ChaptersCircleEventsBlog
Share how your organization manages AI securely. Take the CSA and Google enterprise AI Survey today!

Download Publication

Defining Shadow Access: The Emerging IAM Security Challenge
Defining Shadow Access: The Emerging IAM Security Challenge
Who it's for:
  • IAM Program Leads
  • Security Leads

Defining Shadow Access: The Emerging IAM Security Challenge

Release Date: 09/12/2023

Shadow Access is unmonitored, unauthorized, invisible, unsafe, and generally over-permissioned cloud access. This emerging Identity and Access Management (IAM) security challenge has arisen with the growth of cloud computing, DevOps, cloud native architectures, and data sharing. An increased use of access and entitlements that connect cloud services together, coupled with automated infrastructure and software development, results in incorrectly or unexpectedly permissioned accounts and resources.

The consequences of Shadow Access are massive and threaten to impact any organization that has an evolving cloud. This short IAM security document summarizes the background, causes, and impact of Shadow Access, as well as outlining the path forward to regain the benefits of a dynamic and secure cloud environment.

Key Takeaways: 
  • The background and definition of Shadow Access
  • What causes Shadow Access, including the complexity and process changes
  • The impacts of Shadow Access 
Download this Resource

Prefer to access this resource without an account?
Download the publication. Download the presentation.

Bookmark
Share
Related resources
Shadow Access and AI
Shadow Access and AI
Identity and Access Management Working Group Charter 2024
Identity and Access Management Working Group Ch...
Confronting Shadow Access Risks: Considerations for Zero Trust and Artificial Intelligence Deployments
Confronting Shadow Access Risks: Considerations...
MFA Made Easy: 8 Best Practices for Seamless Authentication Journeys
MFA Made Easy: 8 Best Practices for Seamless Authentication Journeys
Published: 07/02/2025
Introducing the OWASP NHI Top 10: Standardizing Non-Human Identity Security
Introducing the OWASP NHI Top 10: Standardizing Non-Human Identity ...
Published: 06/30/2025
What Kind of Identity Should Your AI Agent Have?
What Kind of Identity Should Your AI Agent Have?
Published: 06/25/2025
CIEM and Secure Cloud Access Best Practices
CIEM and Secure Cloud Access Best Practices
Published: 06/24/2025
Are you a research volunteer? Request to have your profile displayed on the website here.

Interested in helping develop research with CSA?

Related Certificates & Training