---
title: "What is Shadow IT?"  
description: "What is Shadow IT?"  
author: "Sandra Emily"  
published: 2022-05-04  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/97122/what-is-shadow-it  
category: "troubleshooting"  
tags: ["troubleshooting", "networking", "network-security"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What is Shadow IT?

What is [Shadow](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/405/curve-corners-with-shadow-in-html-using-css3) IT?

## Answers

### Answer by Hitesh Vohra

- Without explicit IT department authority, shadow IT refers to the usage of information technology systems, devices, software, applications, and services. With the use of cloud-based apps and services, it has risen at an exponential rate in recent years.
- While shadow IT can boost employee productivity and encourage innovation, it can also put your company at danger of data breaches, compliance violations, and other security issues.
- **Shadow IT** refers to information [**technology**](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/94446/what-are-the-advantages-of-security-issues-in-mobile-technology) systems used by departments other than the central IT department to work around the central information systems' perceived or actual inadequacies. Security and compliance issues are frequently introduced by shadow IT.

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## Read More: [What is Ransomware?](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/97123/what-is-ransomware)


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Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/97122/what-is-shadow-it

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