90 Days Gen AI Risk Trial -Start Now
Book a demo
Shadow AI Detection

Shadow AI Detectionand 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.

0%
use unapproved AI tools
0+
AI tools detected
0hrs
to full inventory
0
agents required

Three Ways Aona Finds Shadow AI

Comprehensive detection across every channel employees use to access AI tools.

01
Network Traffic Analysis

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 network
02
Browser Extension Monitoring

Real-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 minutes
03
SaaS Integration Scanning

Find 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 tools

What 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.

55%
of GenAI adopters use unapproved tools
Salesforce, 2024

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.

69%
of companies lack AI usage policies
IBM, 2024

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.

38%
of AI spend goes ungoverned
Gartner, 2024

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.

01

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.

02

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.

03

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.

68%

of employees use unsanctioned AI tools

Gartner, 2025

$4.88M

average cost of an AI data breach

IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report, 2024

Case Study

Fortune 500 Financial Services Firm

A Fortune 500 financial services firm discovered 340+ unsanctioned AI tools in use across their workforce within 48 hours of deploying Aona. By enforcing AI acceptable use policies and deploying real-time data guardrails, they reduced AI policy violations by 87% within 90 days, without blocking employees from using approved AI tools.

87% fewer violations90-day turnaroundAPRA compliant
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Shadow AI detection is the process of discovering and inventorying all AI tools used by employees, including tools that have not been approved by IT or security teams. This gives security and IT teams full visibility into their AI attack surface.
Get started

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.