In 2025, organizations are facing one of the biggest challenges in the history of the IT sector: the loss of visibility.
With hybrid work, personal devices, cloud expansion, SaaS apps and distributed teams, IT no longer controls everything connected to the network.
This phenomenon has a name: Shadow IT.
These are resources, devices, software and accounts that exist… but IT doesn’t know they exist.
And this is where Lansweeper becomes essential.
More than an inventory tool, it’s the platform that allows companies to answer critical questions:
- What assets do we actually have?
- Who is using them?
- Are they updated?
- Are they protected or a security risk?
- Are we overpaying for licenses?
- How many devices operate outside IT’s control?
In this article, we explore how Lansweeper became, in 2025, the key technology to fight Shadow IT, reduce costs, secure unknown assets and make decisions based on real data.
What is Lansweeper really (and why does it matter now more than ever)?
Lansweeper is an advanced IT Asset Management and automatic discovery platform designed to identify everything connected to your environment — even what shouldn’t be there.
Its unique value lies in its ability to:
✔ Find assets IT doesn’t know about
No agents required, no mass deployments, no user intervention.
✔ Build a living, unified inventory
Every discovered device is automatically updated.
✔ Map hardware, software and dependencies
From an Azure server to an old printer forgotten in storage.
✔ Detect vulnerabilities and risks
Outdated versions, unpatched equipment, abandoned devices.
✔ Enrich your CMDB and ITSM workflows
With accurate, real-time data.
Lansweeper doesn’t just inventory…
It reveals the “hidden layer” of your infrastructure.
The real problem it solves: Shadow IT
What is Shadow IT and why has it grown so much?
Shadow IT refers to all the technology operating outside the control of the IT department:
- Personal laptops connected to the VPN
- Software installed without approval
- SaaS applications created by Marketing or Sales
- Forgotten servers in closets
- Unmonitored IoT devices
- Remote endpoints without auditing
- Virtual machines created without governance
With the boom of remote work, Shadow IT grew more than 300% between 2020 and 2025, according to Gartner.
This generates massive risks:
- Increased attack surface
- Data breaches
- Invisible vulnerabilities
- Duplicated infrastructure
- Unnecessary licensing costs
- Compliance failures
Do you know how many “ghost assets” your company has?
If the answer is no, Lansweeper is the solution.
How Lansweeper fights Shadow IT in 2025
1. Automatic discovery (agentless and frictionless)
Lansweeper scans networks, cloud environments and remote devices without mass agent installation.
This reveals:
- Hidden PCs
- Undocumented servers
- Vulnerable or old IoT devices
- Forgotten virtual machines
- Unauthorized software
- Devices no one claims
2. Unified inventory: a single source of truth
All data is centralized:
- Hardware
- Software
- OS version
- Usage
- Status
- Owner
- Location
- Risk indicators
This eliminates spreadsheets, obsolete inventories and endless audits.
3. Vulnerability and risk detection
Lansweeper identifies:
- Unpatched devices
- Obsolete software
- End-of-life systems
- Abandoned endpoints
- Exposed ports
- Devices without antivirus
IT can prioritize risks and reduce the attack surface.
4. Cost optimization (one of the most searched benefits)
By discovering everything, Lansweeper uncovers:
- Software no one uses
- Duplicate licenses
- Unnecessary hardware
- Idle virtual machines
- Wasted cloud resources
This allows companies to reduce expenses without impacting performance.
5. Integration with ITSM, CMDB and automation
Lansweeper connects with:
- ServiceNow
- Jira
- FreshService
- NinjaOne
- Atera
- ManageEngine
- Intune
- Azure AD
- Power BI
IT stops working blindly — and starts working with real data.
Real cases where Lansweeper makes the difference
🟩 Case 1: Windows 11 migration
A company discovers 42% of PCs cannot support the upgrade.
Outcome: avoided failures, delays and unnecessary expenses.
🟩 Case 2: end-of-support servers
Lansweeper detects more than 80 outdated servers.
Action: urgent remediation and reduced exposure.
🟩 Case 3: eliminating unused licenses
More than 120 unused software licenses found.
Savings: $37,000 USD per year.
🟩 Case 4: Shadow IT exposure
Over 200 unknown devices detected.
Result: governance restored.
Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)
Does Lansweeper replace a CMDB?
No. It strengthens it by feeding real, accurate and constantly updated data.
Does it require agents?
Only if you want them. The agentless discovery covers most environments.
Is it secure?
Yes — encryption, role-based access, secure authentication and enterprise-grade compliance.
Can it discover cloud environments?
Yes: Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, virtual machines and containers.
Is it suitable for small and large companies?
It scales to both — from SMBs to global enterprises.
Can Lansweeper detect unauthorized software?
Yes. It identifies unapproved installations and compliance issues.
Conclusion
In 2025, the biggest challenge in IT isn’t the lack of tools…
It’s the lack of visibility.
Lansweeper gives organizations their technological visibility back, eliminates blind spots, reduces costs and strengthens security.
If you can’t see your assets, you can’t protect them.
Lansweeper is — today — the most effective way to regain full visibility.
