Managing the invisible risk of non-human identities

In the dynamic world of cybersecurity, identity and access management (IAM) is a pivotal foundation. Ensuring that only authorized individuals and systems can access company resources is imperative. Unfortunately, while many organizations excel at managing human identities, they often need to pay more attention to a growing and potentially more hazardous category of digital actors known as non-human identities (NHIs). These unseen entities, which include service accounts, APIs, bots, and more, are rapidly multiplying, leading to an extensive attack surface that is largely overlooked and thus inadequately safeguarded.

The rise and risks of non-human identities

An NHI is a digital identity that represents machines, applications or services within a digital environment. These identities are integral to machine-to-machine communication, which powers everything from IT automation to cloud services. Unlike human identities, NHIs operate based on predefined algorithms and scripts, often without direct human supervision. This autonomy allows them to perform tasks at speeds and scales far beyond human capability, but it also amplifies the risks associated with their compromise.

Technological advances such as cloud computing, DevOps methodologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) are responsible for the growing number of NHIs. Each new service, device or application added to the enterprise environment typically brings with it a new set of NHIs. This rapid expansion has made it nearly impossible for organizations to keep track of all their non-human entities, resulting in an environment where NHIs often operate in the shadows — out of sight and out of mind.

Cybersecurity implications

NHIs present unique challenges that differ significantly from those of human identities. One significant challenge is that NHIs often have deeper and broader access to critical systems, making them high-value targets for attackers. Adding to that risk is the fact that many NHIs rely on static credentials, such as API keys or passwords, that are rarely updated. This increases the likelihood of a bad actor exploiting these credentials.

The velocity at which NHIs operate also increases the potential for damage. Once compromised, an NHI can move laterally across a network, executing tasks and accessing data at a speed that human responders may struggle to counteract. The automated and continuous nature of NHI operations means that the window of opportunity for attackers is much larger than it is for human identities, which are typically active only during defined work hours.

Moreover, NHIs often exist in environments where they are not closely monitored. This lack of visibility presents a significant risk factor, as detecting a compromised NHI can be challenging. Consequently, organizations face a growing “shadow IT” problem, where they are often unaware of the full extent of their NHI footprint, let alone how to secure it effectively.

Compliance and reputational risks

In addition to the cybersecurity risks, NHIs also pose serious compliance challenges. Regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley mandate strict identity and access management controls. However, these regulations were primarily designed with human identities in mind. As a result, organizations that fail to extend these controls to NHIs risk falling out of compliance, which can lead to hefty fines and reputational damage.

High-profile breaches involving NHIs have already demonstrated the potential consequences. For example, the 2023 Cloudflare breach exposed the vulnerabilities associated with poor NHI management. Attackers gained access to sensitive data by compromising service accounts (a type of NHI), highlighting the urgent need for more stringent controls and monitoring of these identities.

Best practices for managing NHIs

Given the unique risks and challenges associated with NHIs, organizations must adopt a proactive approach to managing these identities. The following best practices can help mitigate the risks:

1. Comprehensive inventory and visibility: The first step in managing NHIs is to gain complete visibility into their presence and activity within the enterprise. This involves conducting regular audits of directory services and maintaining an up-to-date inventory of all NHIs. Specialized tools can assist in discovering and cataloging these identities, making tracking and managing them easier.
2. Lifecycle management and automation: NHIs often have different life cycles than human identities, with some existing only temporarily. Organizations should implement automated processes for the creation, management and de-provisioning of NHIs. This reduces the risk of orphaned identities and ensures that permissions are revoked when no longer needed. Lifecycle management must include a strategy for defining ownership of each NHI so that the reason the NHI exists is understood and accountability for who controls the NHI is established.
3. Privileged access management (PAM): NHIs frequently require elevated permissions to perform their tasks, but these privileges should be tightly controlled. A PAM solution can enforce the principle of least privilege, ensuring that NHIs only have access to what they need when they need it. PAM can also automate credential rotation and implement Just-In-Time (JIT) access, further reducing the risk of credential misuse.
4. Zero trust architecture: Applying a zero trust approach to NHIs involves continuously validating their access rights based on contextual factors such as time, location, and behavior. This ensures that NHIs are not granted perpetual access and that their activities are closely monitored for any signs of compromise.
5. Policy and governance frameworks: To ensure consistency in NHI management, organizations should integrate NHI-specific policies into their broader identity governance frameworks. This includes assigning clear ownership of NHIs, defining approval workflows and establishing naming conventions that facilitate easy identification and control.

The time to act

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the proliferation of non-human identities will only accelerate. Organizations that fail to recognize and address the unique risks these invisible actors pose do so at their peril. By adopting a comprehensive approach to NHI management — including visibility, accountability, PAM, zero trust and strong governance — enterprises can mitigate the risks and strengthen their overall cybersecurity posture. The time to act is now… before the invisible dangers of NHIs become the next headline-grabbing breach.