Shadow IT refers to the use of digital technologies and services by employees within an organization without official approval or knowledge of the organization’s IT department. This includes applications, software, cloud services, and personal devices used for work purposes without going through the organization’s regular approval or control process.

The use of Shadow IT can pose a security risk for the organization, as it may expose sensitive information to vulnerabilities or attacks, cause data leaks (whether accidental or malicious), and undermine compliance with regulations and security policies.