Congratulations! Your Internship Rotation Takes You This Wee

Congratulations This Week Your Internship Rotation Takes You To The

Congratulations! This week, your internship rotation takes you to the company's IT Department where you've been asked to help prepare a short presentation for one of the company's Brown Bag Lunch training events. This training event will be attended primarily by business professionals who have familiarity with information technology but at a very high level; the attendees use IT to perform their jobs on a daily basis. For this 10-minute presentation, you should focus upon meeting the information needs of the attendees from the internal (business) organizations supported by the IT department. You should also anticipate questions which your audience might ask during the 10-minute Question & Answer period which follows your presentation. (When you write your peer critiques for this week -- ask and then answer at least one question that you believe the audience is likely to ask.) Choose one of the following articles to present to the attendees: 1. Cloud Operating Models 2. Plain English Guide to Managed IT Services 3. Shadow IT Explained: Risks & Opportunities. After reading the article, prepare a set of slides (talking points) with speaker notes in which you highlight key information about the article and why Padgett-Beale employees should "care" about the topic. Make the presentation relevant for Padgett-Beale by integrating information about its business operations (use the company profile, the weekly descriptions, and other course readings). At least one of your slides should address cybersecurity issues and concerns that arise in the context of your chosen article (use the CSCU textbook's material and other course readings to help you identify these issues and concerns). You should have a title slide, a slide containing the article title & publication information, content slides, and a summary slide -- 8 to 12 slides total. At the end of the presentation, include a Q&A slide followed by a "backup" slide which has additional resources that the audience can consult for more information. Each slide must have speaker notes (at least one paragraph). Watch out for jargon! Write in business appropriate language and/or plain English but do not speak down to your audience. Use your UMGC student Office 365 subscription to access PowerPoint to create your slide deck. Note: You should read / consult one or more of the resources under "Supplemental Readings" for additional information relevant to your chosen article.

Paper For Above instruction

This paper will focus on preparing a professional, engaging, and informative 10-minute presentation tailored for business professionals at Padgett-Beale, centered around the article "Shadow IT Explained: Risks & Opportunities." The presentation aims to demystify shadow IT, discuss its implications for the company, especially in terms of cybersecurity, and provide actionable insights to managed and mitigate potential risks.

Introduction: Understanding Shadow IT and Its Relevance to Padgett-Beale

Shadow IT refers to the use of information technology systems, devices, software, or services within an organization without explicit approval or knowledge of the IT department. This phenomenon arises from employees seeking agile, cost-effective, or innovative solutions outside formal IT channels. For Padgett-Beale, a company that relies heavily on integrated business systems, understanding shadow IT is vital because unmonitored applications can introduce security vulnerabilities, data breaches, and compliance risks. As the firm manages sensitive client data and financial information, this presentation will highlight why shadow IT is a pressing concern and how the organization can address it effectively.

Key Aspects of Shadow IT and Business Opportunities

The article explains that shadow IT often emerges because employees find official channels cumbersome or slow, prompting them to use alternative solutions like unsanctioned cloud services or personal devices for work-related tasks. While these practices may create opportunities for increased productivity and innovation, they also pose significant cybersecurity risks. For Padgett-Beale, encouraging responsible shadow IT use—such as sanctioned cloud apps—can foster flexibility and enhance operational efficiency without compromising security. The presentation will emphasize establishing clear policies, providing approved tools, and educating staff about the inherent risks of unmanaged IT solutions.

Cybersecurity Concerns and Risk Management

One of the critical sections of the presentation addresses cybersecurity issues associated with shadow IT. The article highlights that unmanaged systems often bypass protective measures like firewalls, endpoint security, and data encryption, creating vulnerabilities exploitable by cybercriminals. For Padgett-Beale, these risks include data breaches, loss of client trust, regulatory penalties, and financial damages. The presentation will include strategies such as continuous monitoring, employee training, and deploying enterprise-wide security policies to manage shadow IT’s risks. Furthermore, integrating cybersecurity best practices—like multi-factor authentication and regular vulnerability assessments—can strengthen defenses against threats introduced via shadow IT.

Integrating Shadow IT Insights with Business Operations

Padgett-Beale’s operational environment—focused on financial management, client communications, and data analytics—can benefit from insights into shadow IT by aligning IT policies with business needs. Allowing sanctioned cloud platforms or collaboration tools can prevent employees from resorting to unapproved options. Also, understanding specific departmental workflows can tailor IT support to foster innovation while maintaining security compliance. This approach minimizes the allure of shadow IT by reducing friction and meeting user demands within controlled environments.

Conclusion: Strategies for Fostering Secure Innovation

The presentation concludes with actionable recommendations: implement clear policies on shadow IT, educate staff on cybersecurity risks, offer approved cloud and collaboration tools, and foster a culture where employees feel supported in using technology responsibly. For Padgett-Beale, proactive management of shadow IT can capitalize on the benefits of agility and innovation while safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining regulatory compliance.

Anticipated Questions and Prepared Responses

Potential questions from the audience may include concerns about balancing security with operational flexibility, or how to identify shadow IT in large organizations. In the Q&A, I will emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring, employee training, and fostering open communication channels between staff and IT. Additionally, I will clarify that the goal is not to eliminate all shadow IT but to manage it effectively through strategic policies and trusted tools.

Supplemental Resources

For further information, the audience can consult cybersecurity frameworks from NIST, best practices outlined by Gartner on shadow IT management, and recent case studies on shadow IT-related security breaches. Providing these resources will equip employees with additional knowledge to understand and mitigate shadow IT risks effectively.