In many businesses, there’s little visibility into the unauthorised apps employees download and use to get their work done and it’s becoming a major threat to business security. Employees circumvent using the company-approved tools that they find frustrating or outdated to help them work faster and more efficient and avoid switching between a large number of authorised apps.
Why do employees turn to unauthorised apps?
Sometimes, employees turn to unapproved apps because they find company-sanctioned tools are difficult to use or don’t have the capabilities they expect. Alternatively, the introduction of new processes could trigger employees to look for novel workarounds, including the use of AI tools.
Why are unauthorised apps dangerous?
If the IT team lacks visibility and control over these tools, it means that the IT team cannot secure data in them. If the data in the app is not secured, it can expose corporate data to anyone who uses the same network.
Likewise, if the IT team have no control over these apps, how can they make sure that the tools are regularly updated to address vulnerabilities? When left unchecked, leaky apps expose businesses to various threats and leave systems vulnerable to hackers.
Other potential issues that come with the use of unauthorised apps increased an increased risk of phishing and malware as well as compliance breaches in some industries. Use of unauthorised tools without multifactor authentication can also expose employee credentials, giving hackers a fast way to access company systems.
Addressing unauthorised apps
It’s important to put good governance in place and provide guidelines for approved software use. Think about adopting the following measures:
1. Promote your approved software list
Whitelist the apps that may be used for work and make sure your list of trusted applications is easy for employees to access. What’s more, it’s important for employees to feel heard when approved apps don’t meet their needs, so promote a schedule of updates of when new tools are approved.
2. Educate employees about security risks
Create security training content that demonstrates the security risks of unauthorised apps. Employees must understand that downloading unapproved software is a significant security risk.
3. Monitor network traffic
The use of network-monitoring tools will help identify unauthorised software use and pinpoint potential security threats. It’s also important to use mobile threat defence (MTD) solutions that scan apps for leaky behaviour.
4. Reinforce endpoint security
Deploy endpoint protection across all devices using a cloud-based security solution to protect against the broad spectrum of cyber threats and usage risks. This will provide visibility on apps usage, prevent unauthorised access, and detect suspicious activity in real time.
Free assessment
If you’re interested in knowing what unauthorised apps your employees are using right now, contact the team at imei. We can provide a detailed overview of your mobile environment with recommendations for security improvements.
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