● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
The Rise of the Citizen Developer and its Implications for IT and Security
Key points
- Citizen developers create tech solutions outside IT departments.
- This practice is often considered "shadow IT" and a security risk.
- A 2021 Gartner report found 41% of employees created tech outside IT.
- The trend is driven by business needs and IT backlogs.
Defining the Citizen Developer
A citizen developer is an individual who builds applications or technology solutions for business purposes without being part of a formal IT or engineering department. This phenomenon has existed for decades, evolving from individuals setting up accounting software in the 1990s to marketing teams building websites in the early 2000s. Today, it includes sales teams using AI tools to create applications that handle sensitive data.
Shadow IT and Security Concerns
The activities of citizen developers often fall under the umbrella of "shadow IT," which refers to IT systems and solutions built and used within organizations without explicit IT department approval or oversight. While these initiatives can address immediate business needs, they also introduce significant security risks, such as data breaches or non-compliance with regulations, due to a lack of proper security protocols and governance.
Drivers Behind the Trend
The prevalence of citizen development signals a gap between business demands and the capacity of IT organizations. Employees often resort to building their own solutions when formal IT requests face long backlogs or are not prioritized. This trend is not new; a 2021 Gartner report indicated that 41% of employees were already creating technology or analytics capabilities outside of IT departments, even before the widespread availability of advanced AI tools that simplify development.
Broader Implications
The rise of citizen developers highlights a fundamental shift where individuals across various roles are empowered to create technology. This extends beyond non-technical staff to include developers working outside their primary expertise, effectively becoming "citizens" in unfamiliar technical domains. This widespread adoption of self-service development underscores the need for organizations to adapt their IT policies and support structures to manage this evolving landscape.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
The concept of the "citizen developer" describes individuals outside of IT departments who create technology solutions for business needs, often leading to "shadow IT." This trend, which predates AI, indicates that employees are bypassing formal IT processes to address their immediate requirements, posing both security risks and highlighting a demand for faster development cycles.