Shadow IT: Everything Your Organization Needs to Know
- Privacy
Contents
How to Protect Your Online Data Security with MetroVPN?
What is Shadow IT?
Shadow IT refers to the use of applications, devices, and services that have not been approved by the organization's IT department. These tools may have been purchased, downloaded, or installed by employees themselves, or they may be provided by external vendors or partners. Shadow IT is usually used to meet the personal or team needs of employees, rather than following the organization's standards and policies.
Examples of Shadow IT
Shadow IT includes various software and hardware, such as:
① Productivity applications
Examples: Google Docs, Microsoft Office 365, Slack, etc.
② Cloud storage
Examples: Dropbox, Baidu Netdisk, iCloud, etc.
③ Document editors
Examples: Adobe Acrobat, PDFelement, etc.
④ Communication tools
Examples: Skype, Zoom, WeChat, etc.
⑤ Personal devices
Examples: smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.
Reasons for Using Shadow IT
Employees use Shadow IT primarily because it helps enhance work efficiency and innovation. Employees may prefer tools of their own choosing, or they may be unaware that their actions fall under Shadow IT. Some common reasons include:
① Organizational-provided tools do not meet employees' needs or preferences.
② Organizational-provided tools are outdated or lack functionality.
③ Organizational-provided tools are difficult to use or access.
④ Organizational-provided tools lack collaboration or sharing features.
⑤ Organizational-provided tools are costly or inefficient.
Security Risks of Shadow IT
Shadow IT can pose various security risks to organizations, such as:
① Lack of visibility and control
Organizations cannot monitor and manage Shadow IT, nor ensure they comply with security standards and best practices.
② Lack of data protection
Shadow IT may lack encryption, backup, or updates, and may not have proper access control and authentication mechanisms, leading to data loss, leakage, or tampering.
③ Lack of compliance mechanisms
Shadow IT may violate organizational or industry regulations, such as privacy protection, copyright protection, or intellectual property protection.
④ Inconsistency and inefficiency
Shadow IT may be incompatible or conflict with the tools provided by the organization, resulting in data duplication, errors, inconsistencies, and potentially lowering work efficiency and quality.
Benefits of Shadow IT
Although Shadow IT carries many risks, it also has some benefits, such as:
① Faster adoption
Employees can quickly find and use tools that suit their needs without waiting for IT department approval and deployment.
② Expert choice
Employees can choose tools that best fit their tasks and scenarios based on their understanding of the business and technology.
③ Lower costs
Employees can leverage free or low-cost tools, saving the organization expenses on purchasing and maintaining expensive software and hardware.
How to Protect Your Online Data Security with MetroVPN?
MetroVPN is a professional VPN service that can help protect your online data security while using Shadow IT. MetroVPN offers the following features:
① Global servers
MetroVPN has over 6500+ servers worldwide, allowing you to enjoy high-speed and stable network connections anytime, anywhere.
② Encrypts network activity
MetroVPN uses state-of-the-art encryption technology to protect your data from threats such as hackers, surveillance, and censorship.
③ Easy to use
MetroVPN has a user-friendly interface that allows you to connect to servers in any country or region with just one click, without any configuration or registration required.
④ Strict no-logs policy
MetroVPN adheres to a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not track or store any of your online activities, ensuring the confidentiality of your data.
