Shadow IT is a security issue that poses risks to businesses of all sizes — your organization included. But what is it, and why is it dangerous? Let’s take a look.
What is shadow IT?
Shadow IT is the use of IT systems, hardware, software, and services that have not been approved by your IT department.

Teamwork is an important aspect of most jobs. When workloads are divided equally and allocated according to each team member’s strengths and skills, tasks are completed faster and more efficiently, resulting in a significant productivity increase.

According to a study by Google, however, it’s not enough to hire the most qualified people to build a strong team.

Keeping your company safe from cyberattacks is a huge challenge, and this is partly due to the confusing technical jargon used in the cybersecurity field. Failing to understand concepts like ransomware and DDoS may cause your company to overlook vital security measures and leave your company vulnerable to costly data breaches.

Has the term “online privacy” become an oxymoron? To have privacy is to have the ability to choose what we disclose about ourselves to others and impose limits on how our information can be used. However, it seems that every other day, we hear about IT systems being breached, customer data being stolen and sold on the dark web, and data scrapers obtaining information about us without our permission.

As the COVID-19 pandemic forced many companies around the world to adopt remote work, IT teams have worked hard to ensure business continuity and resolve IT issues. In fact, according to a study by software company Ivanti, nearly two-thirds of IT professionals said that their workloads have increased by as much as 37%. What’s more, 66% of them reported an increase in security issues in the past three months.

When stay-at-home orders were implemented in Maryland and across the United States, many people were forced to work from home. This meant employees were accessing corporate data and applications via home internet connections. Unfortunately, home networks are not as secure as corporate ones, so using them could compromise the security of your sensitive data.

For many employees, long-term remote work sounds greatly beneficial. There are many advantages, including less commute stress. In reality, working from home long-term may also cause burnout because it often involves working unusually long hours, the blurring of personal and professional lives, and far-from-ideal working conditions.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provides numerous benefits to small businesses. It’s easy to set up, has a chock-full of features, and is cost-efficient. With stay-at-home orders still in place, even employees who are working remotely rely on VoIP to communicate with colleagues.

Creating an IT budget has become more challenging because many workplaces are not what they used to be. Nowadays, business owners and IT managers must account for devices for office and remote staff, user preferences and training, and the optimal allocation of funds for every IT expense.

More people are working from home than ever before because of the pandemic-driven shift to remote working. This is why companies need inexpensive ways to ensure employees can collaborate despite not working in one office. After all, teams still need to report for work, attend meetings, and check in on each other.