Shadow IT

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Written By Threat NG Staff

Shadow IT refers to the use of information technology systems, devices, software, applications, or services within an organization without the explicit approval or knowledge of the IT department.

Think of it this way: Imagine employees using their personal cloud storage accounts to share work files or a department subscribing to a SaaS application without informing IT. These are examples of Shadow IT.

Why is Shadow IT a cybersecurity concern?

  • Security risks: Unsanctioned IT resources may lack proper security controls, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches.

  • Compliance violations: Shadow IT can lead to non-compliance with data privacy regulations and industry standards.

  • Lack of visibility: IT departments have limited or no visibility into Shadow IT activities, making it difficult to manage and secure these resources.

  • Integration challenges: Shadow IT applications may not integrate well with existing IT infrastructure, leading to compatibility issues and workflow disruptions.

Common examples of Shadow IT:

  • Using personal devices for work purposes

  • Downloading and using unauthorized software

  • Storing company data on unsanctioned cloud services

  • Using unapproved communication tools

Mitigating Shadow IT risks:

  • Establish clear IT policies: Define acceptable use of IT resources and communicate them effectively to employees.

  • Provide approved alternatives: Offer secure and user-friendly IT solutions to meet employee needs.

  • Implement robust security controls: Enforce access controls, data encryption, and other security measures to protect sensitive data.

  • Monitor network activity: Use tools to detect and monitor Shadow IT usage.

  • Educate employees: Raise awareness about the risks of Shadow IT and encourage employees to report any unauthorized IT usage.

By understanding and addressing Shadow IT, organizations can improve their cybersecurity posture and reduce the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches.

ThreatNG's comprehensive approach to external attack surface management can be a powerful tool in combating Shadow IT. Let's break down how its features and investigation modules can help:

1. Identifying Shadow IT:

  • Domain Intelligence: ThreatNG can uncover unregistered or forgotten domains and subdomains associated with your organization. This can reveal shadow IT projects or services running on these domains. For example, if a department sets up a website or application on an unapproved subdomain, ThreatNG's Subdomain Intelligence and Certificate Intelligence modules will identify it.

  • Cloud and SaaS Exposure: This module is crucial for detecting unsanctioned cloud services and SaaS applications. Imagine a team using a file-sharing service like Dropbox without IT approval. ThreatNG can detect this through its Unsanctioned Cloud Services identification and flag it as a potential Shadow IT instance. It can even pinpoint specific SaaS implementations like Slack, Zoom, or Asana being used without authorization.

  • Sensitive Code Exposure: If employees use public code repositories to store company code, ThreatNG can identify these instances and even detect exposed secrets like API keys or passwords within the code. This helps uncover Shadow IT projects that might be developed outside the organization's secure development environment.

  • Online Sharing Exposure: This module can identify the presence of organizational entities on code-sharing platforms like Pastebin or Github. This could reveal employees sharing sensitive information or code without proper authorization, highlighting a potential Shadow IT risk.

  • Technology Stack: By identifying the technologies used by the organization, ThreatNG can reveal discrepancies between the approved technology stack and actual usage. This can point toward the use of unauthorized software or tools.

2. Assessing Risk and Impact:

  • BEC & Phishing Susceptibility: Shadow IT often increases the risk of phishing attacks. ThreatNG can assess this susceptibility by analyzing email security configurations (DMARC, SPF, DKIM), identifying exposed login pages, and monitoring the dark web for compromised credentials.

  • Breach & Ransomware Susceptibility: Unmanaged assets are prime targets for attackers. ThreatNG can identify vulnerabilities in these assets and assess the organization's overall susceptibility to breaches and ransomware attacks due to Shadow IT.

  • Data Leak Susceptibility: ThreatNG can identify exposed databases, open cloud buckets, and other potential data leakage points associated with Shadow IT, helping organizations understand the risks and take appropriate action.

3. Continuous Monitoring and Reporting:

  • ThreatNG continuously monitors the external attack surface, providing real-time alerts on new Shadow IT instances or emerging threats. It allows security teams to address risks proactively before they escalate.

  • The platform generates comprehensive reports that provide insights into the organization's Shadow IT landscape, including the types of Shadow IT, associated risks, and recommended mitigation strategies.

4. Working with Complementary Solutions:

ThreatNG can integrate with other security solutions to enhance its effectiveness in combating Shadow IT:

  • CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker): Integrate with a CASB to gain deeper visibility into cloud usage, enforce security policies, and control access to sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud services.

  • SIEM (Security Information and Event Management): Feed ThreatNG data into a SIEM to correlate events, identify suspicious activities related to Shadow IT, and improve incident response.

  • Vulnerability Scanners: Combine ThreatNG's external vulnerability assessments with internal vulnerability scans to understand the organization's security posture.

Examples:

  • Scenario: A marketing team uses a free online survey tool to collect customer data without IT approval.

    • ThreatNG Action: The Cloud and SaaS Exposure module identifies the unsanctioned tool. The Data Leak Susceptibility assessment reveals potential risks for storing sensitive customer data on the platform.

    • Mitigation: IT can then work with the marketing team to find an approved alternative that meets their needs while adhering to security and compliance requirements.

  • Scenario: A developer uses a personal Github repository to store code related to a company project.

    • ThreatNG Action: The Sensitive Code Exposure module identifies the repository and detects an exposed API key within the code.

    • Mitigation: IT can alert the developer, secure the API key, and educate them about the risks of using personal repositories for work-related projects.

By leveraging ThreatNG's capabilities, organizations can comprehensively understand their external attack surface, identify and assess Shadow IT risks, and take proactive steps to mitigate them. This leads to a more robust security posture and reduced risk of cyberattacks and data breaches.

Threat NG Staff
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