Kaspersky Report: 42% of Professionals in Egypt View Cybersecurity Policies as ”Over-Restrictive,” Fuelling Shadow IT Risks
A recent study by Kaspersky, titled “Cybersecurity in the Workplace: Employee Awareness and Behavior,” reveals a critical disconnect between institutional security protocols and employee compliance in Egypt. According to the survey, 42% of professionals in the country believe their company’s cybersecurity policies are either exaggerated or misaligned with their operational needs. This friction has led to a rise in Shadow IT, where employees bypass IT departments to use unauthorized software or personal devices to boost productivity.
The report highlights that 16% of employees admitted to installing unapproved software on work devices over the past year. Furthermore, 35% of participants use personal devices to access corporate data with only minimal, consumer-grade protection. Tofic Derbas, Managing Director for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at Kaspersky, warned that Shadow IT has become a major operational risk. He emphasized that organizations must move away from rigid restrictions and toward user-centric, intelligent security strategies that balance technical solutions like Kaspersky Next (XDR/EDR) with continuous awareness and responsible usage.
