What is an example of an unintended consequence of having user accounts shared in an organization?

User accounts being shared within an organization leads to a significant challenge in establishing user accountability. When multiple individuals use the same account, it becomes impossible to determine who performed a specific action at any given time. This lack of traceability can hinder forensic investigations, compliance audits, and general oversight when it comes to monitoring user activity. For example, if a malicious action occurs, such as data theft or unauthorized access, an organization cannot definitively hold anyone accountable since the actions are linked to a shared account rather than an individual user.

In comparison, increased software licensing issues may arise from sharing accounts but are not a direct consequence of accountability. Likewise, reduced system performance could be influenced by many factors unrelated to account sharing, and lower security audit costs do not logically align with the issues caused by shared accounts. Therefore, the challenge of maintaining user accountability stands out as a critical unintended consequence of shared accounts in an organization.