Tech budgets drained as CIOs battle to secure shadow IT

New research claims IT departments are spending 20 per cent of their time on securing non-centralised IT

IT departments are spending "substantial" amounts of time and money on battling to secure so-called shadow IT procured outside of their jurisdiction.

According to new research from BT, which surveyed almost 1,000 senior IT decision makers across the world, 76 per cent of CIOs are seeing shadow IT within their organisations. The trend, which describes the procurement of IT within departments instead of centrally, is sapping CIOs' time, the research added.

On average, those surveyed said they are spending 20 per cent more time trying to secure so-called shadow IT, as well as "substantial" amounts of money. The trend now accounts for a quarter of companies' spending, the research added.

BT said that despite being tied up sorting out security for the non-centrally procured IT, CIOs should use the opportunity to develop their roles.

"I've been a CIO and to me it feels as if we're on the verge of a renaissance of the profession with greater opportunities than ever before. In this new environment, CIOs who can adopt a creative, imaginative and visionary mind-set, and look more to their IT partners for innovation and fresh thinking, will thrive," said BT Global Services' chief executive Luis Alvarez.