Shadow AI Detection
and Discovery
Find every AI tool in use across your organisation, whether approved or not. 55% of GenAI adopters use unapproved tools (Salesforce, 2024). Aona gives you complete visibility in 48 hours, no agents required.
Shadow AI discovery is the process of finding and inventorying every AI tool your workforce uses, including unapproved tools and AI features embedded in SaaS, so security teams can see and govern their full AI attack surface.
Aona runs shadow AI discovery from the endpoint. A browser plugin and a Windows and macOS desktop app surface AI usage as it happens, and Aona returns a complete AI tool inventory within 48 hours of deployment. No network proxy and no VPN required. Aona tracks 10,000+ AI tools and is SOC 2 Type II certified.
Want to see your own shadow AI inventory? Start your free 30-day trial and get a complete AI tool inventory within 48 hours.
How Shadow AI Discovery Works
Aona runs discovery across three endpoint coverage layers, so AI usage is captured wherever your workforce reaches for it.
Browser plugin
A lightweight browser plugin for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox powers discovery of web-based AI usage in real time. It deploys via MDM or group policy in minutes and shows which tools employees use, how often, and what data is flowing into them.
Windows and macOS desktop app
A native desktop endpoint app for Windows and macOS extends discovery beyond the browser to AI used in desktop applications. Endpoint-based discovery means no network proxy and no VPN infrastructure to stand up.
AI agent inspectionLimited rollout
AI agent inspection, currently in limited rollout, extends discovery to autonomous AI agents acting on behalf of employees, so agent-driven AI use is surfaced alongside the tools people open themselves.
Three Ways Aona Finds Shadow AI
Comprehensive detection across every channel employees use to access AI tools.
See every AI connection
Aona analyses outbound network traffic to identify connections to AI services, whether employees are using approved tools or unauthorised alternatives. No VPN required. Works across your entire organisation from day one.
Covers all devices on your networkReal-time usage visibility
The lightweight Aona browser extension captures AI tool usage in real time as employees interact with web-based AI services. See which tools are used, by whom, how often, and what categories of data are flowing through them.
Deploys via MDM in under 5 minutesFind AI embedded in your stack
Many organisations don't realise that AI is already embedded in the SaaS tools they've approved, from Salesforce Einstein to Slack AI to HubSpot's writing assistant. Aona scans your SaaS footprint and surfaces every embedded AI feature.
Discovers AI hidden inside approved toolsWhat You Get with Aona
A complete AI governance foundation, starting with full visibility.
AI Tool Inventory
A complete, continuously updated list of every AI tool in use, approved, Shadow AI, and embedded. Filter by tool, category, risk level, or department.
Usage by Team
Understand AI adoption patterns across departments. See which teams are heaviest AI users, which tools they prefer, and where unapproved usage is concentrated.
Risk Scoring
Every AI tool is automatically scored for risk based on data handling practices, vendor security posture, compliance certifications, and the sensitivity of data flowing through it.
Data Classification
Identify what categories of data are entering AI tools, PII, financial records, source code, customer data, so you can prioritise remediation and enforce policies where it matters most.
The Risks of Undetected Shadow AI
Ungoverned AI creates real exposure, for your data, your compliance posture, and your budget.
Data Leakage
Employees using unsanctioned AI tools may unknowingly upload customer records, source code, financial data, or confidential documents to third-party AI services with unknown data retention policies. Without visibility, you can't stop what you can't see.
Compliance Violations
Shadow AI creates audit gaps in regulated industries. If an employee processes patient health information through an unauthorised AI tool, your organisation may be in breach of HIPAA, the Australian Privacy Act, GDPR, or industry-specific frameworks, without knowing it.
Uncontrolled AI Spend
Ungoverned AI adoption leads to redundant tool subscriptions, duplicate capabilities, and budget leakage. Many organisations discover they are paying for dozens of overlapping AI tools when they finally audit their AI footprint.
How Shadow AI Detection Works
Three complementary layers of visibility, deployed in hours, not weeks.
Connect Your Environment
Deploy the lightweight Aona browser extension via MDM in under 5 minutes, and connect your network integration. No endpoint agents. No VPN required. Works from day one.
Discover Every AI Tool
Aona scans outbound traffic, browser sessions, and your approved SaaS stack simultaneously. Within 48 hours you'll see every AI tool in use, approved, shadow, and embedded in platforms you already own.
Govern and Remediate
Classify tools by risk, enforce your AI acceptable use policy, and block sensitive data from reaching unsanctioned tools. Employees receive real-time coaching. Security teams get audit-ready reports.
of employees use AI tools not sanctioned by IT or security
Microsoft WorkLab, 2025
average cost of a data breach
IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report, 2024
Australian Healthcare College
A 12-month audit at an Australian healthcare college surfaced 7 or more unapproved AI platforms, 446 Shadow AI prompts, and 8,904 visits to unapproved AI sites that staff had been using despite an approved Copilot rollout. Aona gave the college 100% workforce AI visibility and cut Shadow AI prompts by 92.9% in three months.
“Aona gave us visibility into which AI platforms were being accessed across the college and helped us proactively discourage use of unapproved tools while reinforcing Copilot as our approved option. It has been easy to deploy, lightweight for end users, and a valuable addition to our AI policy.”Senior Systems and Security Administrator, Australian healthcare college
Plan and evidence your AI governance program
Use these free templates to build an AI tool inventory, assess risk, and create the audit trail regulators expect.
AI System Inventory Template
Track every AI tool, embedded AI feature, automation, and agent workflow in one auditable inventory.
AI Security Audit Checklist
Step-by-step checklist for auditing AI tool usage, data flows, policy coverage, and compliance controls.
Shadow AI Statistics 2026
Data on how many employees use unapproved AI, what data they share, and what it costs organisations.
Shadow AI Discovery
Need the inventory first? Start with discovery: a board-ready baseline of every AI tool in use.
Frequently Asked Questions
See Every AI Tool in Use, in 48 Hours
Get a complete Shadow AI inventory with no endpoint agents and no VPN. Start in minutes.