What does the term "shadow IT" refer to?

The term "shadow IT" specifically refers to the use of IT solutions, applications, or services within an organization without the knowledge or approval of the IT department. This phenomenon occurs when employees seek to fulfill their work needs by utilizing unauthorized tools, often cloud-based applications, that are not officially approved by the organization's IT management.

This can happen for various reasons, including the desire for ease of use, speed of deployment, or dissatisfaction with existing IT offerings. While shadow IT can lead to immediate productivity gains for employees, it poses significant risks to the organization, such as data security vulnerabilities, compliance issues, and integration challenges with officially sanctioned IT systems.

The other choices describe situations that do not align with the concept of shadow IT. For example, the explicit approval of IT management for new systems indicates a structured approach contrary to the essence of shadow IT. Similarly, securing cloud applications or setting up official IT systems implies adherence to organizational protocols, which is fundamentally opposite to the unauthorized nature of shadow IT.