Integrating Non-Human Identity Management with Existing IAM Infrastructure

Managing Non-Human Identities (NHIs) has become a critical part of IT security. NHIs, such as service accounts, API keys, and copilots & bots, often operate outside traditional human-centric identity management systems, making them an attractive target for cyberattacks. Integrating NHI management into your IT infrastructure ensures these identities are secure, controlled, and easily managed, safeguarding your business against potential breaches.

Why NHIs Need Specialized Management

Unlike traditional Identity and Access Management (IAM), Identity Governance & Administration (IGA), and Privileged Access Management (PAM) systems, NHI management focuses specifically on machine-to-machine access. While IAM and IGA control human user access, and PAM secures privileged accounts and access, NHI management addresses non-human entities that often lack traditional authentication mechanisms. These identities can operate with persistent – sometimes orphaned – access to critical systems, increasing their potential for exploitation.

Adding NHI management to your IT stack provides a crucial layer of security, ensuring that non-human identities are treated with the same rigor as human users, but with tools and policies specifically designed for their unique needs.

How NHI Management Complements IAM and PAM

NHI management works alongside IAM, IGA, and PAM to enhance overall security. IAM focuses on human user identities, IGA ensures compliance and governance, and PAM secures privileged user accounts. By integrating NHI management, organizations can extend these controls to non-human entities, providing a more comprehensive security strategy. 

Actionable Steps to Secure NHIs

To effectively manage and secure NHIs, organizations should take the following steps:

1. Implement Automated Credential Rotation: Ensure that NHI credentials are rotated frequently and automatically to reduce the risk of long-term exposure if compromised.

2. Enforce Time-Limited Access: Limit the duration of access granted to NHIs, ensuring they only have access when needed and for the shortest time possible.

3. Monitor NHI Activity Continuously: Use advanced monitoring tools to track all actions taken by NHIs, detecting any unusual or unauthorized behavior in real time.

4. Restrict Access to Critical Resources: Apply the principle of least privilege by limiting the resources NHIs can access to only those necessary for their specific tasks.

5. Use Context-Aware Security Policies: Leverage context-driven access control to ensure that NHIs can only operate within predefined parameters (e.g., geographical location, IP address, etc.).

Why Prioritize NHI Management Now?

As automation and machine-to-machine communication continue to grow, managing NHIs becomes more urgent. By integrating NHI management into your IT stack now, you reduce the risk of overlooked vulnerabilities and ensure a proactive, comprehensive approach to security. With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, securing NHIs is no longer optional—it’s a necessary step to safeguard your organization’s digital infrastructure.

By adopting these practices, you not only strengthen your security posture but also position your organization to better handle future technological advancements.