.png?width=682&height=175&name=Advantage-Logo-Tagline-Color%20(1).png){kind=logo}
Data breaches, compliance violation fines, operational disruptions, financial loss—these issues keep IT teams up at night. These problems have many origins, but one risk factor is rectifiable: rogue IT.
The unsanctioned employee use of technology, or rogue and shadow IT, poses significant enterprise risks. Yet, it’s more common than ever due to cloud applications' easy procurement and usability.
Employees want to complete their jobs more efficiently and want to use the technology they’re familiar with to do it. Discover how to address these enterprise-wide issues, detect rogue IT practices, and implement processes to address them.
Identify rogue practices and tools
Discover the prevalence of rogue IT within the enterprise by conducting an audit. While these shadow activities include software, hardware, and cloud services, the most common culprits are cloud applications.
Microsoft reports that 80 percent of employees use applications without the knowledge or management of the IT department. Identify these unverified solutions by polling employees for their daily platform usage and deploying automated detection tools.
Determining the risks associated with these rogue applications is the next step. An evaluation of their security, regulatory, and policy infractions determines the order in which to prioritize and mitigate threats.
Assess why employees are going rogue in the first place
Employees don’t engage in unsanctioned activities maliciously. They turn to rogue IT because there are limitations with existing tech or no solution to address their workflows.
A study from Gartner shows that 69 percent of employees ignored their employer’s cybersecurity guidance, and 74 percent are willing to do so if it leads to achieving a team’s objective.
Determine the pain points and bottlenecks driving these behaviors. Upgrading an insufficient tech stack or adding more efficient replacements are common resolutions.
It is also highly recommended to reassess training programs and available support because rogue IT often stems from a lack of education or skills. Offer a resource library and group training sessions to regularly revisit IT-approved solutions.
Standardize IT management across locations
Enterprises need an established IT governance framework applicable to all locations. It should be comprehensive, clearly defining approved technologies, procurement processes, and security protocols.
Address and maintain policy enforcement with region, language, and cultural differences in mind. While a unified strategy is the goal, don’t ignore localized nuances.
Implement centralized IT management
Centrally managed IT offers advantages to combatting rogue activities. Benefits include more control, visibility, and a robust security posture.
Look to tools that track, manage, and streamline technology usage across the enterprise. Because managing these tools is arduous for small in-house teams, consider engaging a managed services provider to facilitate.
Reliable third-party companies like Advantage® offer comprehensive management, tracking, and support for the enterprise’s tech stack. Identifying redundant solutions and operational inefficiencies at the location level becomes simple with Advantage’s proprietary platform, Command Center℠.
Customize IT solutions for individual locations
Standardizing IT policy is essential, but it’s equally important to recognize the unique needs of each office. Doing so ensures the enterprise utilizes the most reliable and cost-efficient solutions for every location.
Local regulations, technology availability, operational responsibilities, etc., affect the specific requirements at each site. Any technology policies need adaptation to address these needs and require further amendment for future expansion to new regions.
If employees have the tools they need to feel productive, they won’t resort to unapproved alternatives.
Monitor for compliance and efficiency
Regular audits and compliance checks detect and prevent rogue IT. Leverage technologies to continuously monitor software usage, hardware inventories, and cloud subscriptions.
Any discrepancies or anomalies could indicate unauthorized activity. Make it easy for employees to report concerns about unsanctioned application use.
Train employees on software and the importance of policies
Education is critical to preventing rogue IT. Offer regular training sessions to educate employees on your IT policies, best practices, and the risks associated with unauthorized technology use.
Emphasize the importance of adherence to these policies for the security and well-being of the entire organization. Encourage open communication practices and provide opportunities for employees to seek help or clarification on IT-related matters.
Partner with Advantage to save time on global connectivity management
Advantage helps enterprises mitigate the risks of rogue IT by providing comprehensive global connectivity management services. We offer ongoing support to reduce downtime for employees, proactive planning, and advisory services to ensure your tech stack meets the needs of all office locations.
By partnering with us, the IT team is free to focus on strategic initiatives while we handle the day-to-day management of global connectivity.
Conclusion
Combatting rogue IT in a global enterprise requires a multi-faceted approach. Effectively address the risks associated with unauthorized technology use by identifying rogue practices, understanding employee motivations, and educating employees.
Then, implement practices to minimize future instances of rogue IT by standardizing IT management, centralizing control, customizing solutions, and continuously monitoring for compliance.
Partnering with Advantage further streamlines your efforts by providing expert guidance, comprehensive solutions, and ongoing support. Learn how we help safeguard global businesses from the threats of rogue IT.