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GenAI is revolutionizing how developers create new apps and services.
In this new era, shadow IT isnt just a nuisanceits a potential security crisis waiting to happen.
Its easy to see why.
Need to automate a workflow or create achatbot?
A few keystrokes, and its done.
The barriers to building have all but disappeared, unleashing a wave of innovation thats impossible to ignore.
But heres the catch: this creative boom has a dark side.
Some of these new tools rely on shadow APIsuntracked, unmanaged gateways operating in the wild west ofIT infrastructure.
Theyre more than happy to exploit these blind spots, turning innovation into a security nightmare.
As AI evolves, so do the tools attackers use to exploit it.
While developers build with GenAI, hackers use the same technology to scale their attacks.
Kongs research paints a stark picture: 74% of IT leaders are deeply concerned about AI-enhanced attacks.
But its not just bad actors misusing AI.
Even well-intentioned usage can lead to data exposure.
Shadow APIs, in particular, are a major blind spot.
Theyre often spun up without proper security measures, leaving them wide open to exploitation.
The compliance risks are just as serious.
Regulatory frameworks and federal laws demand strict data protection and transparency.
Shadow APIs can slip under the radar, exposing sensitive data without organizations even realizing it.
This not only puts businesses at risk of breaches, but also hefty fines for non-compliance.
Millions of APIs exist out in the wild which makes them an attractive target to cybercriminals.
In fact, Gartner estimates that API breaches leak ten times more data than your average cyberattack.
For organizations trying to stay ahead, visibility is everything.
It all starts with a solid infrastructure.
Thats where solutions like AI Gateways come into play.
Think of an AI Gateway as the control tower for your API ecosystem.
Even better, AI Gateways help businesses scale without introducing unnecessary risk.
But to harness its potential, businesses need to tackle the challenges head-on.
3.Invest in Resilience: Adopt infrastructure solutions like AI gateways to manage API sprawl and boost security.
Getting ahead of these challenges now is critical to staying competitiveand secure.
The Bottom Line
GenAI is a game-changer, but its also rewriting the rules of Shadow IT.
With every new app or API, comes a new potential vulnerability.
By combining innovative AI tools with a strong governance strategy, businesses can transform these risks into opportunities.
After all, innovation is only as powerful as the foundation its built on.
We’ve compiled a list of the best firewall software.
The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc.
