Shadow IT exists because IT departments can be slow and burdensome, hindering productivity. Instead of blocking these projects, IT teams should partner with other departments to understand the problem and prioritize a solution. By contributing to ensure security concerns are met, IT can let the shadow IT team do their own thing.
Not every shadow IT project poses a security risk, such as protected health information. IT should focus on managing the risk where applicable and backing off when there is no real threat to the organization. Identifying critical IT policies and educating employees on meeting security requirements can help mitigate risks. If there is no real risk, IT should not impede agile and innovative projects.
Shadow IT can be leveraged as a force multiplier for IT departments. By allowing others to take on IT tasks, valuable knowledge and expertise can be gained with minimal resource usage. Successful shadow IT projects often expand over time, and when this happens, the shadow teams are usually willing to hand over the project to production IT. IT should consider this a gift of time and effort.
Monitoring and managing shadow IT can be challenging, especially with cloud-based solutions. Utilizing network monitoring and cost controls can help identify the presence of shadow IT. Once identified, it is important to track and understand the scope and timelines of these projects. Regular contact with the shadow IT team, requesting updates and documentation, is crucial. Shadow IT projects should not be permanent; if it appears to be an ongoing initiative, negotiations should take place for integration into production IT processes. This includes vulnerability management, resource planning, upgrades, and business continuity.