We’re already nearing the end of Q$, can you believe it? I don’t know about you, but personally, this year is going by in the blink of an eye. As we race toward the finish line, it’s worth pausing to reflect on the technological changes shaping our world.
If the past few years indicate anything, it’s that we have grown increasingly reliant on tech, and just as it shows promise of opportunity, it also unmasks a whole new vulnerability frontier. Gone are the days when cybersecurity was merely about protecting data. Today, it’s about safeguarding entire digital ecosystems and maintaining trust in a world that’s getting increasingly skeptical.
As we continue to hurtle toward 2025, CISOs seem to have their work cut out for them — anticipate risks and vulnerabilities that are yet to show up on anyone’s radar.
To that end, in this post, we will discuss 3 areas we must explore and consider in the coming months and New Year.
Enterprise Security for AI Agents & Non-Human Identities
Zero Trust Architecture
Traditional security models, relying heavily on perimeter-based defenses, have proven inadequate in the face of sophisticated attacks and the widespread adoption of cloud computing and remote work. Even so, remember when we only had to worry about human users? Those were the days. Now, we’re drowning in a sea of non-human identities (NHIs), each one a potential Judas. (What are NHIs, you ask? Think all digital entities that operate without direct human intervention — API Keys, service accounts, etc.) This shift has given rise to a new approach to security: Zero Trust Architecture, or ZTA. And it isn’t just a fancy buzzword to impress your board; it’s your new religion.
ZTA has three commandments: “never trust, always verify,” “assume breach,” and “least privileged access.” Unlike traditional models that grant broad network access to authenticated users, ZTA is needed to continuously verify the identity and permissions of all entities, human and non-human alike, before granting them access. You wouldn’t want your coffee maker to go rogue and hack your network, now, would you? It’s a brave new world, and every device, app, and bot is guilty until proven innocent.
To implement ZTA for NHIs effectively, start by taking inventory of all your identities. Secrets scanners and NHI management platforms like Entro will come in handy here, as they will go through your entire codebase, GitHub repositories, Slack channels, and more, to hunt for secrets.
Once you’ve discovered them all, and know which identity they point to, implement strong identity and access management (IAM) solutions along with strict access controls, continuous authentication, and granular permissions. Maintain robust encryption, use secure protocols, and regularly rotate secrets for all your NHIs. And for the love of all that’s holy in Silicon Valley, stop trusting blindly. Your network should be as paranoid as a squirrel in a nut factory.
Compliance check for key industries
Ah, compliance. The bane of every CISO’s existence. In 2025, it’s going to be about as straightforward as quantum physics explained by a mime artist. Of course, as established, half your battle would be managing those pesky non-human identities. Otherwise silent, they could turn out to be the Trojan horses that bring down your Troy.
If you are in SaaS, SOC 2 compliance is non-negotiable. Implement robust controls across security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. GDPR and CCPA? They’re not going away. Use data mapping tools and encrypt everything.
FinTech organizations, learn how to be friends with PCI DSS. It’s going to stay. Implement network segmentation for cardholder data. Use AI for AML and KYC processes. Open Banking Standards are crucial — ignore them at your peril.
Healthcare, HIPAA is still ruling. Encrypt all PHI, make your EHR systems interoperable, and if you’re in digital health, stay on top of FDA’s SaMD guidelines.
Given how non-human identities are ubiquitous across all digital fronts, and a security nightmare while at it, it’s time to automate their management. Practical steps? Here you go:
- Automating compliance monitoring by tracking down and securing NHIs
- Implementing a comprehensive IAM system that covers both human and non-human identities
- Using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to ensure consistent, compliant deployments
- Adopting a privileged access management (PAM) solution that encompasses all identity types
- Implementing AI-powered anomaly detection systems to spot potential data breaches in real-time
In the eyes of regulators, a bot’s mistake is your mistake. And trust me, you don’t want to be on the wrong side of a regulator with a grudge.
Supply chain security and third-party risk management
Let’s play a game. It’s called “Find the Weakest Link.” Spoiler alert: it’s probably hiding in your supply chain.
Non-human identity attacks are becoming the weapon of choice for cybercriminals targeting supply chains. It’s a trend that’s not going away anytime soon, and if you’re still treating its security like it’s 2015, you might as well hand over your data to the highest bidder.
Digital supply chain attacks are real and not just about compromising software updates anymore. That’s so last decade. Now, it’s about exploiting the very fabric of your automated processes. While you’ve been busy implementing multi-factor authentication and single sign-on solutions for your human users, NHIs have been proliferating unchecked. Imagine a scenario where a malicious actor compromises a token you handed to a third-party to enable the connection between your organizations. Congratulations, you’ve just distributed malware to your entire IT infrastructure.
And good luck if you think Third-Party Risk Management rules will help you. With the threat we face, they are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. So, what’s a CISO to do?
Start by implementing rigorous vetting processes for third-party vendors. Focus on their NHI management practices like a hawk eyeing its prey, make sure you monitor the access and activities of any NHI you create and hand to your vendors, And while you’re at it, use automated tools to continuously monitor your supply chain for vulnerabilities because in the world of supply chain security, “trust but verify” is as outdated as dial-up internet. The new mantra? “Verify, then verify again, and when you’re done, verify some more.”
Looking ahead, it’s evident that the traditional boundaries of cybersecurity are blurring. With NHIs growing 10-fold, compliance getting more nuanced, and emerging threats from the digital supply chain, it’s time to forego the reactive approach, and start measuring success not in terms of the breaches we prevent but the innovations we securely enable.
