The Real Risk of Shadow Apps in Your Atlassian Environment

In today’s cloud-first workplaces, teams move fast. They adopt tools that solve problems quickly, often without involving IT. Within the Atlassian ecosystem, this agility is both a strength and a potential liability, especially when teams install Marketplace apps without thorough review.

These unvetted or lightly reviewed apps, often called shadow apps, can introduce serious risks to your environment. Unlike traditional software rollouts, app installation in Jira or Confluence can happen with just a few clicks, and without oversight.

And it’s more common than you think.

What are Shadow Apps in the Atlassian Ecosystem?

A shadow app is any Jira or Confluence app installed without going through your organization’s standard procurement, security, or IT governance processes. These can range from simple UI enhancements to apps that access issue data, user activity, or even admin-level permissions.

Even if the team’s intentions are good, the reality is that:

• Many apps run on third-party infrastructure, outside Atlassian’s cloud
• Some apps lack regular security testing or have no published SLAs
• Data egress and residency are unclear or unlisted
• Support and issue resolution are limited, especially under pressure

In short, shadow apps introduce operational and security blind spots into your stack.

Why Shadow Apps pose a serious risk

While shadow apps may seem like simple productivity enhancers, they create ripple effects across multiple parts of the organization.

1. Increased security exposure

Each new app extends your organization’s data surface. Without proper vetting, these apps may:

• Be hosted on unknown third-party infrastructure
• Transfer data across regions without clear controls
• Lack strong encryption or backup policies
• Be built by vendors with no formal security processes

2. Compliance gaps

Unapproved apps can complicate your compliance efforts. They may interfere with:

• Internal audits
• Regulatory requirements like GDPR or HIPAA
• Data residency policies
• Vendor due diligence and security questionnaires

You cannot protect what you do not know exists.

3. Operational inefficiency

Shadow apps also introduce friction into support and operations:

• Responsibility becomes unclear when app ownership changes
• IT teams receive support requests for apps they never approved
• Security incidents take longer to resolve without proper app context

Atlassian’s Response: Raising the Trust Bar

Atlassian has introduced several programs that help teams make informed decisions and reduce shadow IT risks.

Built on Forge

Forge is Atlassian’s secure, serverless development platform. Apps built on Forge:

• Run entirely within Atlassian’s infrastructure
• Do not rely on external servers
• Minimize data egress
• Are easier to audit and approve

Runs on Atlassian

This badge identifies apps that are both built on Forge and fully hosted by Atlassian. These apps:

• Offer admin control over data sharing
• Respect data residency preferences
• Eliminate vendor-managed infrastructure

Cloud Fortified

Apps under this program offer:

• 24×5 enterprise-grade support
• Ongoing performance and reliability monitoring
• Automated vulnerability scanning
• Participation in the Marketplace Bug Bounty Program

What you can do now

Here are practical steps to help your organization stay protected.

1. Conduct a Marketplace App Audit

Regularly review your Jira and Confluence instances for installed apps. Look for apps that are unapproved, outdated, or no longer used.

2. Establish a Simple App Review Process

Set clear criteria for approval such as Forge-built or Runs on Atlassian status. Ensure that your process is fast and transparent to avoid teams going around it.

3. Educate Stakeholders

Help your team leads and project managers understand the risks and what to look for. Give them a shortlist of trusted vendors to start with.

4. Consolidate on Secure-by-Default Vendors

Choose vendors who prioritize cloud-native architecture and transparent security practices. These apps are easier to justify, support, and maintain.

Ricksoft’s Approach to Trusted Atlassian Apps

At Ricksoft, we’ve committed to building apps that meet these higher bars. Several of our apps now carry the Runs on Atlassian, Cloud Fortified, and Built on Forge badges. That means:

• No third-party infrastructure
• Fast, Atlassian-hosted performance
• Premium support and response times
• Proactive, ongoing security testing

This isn’t about chasing badges; it’s about designing our products for long-term trust, especially for enterprise and compliance-conscious customers.

Shadow apps are a symptom of teams trying to move quickly, but with the right frameworks and vendors, you can offer both freedom and oversight. Use programs like Forge and Cloud Fortified as your first line of defense in keeping your Atlassian environment secure, stable, and trustworthy.

The strongest teams are not the ones who say no to innovation. They are the ones who build a framework for using tools with confidence and trust.

Visit our Security & Compliance Hub to explore our trusted cloud apps.