear picture of who sent what.

When a public link is right

A public link makes sense when the sender pool is large and unknown, and the documents aren’t sensitive to you.

The clearest example came from investors. Investors receive pitch decks from many founders. Some wanted a public request link they could post on LinkedIn or share widely, so any founder could submit a deck without the investor having to adjust privacy settings each time.

For the investor, the confidentiality concern is low. The pitch deck belongs to the founder, and most founders want their decks seen by as many investors as possible. The efficiency of a public link outweighs the need for control.

A simple test

Ask two questions. Do you know in advance who should be sending documents? And would it be a problem if someone unexpected uploaded something?

If you know the senders, or unexpected uploads would be a problem, use a private link. If the senders are many and unknown, and the documents aren’t sensitive to you, a public link can work well.

Add approval for extra control

Whichever you choose, requiring approval before submissions are added gives you a second layer of control. Nothing enters your record until you’ve reviewed it.

How DocChief helps

DocChief’s file request links can be public or limited to permitted people, and you can require approval before submitted documents are added to your data room. Documents are organized automatically once they’re accepted.

Related guides

How to Use a Secure File Request Link
How Investors Use a Public Link to Receive Pitch Decks
Approving Uploads Before They Reach Your Data Room