---
title: "Today's approach to shadow IT: Make it a non issue"
description: Unauthorized adoption of cloud services risks opening doors to cybercriminals. Shadow IT creates risk to corporate security since appropriate security policies nonexistent.
image: https://www.cloudmask.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Shadow.jpg
---

[![CloudMask - Data protection under breach](https://www.cloudmask.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Horizontal-larger-text.png?width=223&height=40&name=Horizontal-larger-text.png "CloudMask - Data protection under breach")](https://www.cloudmask.com)

- [For Business](https://www.cloudmask.com/business)
- [For Enterprise](https://www.cloudmask.com/enterprise)
- [For Developers](https://www.cloudmask.com/saas-developers)
- Resources 
    - [Blog](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog)
    - [Videos](https://www.cloudmask.com/videos)
    - [Help](http://help.cloudmask.com)

# Today's approach to shadow IT: Make it a non issue

<https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/incident-response-3-questions-all-organizations-should-ask> <https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/the-canadian-digital-privacy-act-what-it-all-means>

![Google Logo](https://www.cloudmask.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Shadow.jpg "Google Logo")

Thanks to modern technologies, shadow IT in full swing and IT departments are struggling to shine light on unauthorized cloud app usage.

From malware to phishing, enterprise IT often turns to interesting terminology to identify and label cybersecurity threats. Shadow IT is no exception to this rule, as the phrase describes the unauthorized use of software, hardware and Web-based services in a corporate environment - essentially, employees are operating in the shadows, hiding IT solutions from the tech department.

**The size of the shadow**  
 While the term shadow IT has been thrown around for many years, the consumerization of IT, enterprise mobility and as-a-service solutions have caused this trend of using unapproved technologies to skyrocket. A survey conducted by SailPoint at the end of 2014 found that one out of five employees uses cloud-based applications, such as DropBox and Salesforce.com, [without permission from their IT department](http://www.sailpoint.com/blog/2014/12/2014marketpulsesurvey/), while another 20 percent use cloud services to share sensitive corporate data outside of their network perimeters.

*"Shadow IT introduces vulnerabilities and creates risks to corporate security."*

Some might suggest that shadow IT is the only solution to some tech problems, and it's hard to argue with them, especially when modern IT teams act as gatekeepers to software, hardware and services. However, as CIO magazine reported, by using technologies and tools that are unauthorized, staff members are [introducing vulnerabilities and creating risks](http://www.cio.com/article/2943720/healthcare/security-threats-hackers-and-shadow-it-still-plague-health-it.html) to corporate security. While typically that is a fact of conducting business in the 21st century, when using software and services in the shadows, IT teams cannot protect data.

**Shedding light on a solution**  
 Unfortunately, locking down employees is not the solution to shadow IT, as this will just stunt productivity and make some staff members upset. However, unauthorized use of cloud services and hardware will definitely introduce security risks, since staff members are essentially opening the door to cybercriminals.

The key to managing shadow IT is to focus on data protection. As long as corporate data is protected with encryption or tokenization, hacktivists, insider threats and cybercriminals will not be able to read information, and if they steal it, the data will just be random numbers and letters. Whether a hacker finds vulnerability and their way into an app or they crack passwords and get on corporate networks, data will always to secure. This is possible with CloudMask, making it the best solution to shadow IT.

![Protection Under Breach](https://www.cloudmask.com/hubfs/GIF_Animation/Gif%20Animation%20All.gif)

*With CloudMask, only your authorized parties can decrypt and see your data. Not hackers with your valid password, Not Cloud Providers, Not Government Agencies, and Not even CloudMask can see your protected data. *[Twenty-six government cybersecurity ](https://www.commoncriteriaportal.org/)*agencies around the world* [back these claims.](https://www.cloudmask.com/hubfs/CloudMask_Aug2016/pdf/Common_Criteria_Cert.pdf?t=1486380970425)

[![TRY IT NOW](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/468512/82253abc-9465-4974-b5ea-2a46f934181b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/468512/82253abc-9465-4974-b5ea-2a46f934181b)

Watch our video and demo at [www.vimeo.com/cloudmask](http://www.vimeo.com/cloudmask)

![](https://www.cloudmask.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/__ptq-29.gif?width=1&height=1&name=__ptq-29.gif)

Share this article:

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

### Related posts

[![How Data Protection Can Fail Against Insiders](https://www.cloudmask.com/hubfs/featured_images/Insider-01.jpg)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/data-protection-under-breach/data-protection-fail-against-insiders)

[How Data Protection Can Fail Against Insiders](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/data-protection-under-breach/data-protection-fail-against-insiders) February 16, 2017

[![Anatomy of Password-based Data protection – Part Two](https://www.cloudmask.com/hubfs/featured_images/cyber-security-investment.jpg)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/encryption/anatomy-of-password-based-data-protection-part-two)

[Anatomy of Password-based Data protection – Part Two](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/encryption/anatomy-of-password-based-data-protection-part-two) February 09, 2017

[![Anatomy of Password-based Data protection – Part one](https://www.cloudmask.com/hubfs/password_hack.jpg)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/encryption/anatomy-password-based-security-part-one)

[Anatomy of Password-based Data protection – Part one](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/encryption/anatomy-password-based-security-part-one) February 06, 2017

[![How to protect your Gmail and Drive from surveillance, Google & when your login is compromised?](https://www.cloudmask.com/hubfs/GIF_Animation/Drive%20Animation%2002.gif)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/now-you-can-trust-and-control-your-information-with-google)

[How to protect your Gmail and Drive from surveillance, Google & when your login is compromised?](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/now-you-can-trust-and-control-your-information-with-google) February 03, 2017

[![Your Liability for 3rd Party Data Breaches](https://www.cloudmask.com/hubfs/Key%20-%202%20heads%20Depositphotos_24641695_original.jpg)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/your-liability-for-3rd-party-data-breaches)

[Your Liability for 3rd Party Data Breaches](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/your-liability-for-3rd-party-data-breaches) January 29, 2017

[![Living the Age of Hackers Anxiety](https://www.cloudmask.com/hubfs/Hacker.jpg)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/living-the-age-of-hackers-anxiety)

[Living the Age of Hackers Anxiety](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/living-the-age-of-hackers-anxiety) January 26, 2017

Please enable JavaScript to view the &lt;a href="http://disqus.com/?ref\_noscript"&gt;comments powered by Disqus.&lt;/a&gt;

### Sign Up for our Newsletter to get the latest in everything cyber security. We care about your privacy, let us show you how.

### Recent Posts

### Posts by Topic

- [Breach (29)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/breach)
- [Certifcation (3)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/certifcation)
- [cloud computing (7)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/cloud-computing)
- [Cloud threats (6)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/cloud-threats)
- [Common Criteria (2)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/common-criteria)
- [Compliance (18)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/compliance)
- [costs (1)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/costs)
- [cyber threats (22)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/cyber-threats)
- [Cybercrime (6)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/cybercrime)
- [data centric protection (1)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/data-centric-protection)
- [Data Masking (25)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/data-masking)
- [data privacy (28)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/data-privacy)
- [data residency (4)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/data-residency)
- [data security (9)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/data-security)
- [Data Sovereignty (8)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/data-sovereignty)
- [defense in depth (1)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/defense-in-depth)
- [Email Security (5)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/email-security)
- [encryption (8)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/encryption)
- [financial (1)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/financial)
- [Google (5)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/google)
- [governance (3)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/governance)
- [Government surveillance (13)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/government-surveillance)
- [hacking (1)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/hacking)
- [Healthcare (2)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/healthcare)
- [insider threats (3)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/insider-threats)
- [Legal (6)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/legal)
- [New Security Paradigm (6)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/new-security-paradigm)
- [Password (4)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/password)
- [Personal Data Protection (17)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/personal-data-protection)
- [PKI (1)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/pki)
- [Regulation (1)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/regulation)
- [RSA2017 (1)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/rsa2017)
- [Shadow it (1)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/shadow-it)
- [Tokenization (3)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/tokenization)
- [User Privacy (10)](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog/topic/user-privacy)

see all

- [About Us](https://www.cloudmask.com/about)
- [Pricing & Plans](https://www.cloudmask.com/subscription-plans/)
- [Partners](https://www.cloudmask.com/about/cloud-partners/)
- [Get in touch with us](https://www.cloudmask.com/contact-us)

**CloudMask Inc.**  
+[1 (819) 282-1501](tel:1%20(819)%20282-1501)[+1 (866) 202-4443](tel:1-866-202-4443)

- What We Protect 
    - [For Business Users](https://www.cloudmask.com/business)
    - [For Enterprise](https://www.cloudmask.com/enterprise)
    - [For Developers](https://www.cloudmask.com/saas-developers)
- Who We Help 
    - [Legal](https://www.cloudmask.com/e2ee-for-legal-sector)
    - [Financial](https://www.cloudmask.com/e2ee-for-financial)
    - [Healthcare](https://www.cloudmask.com/e2ee-for-healthcare)
    - [Education](https://www.cloudmask.com/e2ee-for-education)
- Resources 
    - [Help & Support](http://help.cloudmask.com)
    - [Blogs](https://www.cloudmask.com/blog)
    - [News](https://www.cloudmask.com/news)
    - [Videos](https://www.cloudmask.com/videos)

[![Cloudmask](https://www.cloudmask.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CloudMask_Aug2016/CM-Logo-200-50.png?width=200&height=50&name=CM-Logo-200-50.png "Cloudmask")](https://www.cloudmask.com/)

© 2012-2017 CloudMask All Rights Reserved