A More Benign Approach to Shadow IT

Shadow IT is one of the (many) things that keep system admins awake at night.

Right now, someone in every organization with more than a handful of workers is using an app they got from the internet that the IT department knows nothing about.

Unapproved technical tools – apps, cloud services like Dropbox or Google Drive, and personal devices – present potential and very real security concerns. They also come with not insignificant costs when multiple business groups buy duplicate solutions. By some estimates, 40% of spending on software and tech services occurs outside the IT department.

So common is it for a computer user to use a cloud service or download an app or tool to help them do their job that Microsoft says the average number of apps being used in an organization is around 1,000.

“80% of employees use non-sanctioned apps that no one has reviewed, and may not be compliant with your security and compliance policies,” Microsoft says, introducing a tutorial for using one of its products “to discover which apps are being used, explore the risk of these apps, configure policies to identify new risky apps that are being used, and to unsanction these apps.”

Hunting down and shutting off these apps and unapproved services does help with the security risk. But relying entirely on that approach is a never-ending policing effort that only contributes to the “Department of No” perception of IT.

A recent CompTIA article on the subject says imposing ever greater restrictions may even be counterproductive. “Enhanced rules may cause workers to venture outside of approved IT more, rather than less — especially if they feel their pain points are being ignored.”

The article suggests a more benign approach that actually allows some types of shadow IT uses while also educating workers about the risks and providing them with the functionality they want.

The latter is the approach the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs is taking.

“You have to give your customers options. If they don’t feel like they’re getting serviced properly from the central IT function, they’ll go find their own way, because they’ve got a mission to execute,” Dominic Cussatt, the agency’s principal deputy chief information officer, says.

He explained that the VA is developing portfolios of services from which customers can shop.

Reporting on Cusatt’s comments at a conference, FedScoop reported, “The idea is that these portfolios are ready to deploy, checked out from a security standpoint and with buys already in place.

“Said Cusatt, ’That ease of access helps them and helps them avoid seeking other options.’”

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com

Green Key Unlocked: Celebrating Pride in Recruitment
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

Green Key Unlocked: Celebrating Pride in Recruitment

Upskilling: Tips & Benefits for Your Organization
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

Upskilling: Tips & Benefits for Your Organization

Forbes Names Green Key on Lists of America’s Best Recruiting and Staffing Firms 2023
General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management

Forbes Names Green Key on Lists of America’s Best Recruiting and Staffing Firms 2023

Benefits of Offering Summer Hours
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

Benefits of Offering Summer Hours

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Jack Staub
General Interest Green Key News Pharma Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Jack Staub

How to Stand Out at a Career Fair
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Worklife

How to Stand Out at a Career Fair

4 Ways that Green Key Creates a Mentally Positive Environment
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

4 Ways that Green Key Creates a Mentally Positive Environment

Approaches in Learning: Differences Across Generations
General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management Worklife

Approaches in Learning: Differences Across Generations

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Julian Davis
General Interest Green Key News Information Technology Leadership + Management Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Julian Davis

Mental Health Awareness: Support in the Workplace
General Interest Green Key News Healthcare Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

Mental Health Awareness: Support in the Workplace

Updated Markets for the Green Key AEC National Team
Architecture + Engineering General Interest Green Key News Worklife

Updated Markets for the Green Key AEC National Team

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Judy Holt
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Professional Support Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Judy Holt

How to Keep Candidates Engaged During the Hiring Process
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Worklife

How to Keep Candidates Engaged During the Hiring Process

AI in Recruiting: Pros & Cons
General Interest Green Key News Information Technology Marketing Technology Worklife

AI in Recruiting: Pros & Cons

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Alyssa Durham
Accounting + Finance General Interest Green Key News Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Alyssa Durham

Green Key Unlocked: The Story of Green Key
Accounting + Finance Architecture + Engineering Financial Services General Interest Green Key News Healthcare Human Resources Information Technology Leadership + Management Legal Support Marketing Technology Pharma Professional Support Worklife

Green Key Unlocked: The Story of Green Key

How to Keep Your Team Motivated
General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management Worklife

How to Keep Your Team Motivated

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Mia Johnson
Accounting + Finance General Interest Green Key News Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Mia Johnson

Impact of Women in Leadership
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

Impact of Women in Leadership

Recognizing Women’s History Month in the Workplace
General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management Worklife

Recognizing Women’s History Month in the Workplace

Latest Blog Posts
View All Posts
Green Key Unlocked: Celebrating Pride in Recruitment

Green Key Unlocked: Celebrating Pride in Recruitment

All year round, but especially during Pride Month, employers have an obligation to demonstrate inclusive hiring practices, diversity efforts, and...
Read More
Upskilling: Tips & Benefits for Your Organization

Upskilling: Tips & Benefits for Your Organization

Upskilling is the process of employees at your company learning new skills to advance their careers and pursue new opportunities.
Read More
Forbes Names Green Key on Lists of America’s Best Recruiting and Staffing Firms 2023

Forbes Names Green Key on Lists of America’s Best Recruiting and Staffing Firms 2023

Forbes has named Green Key Resources among their lists of America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms, America's Best Professional Recruiting Firms,...
Read More