Unknown cloud applications can cause security problems

Without thinking too hard, would you know how many different cloud based applications you use on your mobile device? It is an easy thing to put on the back burner, but for IT departments that are trying to manage a workforce full of smartphones and tablets because of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, overlook applications can lead to major security problems. 

Professionals at cloud security company Skyhigh have been running a challenge where they promise they will be able to find 30 cloud services being used behind the firewall that an IT department is unaware of in 30 minutes. They have yet to lose.

According to company CEO Rajiv Gupta, who spoke with CITEworld, IT executives believe their employees are using between 25 and 30 different cloud apps when in reality they are using between 300 and 400 services. He also said that the company is adding 100 new cloud applications to its database every week.

The use of mobile applications and the cloud are major parts of the future of business operations. However, companies need to make sure they are properly monitoring these services. An employee using a new cloud app with the permission of the IT department is exposing the network and all company data to any malware or virus that program could have.

Partnering with an experienced IT consulting firm that understands the intricacies of a cloud service can help any business ensure that a cloud solution remains a safe option for workers.

From our offices in Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland, PRO OnCall is your single-source technology consulting service, offering managed IT support, unified communications solutions and on-call IT support.