Nowadays every business is vulnerable to the impact of cybercrime. Shadow IT, on the other hand, is rarely discussed by IT executives and CEOs. However, as more businesses migrate to the cloud, shadow IT has emerged as one of the most serious dangers to the corporate sector.
What exactly is Shadow IT, and how does it relate to cyber-threats?
The phrase “shadow IT” refers to the usage of unapproved software and hardware without the permission of the company’s IT department. As a result, it is a method of employing services and products that violate the company’s security and data governance standards.
There are a few highly driven individuals that are constantly looking for methods to improve business efficiency by using better technologies. However, these operations may have unintended repercussions, which is what we refer to as Shadow IT. Single employees, in most situations, use cloud services and software, which might lead to Shadow IT. They use their personal information to create accounts.
We’ve compiled a list of frequent instances in which workers are in charge of Shadow IT. Employees utilizing their own cloud storage platform to deal with your company’s critical client data.
To get around some storage limits, your IT dept. built an unofficial Amazon S3 bucket. This S3 bucket, on the other hand, will stay open for easy access. Someone has uploaded a critical file to his personal OneDrive account that contains credit card numbers. As a result, business-oriented data kept via Shadow IT techniques might pose a number of dangers in these situations.
The increased use of applications leads to security flaws. It’s possible that your IT staff is unaware of the many apps and software programs in use at your company. As a result, it raises the chance of security flaws, which might allow hackers to get access to your machine. The Shadow IT ecosystem’s PC-installed apps require frequent security patches and upgrades. Employees who use these applications may put your information in danger. The company’s cybersecurity policy is being broken by these Shadow IT app users. These apps provide a portal to other databases and applications.
One of the principal factors why your workers choose unapproved solutions is increased productivity. Employees should begin with the most fundamental elements, such as data storage, as this poses little danger. They are capable of dealing with personally identifiable information (PII) contained in an organization’s internal storage.
Shadow IT has grown as a result of collaboration tools, file-sharing apps, and other related applications. Tabs and mobile devices, too, add to Shadow IT hazards. We’ve seen an increase in the usage of unapproved digital items throughout the current epidemic. The data exchange and communication processes have changed as a result of numerous organizations adopting the work-from-home methodology. Furthermore, the usage of VPN and other technology increases the concern of IT and Security teams or organizations.
What can you do to avoid Shadow IT issues?
Determine why apps are used.
You may utilize shadow IT to investigate which applications your workers prefer to use. Your IT staff will be able to find a better solution by understanding why unauthorized tools are being used.
You might ask your workers to compile a list of the digital platforms they now use. You can gather responses from employees by conducting a simple survey.
Create a culture of cybersecurity knowledge in your company.
You should put a strong emphasis on security knowledge as you build your corporate culture. Shadow IT and the hazards it poses must be understood by non-technical employees. Hosting a cybersecurity training session is the best solution for you. This training will assist your staff in becoming more knowledgeable about data loss.
Examine your software systems.
Following the collection of unapproved software data, you must authorize apps that are ideal for your company. You may also talk to staff directly to find out why they aren’t utilizing certain items. The IT department must follow proper procedures when employing third-party workers.
It may be difficult to discover the use of Shadow IT. Using unauthorized software might be for a variety of reasons. The most critical step in minimizing data loss, however, is to detect unapproved solutions. Spend as little time as possible reviewing software programs. Employees must also be educated on the allowed apps in order for them to make the best selection possible.
It’s past time for any company to combat the cybersecurity risks posed by the use of Shadow IT.
Shadow IT can put your system and data in danger, and your IT executives may not be able to see it right away.
