intelligent

• The risks of downloading malicious applications are high

• Because there is no professional IT support , the risks of mistakes and errors that lead to data loss are significantly higher

Growing complexity compounds shadow IT

Without a doubt , the IT landscape is becoming more complex . UK respondents in our survey said that the number of tools used to manage the employee lifecycle was continuing to increase . Our research indicated that 46 % of UK SMEs are managing anywhere between five to 10 tools , a 14 % increase from our last report .

Furthermore , 17 % are managing between 11 and 15 tools . This means that resourcestretched IT teams are struggling to manage authorised tools , let alone unauthorised tools . This is where the vast majority ( 81 %) felt that a single centralised solution for identity , access and security versus many-point solutions would be extremely beneficial .

Looking ahead , Gartner predicts that by 2027 , 75 % of employees will use technology outside of IT oversight . Therefore , what practical steps can IT departments adopt to combat shadow IT ?

Combatting shadow IT

They first need to understand where shadow IT already exists in their organisation . This will not only help to guard against it , but it can indicate where the organisation could improve its processes , technology or employee experience . Employee surveys are a great place to start identifying shadow IT and improving technology to maintain organisational alignment with best practices .

It might sound obvious , but it is important to provide easy access to the resources employees need , regardless of whether they ’ re office-based , hybrid or fully remote . Other aspects to consider include :

• Utilise operating systems that employees are comfortable with

• Mobile device management ( MDM ) tools that facilitate bring your own device ( BYOD ) or are platform-agnostic allow employees to work with the platforms they ’ re comfortable with

• Prioritise UX with user-friendly tools . For those less user-friendly tools , implement sufficient employee training

• Facilitate agility by providing compatible integrations . Get tools to work together rather than forcing employees to work in technology silos

• Streamline user account management , avoid password fatigue and deliver a better employee experience with single sign-on ( SSO ). This requires employees to remember just one username and password combination

Shadow IT is not going to disappear any time soon , so organisations should establish a strategy to manage and control it by supporting employees with authorised tools and processes that streamline and secure technology access . �

SHADOW IT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE EMPLOYEES FEEL THE PRESSURE TO MOVE FASTER THAN IT DEPARTMENTS CAN COPE WITH .