ShadowLock

ShadowLock is a comprehensive shadow AI detection and governance platform designed specifically for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and internal IT teams who need real-time visibility and control over how employees use artificial intelligence tools within their organizations. The platform addresses a critical and growing security gap: the use of unapproved AI applications that process sensitive company data outside of managed IT environments. ShadowLock covers the blind spots that traditional managed-device controls miss, including browser extensions, desktop AI applications, local large language models like Ollama and LM Studio, and personal accounts on public AI services. The solution operates through a three-layer architecture consisting of a Windows endpoint agent that deploys silently via existing Remote Monitoring and Management tools, a browser extension that intercepts and classifies risky data pastes to AI websites, and a multi-tenant dashboard that allows MSPs to audit or block each control across all client environments from a single interface. Built for privacy by design, ShadowLock does not perform keystroke logging and transmits zero content from user interactions. The platform currently detects and governs over 100 unique AI tools, services, and desktop applications, and continues to expand its coverage. ShadowLock is purpose-built for organizations that need to balance employee productivity with AI tool usage against the growing legal, compliance, and liability risks associated with uncontrolled AI adoption.

Multi-Layer AI Detection and Governance

ShadowLock provides comprehensive coverage across the entire AI surface area through three integrated layers of protection. The endpoint agent deploys silently to Windows endpoints via existing RMM tools, monitoring AI activity, scanning for browser extensions, detecting local AI applications, and locking down the AI features built into Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Firefox with zero user interaction required. The browser enforcement layer self-configures once the agent is installed, intercepting pastes, file uploads, and sensitive data typed directly into prompts, enforcing data-sharing opt-out settings on each AI tool, and applying organizational policies with clear user-facing messages. The Microsoft 365 scanner connects to each customer tenant to detect AI app usage within the SaaS environment.

Real-Time Sensitive Data Interception

The browser extension component actively monitors and classifies risky data being pasted into AI websites and applications. When an employee attempts to submit customer records, credentials, confidential documents, or other sensitive information into an unapproved AI tool, ShadowLock intercepts the action in real-time and applies the organization's predefined policies. The system provides clear user-facing messages explaining why the action was blocked or flagged, helping educate employees about appropriate AI usage while maintaining security controls. This interception capability covers public AI chatbots, embedded AI features within SaaS applications, and AI coding assistants.

Silent Deployment via Existing RMM

ShadowLock is designed for frictionless deployment across managed client environments. The Windows agent deploys silently through existing Remote Monitoring and Management tools, eliminating the need for dedicated security engineering resources or complex installation procedures. Once deployed, the agent requires no user interaction and operates transparently in the background. This deployment model is specifically optimized for MSPs managing multiple client environments, allowing them to roll out AI governance controls across their entire client base without disrupting existing workflows or requiring on-site visits. The agent automatically detects and manages browser extensions and local AI applications.

Multi-Tenant Management Dashboard

The platform provides a centralized, multi-tenant dashboard that gives MSPs and IT teams complete visibility and control over AI usage across all client environments from a single interface. The dashboard allows administrators to audit AI tool usage, block specific applications or categories, review detailed activity logs, and generate audit-ready compliance reports. Each control can be configured and applied at the client level, enabling customized governance policies that align with each organization's specific compliance requirements and risk tolerance. The dashboard provides real-time visibility into which AI tools are being used, by whom, and with what types of data.

Healthcare HIPAA Compliance Enforcement

Healthcare organizations face significant regulatory exposure when employees paste protected health information into public AI tools without a Business Associate Agreement in place. ShadowLock addresses this by intercepting patient data before it reaches unapproved AI chatbots and applications. The platform automatically blocks submissions containing ePHI to tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini when accessed through personal accounts that lack enterprise contracts and data protection agreements. This proactive enforcement helps covered entities and business associates maintain HIPAA compliance while still allowing approved AI use cases that have proper contractual protections in place.

MSP Client Risk Management

Managed Service Providers face growing liability exposure when client organizations experience AI-related data incidents. ShadowLock enables MSPs to proactively govern AI usage across every client environment from a single multi-tenant dashboard. The platform provides the visibility to demonstrate due diligence and the controls to prevent incidents before they occur. MSPs can deploy the agent silently via existing RMM tools, configure customized policies for each client based on their specific industry regulations and risk tolerance, and generate audit-ready reports that document compliance efforts. This comprehensive approach protects both the client organization and the MSP from liability claims.

Enterprise Intellectual Property Protection

Organizations that develop proprietary software, create confidential documents, or manage trade secrets face significant IP risk when employees submit source code, contracts, or product plans to public AI tools. ShadowLock prevents this exposure by detecting and blocking submissions of proprietary information to AI applications. The platform covers AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot and Cursor that have broad file access, as well as public AI chatbots where employees might paste confidential business information. By controlling access and preventing data exfiltration through AI tools, organizations can maintain their trade secret protections and intellectual property rights.

Incident Response and Audit Readiness

When organizations suspect an AI-related data incident, they need immediate answers about which tools were involved, which accounts were used, and what data was exposed. ShadowLock provides the forensic visibility necessary for effective incident response. The platform maintains detailed audit logs of all AI tool usage, including blocked attempts, approved submissions, and policy violations. This data enables security teams to conduct thorough investigations, determine the scope of potential exposures, and provide defensible documentation for regulatory inquiries. Organizations can generate compliance reports that demonstrate their AI governance controls and due diligence efforts to auditors and regulators.

How does ShadowLock handle user privacy and data security?

ShadowLock is built with privacy by design as a core principle. The platform does not perform keystroke logging and transmits zero content from user interactions to external servers. The browser extension intercepts and classifies data being pasted into AI tools, but this classification happens locally on the endpoint without sending the actual content to ShadowLock's infrastructure. The platform only logs metadata about blocked or flagged actions, such as the tool being used, the type of data detected, and the policy applied. This approach ensures that organizations can govern AI usage without compromising employee privacy or creating additional data security risks.

Can ShadowLock detect AI usage on personal devices or non-managed endpoints?

ShadowLock is designed to protect managed Windows endpoints within an organization's IT environment. The platform requires the endpoint agent to be installed on Windows devices, which deploys silently via existing RMM tools. For browser-based AI usage, the agent self-configures the browser enforcement layer on supported browsers including Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Firefox. Personal devices and non-managed endpoints are not covered by the agent. However, the Microsoft 365 scanner component can detect AI app usage within the SaaS environment regardless of the endpoint device being used, providing some visibility into AI usage on unmanaged devices.

What types of AI tools and applications does ShadowLock cover?

ShadowLock currently detects and governs over 100 AI tools, services, and desktop applications, with coverage growing continuously. The platform covers public AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini accessed through personal accounts. It detects AI browser extensions including sidebar assistants and email rewriters that read content across websites. The platform covers embedded SaaS AI features like Copilot and AI writing tools within approved applications. Desktop AI applications such as Claude Desktop, the ChatGPT app, Ollama, and LM Studio are detected and controlled. AI coding assistants including GitHub Copilot and Cursor are covered, as well as meeting and transcription AI tools like Otter.ai and Fireflies.

How long does it take to deploy ShadowLock across a client environment?

ShadowLock is designed for rapid deployment with minimal complexity. The Windows agent deploys silently through existing Remote Monitoring and Management tools, so organizations that already have RMM infrastructure in place can deploy the agent to all endpoints within hours. Once the agent is installed, the browser enforcement layer self-configures automatically on supported browsers without requiring user interaction or additional installation steps. The Microsoft 365 scanner connects to each customer tenant through a simple API integration. MSPs managing multiple clients can deploy ShadowLock across their entire client base from the multi-tenant dashboard, configuring customized policies for each client as needed.