Shadow IT is defined as the use of non-sanctioned apps and software within the organisation without the knowledge of the organisation itself. It is the dark shadow sitting in the crevices of corporate and company, luring the unwary into its honey trap of efficiency and ease of use. Downloaded and installed by employees, Shadow IT makes their lives easier, but introduces risk, compliance and security issues that make IT’s life a lot harder.

“Very few CIOs have a clear view of just how much Shadow IT they are experiencing and the impact on their business, both positive and negative,” says Jon Tullett, research manager, IT Services, IDC South Africa. “The biggest driver has been the increasing maturity of end-users, plus the fact that cloud solutions are low-cost and incredibly easy to procure and deploy.”