Shadow data: The silent risk hiding in your cloud ecosystem

Over the past decade, digital transformation has empowered employees with flexibility and speed.

From cloud storage to real-time collaboration platforms, teams can now share, sync, and access data faster than ever.

But here’s the cost: uncontrolled data sprawl.

Shadow data refers to the sensitive or regulated information stored or shared in systems that escape traditional governance.

This includes:

• Documents in unmanaged cloud drives (Google Drive, Dropbox, Box)

• Data copied to unauthorised SaaS platforms for "convenience"

• Forgotten backups in IaaS environments

• API-generated logs that capture sensitive metadata

• Legacy data synced between tools with no clear owner

If your security policies and controls don’t extend across your whole digital ecosystem, you're operating in the dark. When a breach happens, shadow data becomes the hardest risk to assess because you never knew it existed.

During Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) 2025, now is the time to:

• Map your cloud data: Identify systems where critical data may reside beyond direct control

• Deploy data discovery tools: Not just for compliance, but to regain visibility

• Enforce policies: Shadow IT grows when governance is inconsistent or unclear

• Engage your staff: Education remains the frontline defence against careless or accidental exposure

Key takeaway:
You can’t protect what you don’t know exists. Visibility isn’t a luxury, it’s a prerequisite for security.

If your organisation relies on the cloud (and it does), ensure your data governance strategy keeps up with the speed of innovation.

NSB Cyber is proud to support Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) 2025, running from 16th to 22nd June 2025. For more information about PAW Week, head here.

For information on NSB Cyber’s Cyber Resilience capabilities or to book a meeting with our team, click here.