Cloud migration has become a strategic imperative for many companies in recent years. However, the road to the cloud is often complex and fraught with challenges, from identifying relevant workloads to ensuring security and compliance requirements. One often overlooked but valuable source of information and innovation during cloud migration is so-called shadow IT. While it is often perceived as a risk, shadow IT can serve as a catalyst for a successful migration—if companies are willing to harness it correctly.

Shadow IT refers to the use of IT systems, tools, or software solutions in an organization without the approval of the IT department. These unauthorized technologies often arise when the official IT infrastructure does not meet user needs. Employees turn to such tools to work faster, more efficiently, and more flexibly. For instance, they might use a cloud-based project management tool because the internal system is insufficient or store documents on external platforms for easier remote access – shadow IT is ubiquitous in many organizations.

While the risks regarding security and compliance are evident, shadow IT also represents a significant opportunity. It provides deep insights into the actual needs of employees and can offer valuable clues on how to make cloud migration more successful and user-centered.