Shadow IT – apps and tools employees use without IT approval – is one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity risks in business today. These well-intentioned shortcuts can lead to data breaches, compliance issues, and major vulnerabilities your IT team can’t see coming.
Your employees might be the biggest cybersecurity risk in your business – and not just because they’re prone to click phishing emails or reuse passwords. It’s because they’re using apps your IT team doesn’t even know about.
This is called Shadow IT, and it’s one of the fastest-growing security risks for businesses today. Employees download and use unauthorized apps, software, and cloud services – often with good intentions – but in reality, they’re creating massive security vulnerabilities without even realizing it.
Shadow IT refers to any technology used within a business that hasn’t been approved, vetted, or secured by the IT department. It can include things like:
Because IT teams have no visibility or control over these tools, they can’t secure them – which means businesses are exposed to all kinds of threats.
Most of the time, it’s not malicious. Take, for example, the “Vapor” app scandal uncovered by IAS Threat Labs.
In March, over 300 malicious applications were found on the Google Play Store, downloaded more than 60 million times. These apps disguised themselves as utilities and health tools but were designed to show intrusive ads and phish for credentials and credit card information. Once installed, they hid their icons and flooded users with ads, rendering devices nearly unusable. This shows how easily unauthorized apps can infiltrate and compromise security.
But employees also use unauthorized apps because:
Unfortunately, these shortcuts can cost your business BIG when a data breach happens.
You can’t stop what you can’t see, so tackling Shadow IT requires a proactive approach. Here’s how to get started:
The best way to fight Shadow IT is to get ahead of it before it leads to a data breach or compliance disaster.
Want to know what unauthorized apps your employees are using right now? Start with a FREE Network Security Assessment. We’ll identify vulnerabilities, flag security risks, and help you lock down your business before it’s too late.
Click here to schedule your FREE Network Assessment today!
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