Shadow IT’s Growing Footprint

Written By
Tony Kontzer
Tony Kontzer
Published: Jan 16, 2014
Updated: May 12, 2021
1 minute read

Shadow IT’s Growing Footprint

Shadow IT Is Rampant

Shadow IT Is Rampant

81% of line-of-business workers and 83% of IT staff admit to using nonapproved SaaS apps.

Creatures of Habit

Creatures of Habit

49% of business and 42% of IT workers use nonapproved SaaS apps because they’re familiar with them.

IT Is Not Responsive

IT Is Not Responsive

38% of business and 32% of IT workers use these apps because IT approval processes are too slow.

Seeking the Best

Seeking the Best

24% of both business and IT workers use nonapproved SaaS apps because they are better than the approved alternative.

Limited Options

Limited Options

18% of business and 14% of IT workers use these apps because the approved tools don’t perform needed functions.

Aware of Risks

Aware of Risks

33% of IT and 30% of business workers express a “high level of concern” over potential SaaS risks such as loss of data and breaches.

Unclear Policies

Unclear Policies

Business workers are three times as likely as IT workers to think their company has no SaaS policies—or to not be aware of any.

IT Is a Bigger Offender

IT Is a Bigger Offender

26% of IT departments use six or more nonapproved SaaS apps; just 7% of business units use that many.

Facebook Risks

Facebook Risks

Facebook is used without IT approval in 45% of enterprises, and 19% of them have been infected by malware.

Google Apps Risks

Google Apps Risks

Google Apps is used without IT approval in 40% of enterprises, and 27% of them have leaked sensitive data.

Dropbox Risks

Dropbox Risks

Dropbox is used without IT approval in 38% of enterprises, and 24% of them have experienced unauthorized access.

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