KnowBe4 Research: Half of Employees Use Unauthorized File Services to Complete Work

Rhea-AI Summary

KnowBe4 has released a new research report titled "Shadow IT Is Real," highlighting significant risks associated with employees using unauthorized file services for work. The study, based on survey responses from over 435,000 participants globally, indicates that half of employees engage in insecure practices, particularly in Asia and Oceania. The report notes that industries like finance and technology perform better, while construction and government lag. The chief research officer emphasizes the need for organizations to enhance their security culture and employee awareness to mitigate these risks.

Positive

• The report raises awareness about shadow IT risks, potentially leading to increased demand for KnowBe4's security training services.
• The findings may encourage organizations to invest in security culture improvement, benefiting KnowBe4's market position.

Negative

• Prevalence of shadow IT practices indicates ongoing security vulnerabilities that could impact organizations adversely.
• Industries with poor performances may still face significant risks despite increased awareness, potentially affecting overall market confidence.

New research report from KnowBe4 on the realities of shadow IT reveals shocking findings

Tampa Bay, FL, Feb. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, today announced a new report from KnowBe4 Research, “Shadow IT Is Real”, which revealed that shadow IT is a real risk for organizations with half of employees using unauthorized file services to complete work.

This research report examines the prevalence of two common insecure practices using survey responses from over 435,000 participants across global regions and industries. The first analysis covers the use of unauthorized cloud services to store information and communicate in the workplace. The second analysis reviews the prevalence of downloading content through unauthorized file sharing networks using work computers. Highlights from the findings include:

• Asia and Oceania are regions with worryingly high rates of both practices, while Africa is consistently the best performing.
• Finance- and technology-based industries are comparatively better than many other industries, while construction-, manufacturing-, educational- and government-based organizations are the poorest performing.

“The findings from this research are very concerning because employees are exhibiting insecure behaviors that are putting their organizations at significant risk,” said Kai Roer, chief research officer, KnowBe4. “The concept of shadow IT has a direct impact on the level of security culture exhibited at an organization. To combat shadow IT, organizations should focus on strengthening their security culture and increasing employees’ level of security awareness. It is especially important for employees to understand and take responsibility for how their insecure behaviors can ultimately affect the organization’s reputation and bottom line.”   

To download the new KnowBe4 Research Report, “Shadow IT Is Real”, visit https://www.knowbe4.com/hubfs/Quarterly_Report_Q1_2022%20(2).pdf.

 

About KnowBe4
KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, is used by more than 47,000 organizations around the globe. Founded by IT and data security specialist Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organizations address the human element of security by raising awareness about ransomware, CEO fraud and other social engineering tactics through a new-school approach to awareness training on security. Kevin Mitnick, an internationally recognized cybersecurity specialist and KnowBe4's Chief Hacking Officer, helped design the KnowBe4 training based on his well-documented social engineering tactics. Tens of thousands of organizations rely on KnowBe4 to mobilize their end users as the last line of defense.

FAQ

What does the KnowBe4 report 'Shadow IT Is Real' reveal?

The report reveals that half of employees use unauthorized file services, highlighting significant risks and insecure practices in organizations.

Which regions showed the highest rates of shadow IT according to KnowBe4's findings?

Asia and Oceania exhibited worryingly high rates of shadow IT practices, while Africa performed the best.

How does the report categorize industry performance regarding shadow IT?

Finance and technology industries perform comparatively better, while construction, manufacturing, education, and government sectors are poorer performers.

What is the recommendation from KnowBe4 regarding shadow IT?

KnowBe4 recommends organizations strengthen their security culture and employee awareness to combat shadow IT risks.