Mimecast challenges shadow IT with stronger visibility into cloud app usage on mobile and desktop devices

Lexington, MASS –  Mimecast (NASDAQ: MIME), a leading email and data security company, today announced the release of added application visibility and control capabilities to its Mimecast Web Security service. Application Visibility and Control will help Mimecast customers overcome the challenge of Shadow IT by uncovering cloud app usage within their organizations and providing the necessary tools to control access. These new capabilities strengthen overall cyber resilience through more pervasive protection that extends beyond an organization’s perimeter. Additionally, Application Visibility and Control helps reduce security, data and compliance risks by more effectively managing where data and intellectual property is held in the cloud.

In today’s digital age, most employees are reliant on cloud-based apps to increase productivity and collaborate more efficiently. The internet has made access to these tools almost instantaneous. Some reports cite that the average enterprise uses more than 1,400 cloud services, with the average employee using 36 apps at work. Often these apps aren’t sanctioned by IT and use of these “unapproved” apps can create risks to data security, external regulations and organizational mandates.  By adding Application Visibility and Control to Mimecast Web Security, Mimecast is enabling customers to have full visibility of what apps are being used, by whom and how often. IT can then apply policies to block, allow and monitor all apps being used -- regardless of how they are being accessed – mobile or PC browser. Application Visibility and Control also helps customers enforce corporate policies to use specific file sharing services while blocking others. These new controls reduce risks while potentially saving cost incurred by individuals paying for and expensing access to non-sanctioned sharing services.

“There are many services available right at our fingertips to help employees be more productive, communicate and collaborate with colleagues, vendors and partners across the globe, but these benefits don’t come without risk – blind spots IT isn’t aware of,” said Jamie Fernandes, senior director of product management at Mimecast. “This is a challenge for organizations regardless of size or industry. This new standard capability within Mimecast Web Security will help to give the reins back to IT so they can proactively manage cloud app use across the organization to improve their cyber resilience posture, using the same single platform and console they use to secure email and web access.”

“Shadow IT continues to be a challenge for many IT and security teams as cloud app adoption grows and signing up to new services is simpler than ever,” said Scott Crawford, Research Vice President, Security, 451 Research. “Visibility into what apps are being used by employees is an important step in being able to understand and control this problem, with insight into DNS activity making a significant contribution to seeing and categorizing all requests. These capabilities help customers better monitor and approve apps or block unsanctioned apps across devices being used by employees, to help reduce the security, data and compliance risks that gaps in defense can create.”

Mimecast Web Security protects any user on and off the organization’s network against malicious and inappropriate websites and seamlessly integrates with Mimecast Email Security. The latest feature is an additional benefit to customers, improving their employee and organization’s cyber resilience. Learn more about Mimecast Web Security including Application Visibility and Control.

About Mimecast

Mimecast is a cybersecurity and compliance provider that helps thousands of organizations worldwide make email safer, restore trust and strengthen cyber resilience. Mimecast’s expanded cloud suite enables organizations to implement a comprehensive cyber resilience strategy. From email and web security, archive and data protection, to awareness training, uptime assurance and more, Mimecast helps organizations stand strong in the face of cyberattacks, compliance risk, human error and technical failure. www.mimecast.com