Security Considerations About Shadow IT: Detecting, Mitigating, and Protecting Your Environment
As organizations continue to evolve digitally, the surge of Shadow IT – the use of unauthorized technologies, devices, and applications within a company – has become a pressing concern. These undocumented assets can pose significant security risks, often acting as unnoticed entry points for cyber threats. This session sheds light on the multifaceted challenge of Shadow IT, providing attendees with insights on detecting its presence, mitigating associated risks, and safeguarding organizational environments against potential breaches. By exploring real-world scenarios, tools, and best practices, we'll offer a guide to manage and respond to the challenge that Shadow IT presents.
Shadow IT refers to devices, applications, and cloud services that employees use without approval from the IT department. They don’t do it out of ill will, but to work faster and more efficiently. That’s precisely why what’s in the shadows becomes a real security and operational problem. Shadow IT arises when people reach for tools that no one in the company has approved — from mobile apps to personal email and storage. The reason is often prosaic: the official environment can’t keep pace with needs and new technologies. IT has its limits — budgetary, staffing, and knowledge — and it can’t always offer the latest software or support for every device. The result is that employees look for shortcuts and sometimes don’t even realize they are bypassing internal rules.What Shadow IT is and why it arises
