Full-time or part-time employed in United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, Italy,Spain, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia
Method of interview
Online survey
Citation formats
Most common shadow IT usage by employees 2020, by category
42 percent of respondents to a recent survey state that they are using personal email accounts for work without the approval of their employers’ information technology team. Shadow IT refers to information technology used by employees without knowledge of the company's IT department.
Additional shadow IT in use are personal messengers, video conferencing, or file storage services. Notably, these services can enhance communication among employees and contribute to making remote work models effective as they enable collaboration from different locations. The downside of using such devices and applications, especially without approval of the IT department, is that they are likely to become targets of cybercriminals.
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Kaspersky Lab. (April 30, 2020). Online services used by employees not approved by information technology team as of 2020 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 22, 2026, from /statistics/1203786/employee-company-shadow-it-usage/
Kaspersky Lab. "Online services used by employees not approved by information technology team as of 2020." Chart. April 30, 2020. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 22, 2026. /statistics/1203786/employee-company-shadow-it-usage/
Kaspersky Lab. (2020). Online services used by employees not approved by information technology team as of 2020. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2026. /statistics/1203786/employee-company-shadow-it-usage/
Kaspersky Lab. "Online Services Used by Employees Not Approved by Information Technology Team as of 2020." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 30 Apr 2020, /statistics/1203786/employee-company-shadow-it-usage/
Kaspersky Lab, Online services used by employees not approved by information technology team as of 2020 ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/1203786/employee-company-shadow-it-usage/ (last visited July 22, 2026)
Online services used by employees not approved by information technology team as of 2020 [Graph], Kaspersky Lab, April 30, 2020. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1203786/employee-company-shadow-it-usage/