Last week, cloud computing company Shadow confirmed a data breach involving customers’ personal information. The hacker claims to have accessed the data of more than 530,000 customers. According to an email from Shadow CEO Eric Sèle, the hacker managed to download this data from a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider’s API.
This is just a recent example in a long list of data breaches that have affected companies of all sizes. And if you’re a tech CEO, you probably don’t want to be in that position. In the current regulatory landscape, you often have to notify privacy watchdogs and navigate regulatory obligations. More importantly, you risk losing the trust of your clients when you notify them of the breach.
That’s the reason Zygon caught my attention. This new French startup reviews all the SaaS applications used by your team — and it doesn’t just focus on official services, as it can identify shadow SaaS services that some teams have been quietly using without telling the IT department.
At first, I thought Zygon could be particularly useful as a cost-saving service. As many VC firms are still passing on deals that would have made sense a few years ago, some startups are actively reviewing their SaaS contracts to see if they can cancel a few subscriptions and extend their runway. But the startup wants to go beyond this initial usage and build a security startup for your SaaS services.
Zygon’s Vision
Zygon recently raised a $3 million seed round with Axeleo Capital leading the round, and Kima Ventures and several business angels also participating. Visibility on shadow IT is one of the key features that set Zygon apart from other SaaS management tools.
After the initial inventory process, Zygon customers get a dashboard with all the SaaS applications with the number of users per application. "We are using the metadata of employee emails to detect and track the usage of unapproved or unlicensed software," explained Mathieu Roussilhe, Co-Founder of Zygon.
This means that IT teams can finally see what’s happening on their network, even if employees have been hiding some tools from them. It’s not just about saving money by identifying unused SaaS subscriptions; it’s also about security and compliance. With Zygon, you’ll get a comprehensive view of your entire SaaS landscape.
The Benefits of Shadow IT Management
Zygon is built on top of open-source code, which makes it extremely scalable and flexible. The tool uses machine learning algorithms to analyze employee behavior and identify potential security risks.
By managing shadow IT, organizations can reduce the attack surface, minimize data breaches, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. With Zygon, you’ll be able to:
- Identify unapproved SaaS applications in use across your organization
- Detect and prevent data leaks through unauthorized access to sensitive information
- Reduce costs associated with unused or duplicate subscriptions
Conclusion
Data breaches are becoming increasingly common, and it’s essential for organizations to take proactive measures to protect themselves. With Zygon, you’ll get a comprehensive view of your SaaS landscape, detect potential security risks, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
By managing shadow IT effectively, you’ll be able to reduce the attack surface, minimize data breaches, and save costs associated with unused or duplicate subscriptions. Don’t wait until it’s too late; start reviewing your SaaS applications today with Zygon.
About Romain Dillet
Romain is a TechCrunch contributor based in Paris. He has been covering the tech industry for over 5 years and has a deep understanding of the startup ecosystem in Europe. When he’s not writing, Romain can be found speaking at conferences or participating in panels on topics such as AI, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship.
You can follow Romain on Twitter @romaindillet or reach out to him via email at rdillet@techcrunch.com.
