Embrace Shadow IT as Your Guide for Technology Navigation, Instead of Viewing it as a Form of Resistance
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the preferences of employees regarding software tools can provide invaluable insights for ecosystem administrators. By understanding these preferences, functionality gaps that could potentially improve productivity while maintaining security can be addressed.
A recent study reveals that employees waste an average of 36 working days annually dealing with technology frustrations, underscoring the need for enterprises to listen to their workforce and adapt to their needs. This includes asking employees what tools they need to do their jobs effectively and then working to onboard these tools safely.
The pandemic-induced boom in remote work has seen a significant rise in the use of shadow IT. A study shows that its use grew by almost two-thirds due to the shift towards remote work. This trend is almost inevitable in the age of remote work, and it's better for businesses to treat it as internal research rather than a rule violation.
The intensified deployment of generative AI in companies, which began around the end of 2022, presents a new frontier of shadow IT. Employees, particularly younger ones like Gen Z, are using AI to automate tasks without manager knowledge. Stanford research highlights a notable impact starting at that time with widespread use of generative language models.
One of the challenges posed by generative AI in shadow IT is the sharing of sensitive data. For instance, in 2023, Samsung found its employees sharing sensitive internal source code with ChatGPT. This incident underscores the need for enterprises to establish clear guidelines and monitor the use of these AI tools to prevent such incidents.
The average enterprise admin believes only 37 apps are used at their organisation, but the actual number is closer to 600, according to research by digital adoption platform WalkMe. Unknown and undeclared tools in shadow IT cause licensing, security, access, and potential compliance issues. With added app visibility, companies can determine what they're uncomfortable with inside the network and step in to blacklist questionable tools.
Blanket banning additional apps is not a productive or feasible solution in today's remote, dispersed enterprise. Instead, companies should make employees feel comfortable discussing their software wishlist to align security requirements with productivity needs. This approach can transform what was once viewed as an ecosystem weakness into an enterprise strength.
Shadow IT and shadow AI are viewed by Hexnode founder Apu Pavithran as opportunities for employee engagement and technology improvement, rather than problems. By treating shadow IT as a roadmap rather than a rule violation, businesses can leverage these tools to enhance productivity and innovation while maintaining control.
In conclusion, understanding and addressing the issue of shadow IT is crucial for businesses in the digital age. By fostering open communication, establishing clear guidelines, and promoting a culture of innovation, businesses can harness the power of shadow IT to drive productivity and growth while maintaining security and control.
