What is ‘Shadow IT’?
Shadow IT refers to the various web tools informally in use within most organisations. These tools are often chosen without reference to IT or to management in general.
They are often used for all the very best reasons. Your colleagues have work to do, and these tools help them, so they get used. You might know about some because there is a subscription charge, but others might be free.
These tools can be anything from simply keeping lists of tasks to do, sharing information or managing workflows, providing newsletter lists, or recruiting staff. Its endless.
There’s all sorts of web pages out there that your people will be finding useful and will be using.
The question is, do you know what is being used on your behalf?
Even more importantly, do you know who’s got access to them? As your staff come and go, do you know to change passwords or reset user accounts to make sure that no one who has left you (maybe even gone to a competitor) is still able to access your confidential data?
Shadow IT is one of the largest threats to data privacy in organisations today. It’s not necessarily because these sites are going to be hacked, although it’s always possible, but it’s because if you don’t know the tools are in use, then there is no way that you can manage them!
The first step to maintaining this data is to identify them, and that’s why you need new tools that are cloud focused.
If you’re still using the same old security tools that you used prior to the cloud, then you are simply not keeping up and we need to talk!
Here’s a story about what happens if you don’t have this under control: Why you need to know all the cloud services that your organisation uses – IT Solutions and Managed Services (kinetics.co.nz)
Shadow IT is part of our 10-point cyber-security check list
While there is no single layer of technology that can guarantee you will be safe from hackers, you can reduce your risk by adding layers of protection. How many of our 10-point check list are in place for you?
Zero-Trust IT Security
'Zero-Trust' is a tough headline. Zero-trust in a world where we trust people all the time is an unpleasant concept. We trust that when we order a package online, that the vendor will take our order and not just our money, that our product will be passed to a courier...
HAFNIUM Microsoft Email Attack
Over the last few days, you may have read about a zero-day attack impacting Microsoft Exchange Servers. We became aware of this vulnerability on Wednesday last week (it was discovered on the 2nd in the USA so we were on to it immediately, allowing for time-zones) . ...
5 simple steps to stay cloud-cyber-secure
We’ve posted repeatedly about cyber-security and the need to be more vigilant and more careful, and we’ve shared real-world stories to reinforce the concern. It’s a concern then that we still see a number of organisations that remain reluctant to increase their...
Cyber-risk mitigation – why Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is vital, but NOT enough
We keep making the point that nothing can guarantee you won’t be hacked. But you can, and must, mitigate your cyber-risk. We think tools like Multi-Factor Authentication is crucial for protecting your IT systems – and MFA should be on EVERYTHING you use – your email...
The Worst Hack in US History
In the last week, we’ve seen two major successful attacks on critical US IT management and Cyber security tools. The first we learned about was on FireEye which is one of the leading and most trusted cyber security tools, used by much of the Fortune 500. ...
Look out for more ransomware in 2021
2020 saw a crazy amount of ransomware attacks. We've warned repeatedly of the increasing sophistication and organisation of these bad actors. Names like RangarLocker and Dharma are cyber-businesses or do it yourself cyber-crime kitsets designed to cause havoc for...
DDOS – Distributed Denial of Service Attack (aka what went wrong at the NZ Stock Exchange)
Denial of Service (aka what went wrong at the NZX?) In September the NZ Stock Exchange was the victim of an attempted extortion via a DDOS attack. The attack took them offline serval times over a number of days. Many business are now asking, what is DDOS and could...
Keeping our Security tools up to speed
Cyber-crime is estimated to earn criminals US$7 Trillion a year That sort of money buys cyber criminals a lot of resources. It’s no surprise then that cybercrime has its own support industries. You don’t need to access the "Darknet" to purchase hacker tools. Many...
GOOD PROCESS WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH – SCAMMERS STILL WON
In August we all heard about Team NZ falling prey to a $2.8 million invoice payment fraud. It was the now-familiar story of a fake or hacked email, asking for payment to go to a different bank account. We should all be familiar with these tales by now. I’m sure that...
What is Double Key Encryption and why should you care?
Double Key Encryption (DKE) is coming soon to Microsoft 365 (E5 plans required) Like the name suggests, this is even MORE secure than the levels of encryption previously seen. Microsoft are saying that you need it if: You want to ensure that only you can ever decrypt...