ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF SHADOW IT ON THE ENTERPRISE CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE

Abstract

Shadow IT, defined as the use of IT systems and services without official approval from the IT department, has become a significant challenge for managing cloud infrastructure in modern organizations. With the expansion of cloud technologies, particularly their availability and scalability, an increasing number of employees are independently implementing technological solutions, bypassing official channels. These actions are often driven by a desire for faster results, improved productivity, or convenience. However, by circumventing formal IT governance procedures, these decisions can pose serious threats to data integrity and create significant challenges for regulatory compliance. The growth of Shadow IT is directly linked to the increasing functionality and accessibility of cloud services, such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. These services allow quick and minimal-effort access to computing power, data storage, and additional features without the need for interaction with the IT department. This can lead to bypassing established IT procedures and governance structures, jeopardizing data confidentiality, losing control over information, and creating substantial financial and legal risks for the company. One of the key problems arising from Shadow IT is data protection and cybersecurity. Uncontrolled use of cloud services can leave an organization vulnerable to external attacks, as such services may not meet internal security standards or provide the necessary level of protection. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, data breaches, or violations of requirements such as GDPR or PCI-DSS. Additionally, conflicts between corporate policies and the specific configurations of cloud services can create security gaps. Shadow IT also increases the risk of legal and financial liability. The use of unauthorized cloud services can result in fines for regulatory violations, reputational damage, and increased costs for restoring security. The lack of proper management and control also complicates audit compliance and creates serious challenges for the organization, especially under growing regulatory pressure. One of the most effective ways to mitigate the impact of Shadow IT is to implement automation for managing cloud environments. Automation significantly improves control over cloud resource usage, allowing IT departments to quickly respond to changes, identify vulnerabilities, and ensure compliance with security standards. Additionally, automated monitoring systems provide real-time visibility into the use of cloud services, reducing the likelihood of unauthorized usage. Another important strategy for combating Shadow IT is reevaluating the usability of official IT solutions used within the organization. Shadow IT often arises as a response to the inadequacy or complexity of existing corporate solutions. If official services are more user-friendly and better tailored to the needs of users, employee motivation to use unauthorized tools will decrease. Providing access to more intuitive and functional official cloud services can significantly reduce the number of Shadow IT incidents and increase security. Thus, combining automation with a constant reevaluation of the convenience and efficiency of official IT solutions is a key strategy for minimizing the risks associated with Shadow IT. These approaches not only enhance control and security but also make IT services more attractive to users, encouraging active use within established rules and procedures.