In a dark, gloomy and quiet corner of the office, behind cupped hands, the hushed words are spoken for fear that anyone else should hear: “Shhh, don’t say it out loud, but we’ve got a case of shadow IT.”
The relentless drip of technology that’s not been approved by IT seeping into the organisation is unlikely to slow down. It all started when Michael in accounting realised that he could do things a lot easier with a publically available app he’d found in the Play Store, rather than using the cumbersome beast approved by IT. Now, from the high-level executive down to Susan in legal, everyone has a mobile device loaded with applications that make their lives easier. Unfortunately, many of these pose a significant security risk to the business.
It’s not just limited to free apps either. Between both Gartner and Everest Group, their research found that anything from 30% to 50% of enterprise spend is linked to shadow IT. And both think this is likely not even close to the truth. The reality is that shadow tech is simple, accessible, cost-effective and quick. It doesn’t labour under the complex security and red-tape restrictions that often hamper approved applications. And, let’s face it, many of the apps and solutions provided by organisations are difficult to use, bloated and chosen by management, not by the users.
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