Four Essential Steps to Effectively Manage Non-Human Identities

In today's digital landscape, Non-Human Identities—such as service accounts, API keys, access tokens, IoT devices, certificates, and bots that connect technologies—play a critical role in business operations. While they enhance efficiency and automation, they also present unique security challenges if not properly managed. Implementing a structured approach to handle these identities is vital for protecting an organization’s most valuable and sensitive assets.

Discovery: Comprehensive Inventory of Non-Human Identities

The first step is to inventory all non-human entities within your systems. This involves identifying every service account, API key, access token, secret, etc. And it’s crucial to understand who owns them, when they were created, where they're used, when their credentials were last rotated, and what permissions they have. This thorough discovery process lays the foundation by providing complete visibility into the Non-Human Identities that exist in your environment.

Evaluation: Assessment of Risks Based on Context

Building on the discovery phase, the evaluation step involves reviewing the gathered information to surface potential security issues. This phase analyzes the context to identify which Non-Human Identities have excessive permissions, credentials that haven't been rotated recently, or accounts no longer in use. It’s also critical to understand access patterns to surface abnormal usage or access – for instance, if a job is run weekly at night, but suddenly has activity in the middle of the afternoon. This risk assessment helps prioritize which identities require immediate attention, focusing on those that pose the greatest threat to the organization’s security.

Secure: Remediation of Identified Issues

With a prioritized list of issues, the next step is remediation. This involves rotating stale credentials, adjusting permissions to align with the principle of least privilege, and deactivating or removing obsolete identities. Automating these processes where possible reduces the risk of human error and ensures that security measures are consistently applied. By addressing the identified vulnerabilities, you strengthen your organization's security posture.

Monitor: Continuous Oversight and Improvement

Finally, the cycle repeats itself with continuous monitoring, which ensures the ongoing management of Non-Human Identities. As new systems are connected and environments evolve, continuous discovery is essential to identify new identities that require management. Implement monitoring tools that provide real-time alerts for emerging issues, like credentials nearing expiration or unexpected permission changes. This proactive approach helps maintain security and allows for timely responses to potential threats.

Conclusion

Effectively managing Non-Human Identities is essential for maintaining robust cybersecurity in an increasingly automated world. Create a continuous improvement cycle by following these interconnected steps—discovery, evaluation, securing, and monitoring. This structured approach protects sensitive data and supports efficient operations, ensuring your organization remains resilient against evolving security challenges.