The formation of a Shadow Network poses significant risks, as these applications are not subject to security policies or oversight. This lack of control can lead to various security vulnerabilities, such as data leaks, compliance issues, and unauthorized access. Additionally, once a threat actor breaches one point in this network, they can potentially move laterally across the interconnected applications and systems, exploiting the Shadow Network to access sensitive information or further compromise the organization’s security.
Effectively managing and securing a Shadow Network requires robust SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) solutions that provide visibility into all SaaS usage, whether authorized or unauthorized, and enable the enforcement of security policies across the entire SaaS landscape.