Shadow IT is on the rise. While it does have its downsides, it's here to stay, and that means IT needs to embrace these activities. In fact, doing so can create added business value by improving the end user experience.

1. The Business Value of
Shadow IT

2. Shadow IT is on the Rise
30% of employees use file
sharing and collaboration
tools without IT approval
23% of employees use enterprise-focused
social networking tools without IT approval
Source: “IDG Enterprise Consumerization of IT in the Enterprise Study 2014.” IDG Enterprise. March 20, 2014.

3. Only 8% of companies
know the extent of
shadow IT in their
organizations, while
72% report that they
don’t know the extent of
shadow IT but want to.
What’s Lurking in the Shadows
of your Organization?
Source: “Cloud Adoption Practices & Priorities Survey Report.” Cloud Security Alliance. January 2015.

4. The Dark Side of Shadow IT
By nature, shadow applications are not
integrated into your enterprise technology
stacks. This results in:
● Missed opportunities
to communicate
information between
applications
● Less effective
application
management

5. The Dark Side of Shadow IT
Shadow IT also puts corporate data at risk.
It can result in:
● Loss of valuable
corporate data when
employees leave and
terminate an
application
● Failure to comply
with corporate
security policies

6. How Do These Risks Impact IT?
The security landscape has changed.
By 2020, 60% of enterprises’ information
security budgets will be allocated for rapid
detection and response approaches, up
from less than 10% in 2012.
Source: Scholtz, Tom. “Information Security and the Dark Side of the Digital Workplace.” Gartner. August 19,
2015

7. What’s IT to Do?
Shadow IT no doubt has
its downsides and can
pose serious risks.
But whether we like it or not, shadow IT is here to stay.

8. Bringing Shadow IT into the Light
Embracing shadow IT
in your business is the
key to success.

9. Shadow IT can be Good for Business
Users who engage in shadow IT typically do
so with the intention to do their jobs better.
Paying attention to
shadow IT behavior
to identify user needs
Encouraging users
to find new ways to
work smarter
Added business value

10. The True Value of Shadow IT
When managed properly,
shadow IT helps add value by:
● Improving the working experience for internal
customers
● Increasing productivity and flexibility
● Empowering users to act as decision makers in
solving their daily challenges
● Providing IT with firsthand insight into user needs

11. Learn next steps for
managing shadow IT:
Download the White Paper
Finding a Place for Shadow IT
in the Enterprise