In conversations about identity management, we often focus on human identities—those tied to individuals, like employees accessing company systems. However, as technologies evolve, the dynamics of identity management are expanding. Non-human identities (NHIs) are becoming increasingly important, and understanding these identities and their challenges are essential for effective security management.
54% of executives have reported that inappropriate access rights granted to non-human identities have led to security issues. This highlights the importance of carefully managing NHIs, which can significantly impact an organization’s security posture. Have you ever wondered how many non-human identities your organization has? Or how they could potentially affect your security posture?
This blog post will explore these challenges and discuss the strategies for effectively managing NHIs.
Enterprise Security for AI Agents & Non-Human Identities
What are human identities?
Human identities are simple: they belong to people. These identities include everything from usernames and passwords to biometric data. Organizations typically manage them using established protocols like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC).
Consider a HR manager overseeing employee access to sensitive information. This manager may employ various security measures to ensure only authorized personnel can access employee records. They might use strong password policies and regular audits to maintain security.
I often hear clients share their experiences navigating these systems. They describe the challenges of keeping up with constantly changing access needs and maintaining a balance between security and usability. “It’s a constant juggling act,” one client shared. “We want to keep our data secure, but we also need to enable our employees to do their jobs effectively.”
What are non-human identities?
Non-human identities, on the other hand, are more diverse. They include everything from API keys that enable secure communication between applications to OAuth tokens used for authenticating and authorizing processes in web services. For example, a service account might be used by an application to perform regular data backups, while system accounts manage internal system-level interactions with minimal human oversight.
Other examples of NHIs include machine identities securing service-to-service interactions and cloud access tokens that control access to cloud environments. These non-human identities present unique cybersecurity challenges, requiring careful management to ensure they don’t become a security liability.
I’ve had many conversations where clients underestimated the sheer volume of NHIs in their environment. One IT manager mentioned that they uncovered several previously unknown NHIs created by legacy systems. “It was eye-opening to see how many machine identities we weren’t aware of, but gaining visibility gave us the opportunity to address them proactively,” they shared.
As NHIs become more prevalent, organizations must adapt their identity management strategies. A clear definition and understanding of these identities is critical. NHIs are often overlooked in traditional identity management discussions, but they represent a significant area of risk.
The complexity of discovering NHIs
Discovering NHIs is no small feat. The rapid evolution of IT environments adds to the complexity.New vendors and supply chain integrations mean more devices and applications to track, each with their own identity. This growth leads to gaps in visibility, making it difficult to manage NHIs effectively.
Many organizations need help to maintain a comprehensive inventory of their NHIs. This lack of visibility can leave them exposed to security risks. In a recent conversation, a cybersecurity consultant remarked, “Spotting NHIs is easy; understanding their interactions is like decoding a toddler’s art—colorful chaos that might hide some real risks”!
This perspective highlights the need for comprehensive visibility into all human and non—human identities. Without the ability to discover and track NHIs, organizations cannot adequately assess their security posture or respond to incidents effectively.
What tools are needed for managing NHIs properly?
To effectively manage non-human identities (NHIs), organizations need specialized tools that offer visibility, control, and automation. Identity management platforms tailored for NHIs can provide real-time monitoring and automated responses to potential threats. Think of these tools as the digital guardians of your sensitive systems, keeping a watchful eye on who—or what—has access and when.
Here are four tools that help with challenges in the management of non human identities:
Tracking and strategy
Managing NHIs begins with cataloging all non-human identities using an identity inventory system, allowing easier monitoring and control. Adding a non-human identity management platform automates tasks like provisioning and enforces security policies to ensure consistent handling. Establishing access policies that mandate security best practices, such as credential rotation, helps maintain order and prevent unauthorized access.
Comprehensive secrets visibility
Organizations need a panoramic view of all machine identities in their systems to manage this effectively. Centralizing critical information—like ownership details, permissions, and associated risks—empowers security teams with the insights necessary to navigate the complexities of NHIs without guesswork. One security professional shared how a centralized view allowed them to spot an NHI that had been over-provisioned for months, saying, “It was like finding a forgotten key to a locked door we didn’t even know existed.” No more playing hide-and-seek with your digital assets.
Real-time monitoring & protection
As you manage NHIs, real-time monitoring becomes your best ally. It’s like having a security camera that spots suspicious activity before escalating. Whether it’s an unauthorized access attempt or unexpected changes in permissions, continuous scanning ensures proactive threat detection. When alerts are triggered, it’s essential to have a solution that not only raises the alarm but also provides actionable steps to address the issue promptly.
Least privilege and centralized governance
Implementing a least-privilege approach ensures that NHIs receive only the access rights necessary for their function, significantly reducing the attack surface. Combine this with centralized governance, and you create a streamlined process for secrets management across non-human identities. It’s like having a master key that only works for the right doors—easy for you, secure for everyone.
Best practices for teams
Managing non-human identities (NHIs) requires a proactive approach. Here are some best practices I often recommend to teams:
Regular audits: Conduct frequent audits to maintain visibility over all identities, including NHIs. This practice helps identify unauthorized access or forgotten identities that pose risks. Regular reviews also help discover outdated permissions that could be exploited. For full visibility, these audits should cover both active and dormant NHIs.
Collaboration across teams: Foster collaboration between security, IT, and operational teams to streamline identity management. This teamwork ensures all aspects of identity management are comprehensively addressed. It also promotes a unified response to potential threats and allows for quicker resolution.
Continuous education: I once had a client say, “Our biggest vulnerability was complacency. We realized too late that the threats were evolving faster than we were.” Stay informed about emerging threats and best practices in identity management. Regularly updating knowledge ensures your team can respond effectively to evolving risks.
Establish clear policies: Develop and enforce clear policies for the creation, management, and retirement of NHIs. Clear guidelines eliminate ambiguity, ensuring everyone follows the same rules. Policies should be updated periodically to reflect new security requirements and maintain accountability.
Utilize automation: Leverage automation for onboarding, offboarding, and monitoring tasks. Automating routine tasks allows teams to focus on higher-level strategies and ensures no critical steps are missed during identity lifecycle events.
Recommendations from Entro’s leadership
To strengthen these best practices, I encourage you to consider the insights from our leadership team. They often emphasize the importance of a unified approach to identity management. As one of our executives put it, “Understanding the interplay between human and non-human identities is crucial. We must adapt our strategies to address the unique challenges each poses.”
Highlighting the necessity for ongoing improvement, they advocate for investing in training and tools that facilitate seamless management of NHIs. “It’s not just about managing identities; it’s about ensuring our overall security posture remains strong as we adopt new technologies,” they added.
Strengthen security for all identities
Strengthening security for all identities means managing not just who logs in but what logs in. Non-human identities (NHIs)—like bots, applications, and APIs—are increasingly part of the mix and require more than just a username and password. That’s where secret management comes in. With tools like Entro, organizations can seamlessly handle the complexities of managing credentials and access for NHIs, reducing risks and preventing unauthorized access.
For organizations, the key to maintaining top-notch security shouldn’t be only recognizing the challenge—it’s proactively managing it. By tackling NHIs head-on and implementing robust secret management practices, businesses can protect their assets, safeguard their systems, and build lasting trust with clients and stakeholders. With Entro’s solutions, organizations can simplify identity and secret management, ensuring a secure environment for all—whether human or not.
