The Critical Importance of Managing Non-Human Identities (NHIs) in the Age of AI

The rise of artificial intelligence has reshaped how businesses operate, introducing a new era where automated agents and intelligent systems perform tasks previously reserved for humans. As AI technology advances, so does its influence across industries—streamlining operations, enhancing decision-making, and generating once unimaginable efficiencies. 

This rapid growth in AI capabilities brings a surge in Non-Human Identities (NHIs), including service accounts, API keys, OAuth connections, copilots, bots, and other autonomous agents. While these AI-driven entities drive innovation and productivity, they also introduce complex security challenges that organizations must address.

The Evolving Landscape of AI and NHIs

In this new era, bots and automated agents are no longer merely executing tactical steps—they actively engage with services, make decisions, and perform tasks that impact entire organizations. The sophistication of AI means these agents can now act on behalf of individuals and teams across a variety of platforms and services, ranging from customer support chatbots to automated deployment tools. And all this means that the Non-Human identities that power these automations are more critical than ever. As artificial intelligence continues to revolutionize business functions, Non-Human Identities have evolved from powering simple task-based integrations into enabling the complex, autonomous agents.

Service accounts power integrations between systems, API keys enable connections among disparate software services, and OAuth connections facilitate secure, delegated access. Each of these NHIs represents a potential entry point for malicious activity if not properly managed. The sheer number and diversity of these identities, coupled with their broad access to critical systems, introduce new layers of complexity in security and governance.

Why Managing NHIs is Essential

The expanding role of AI and the associated rise of NHIs mean that security teams must adapt their strategies. In the past, managing a handful of service accounts might have sufficed, but today's environment demands a holistic approach. The landscape now features a multitude of identities—from bots handling customer interactions on social media to AI agents deploying code in production environments.

As AI agents increasingly act autonomously, managing the NHIs that power them becomes essential to ensure secure and reliable operations. Properly managing NHIs ensures operational integrity, data protection, and maintains trust in AI-driven processes—a necessity in an age where AI continues to penetrate deeper into business functions.

By dedicating significant attention to understanding this evolving landscape, organizations can appreciate the importance of securing NHIs. Recognizing how AI-driven identities permeate nearly every facet of operations is the first step toward mitigating associated risks. Organizations can then begin the process of inventorying and managing their Non-Human Identities, by creating a comprehensive inventory of all NHIs, ensuring each has right-sized permissions, routinely rotating credentials, and implementing continuous monitoring.

Adapting to the Age of AI

Proper management of NHIs forms the backbone of a robust security posture. It is crucial to establish visibility across all Non-Human Identities, right-size permissions to minimize exposure, and implement strict lifecycle management practices. This not only protects sensitive data and systems from unauthorized access, but also ensures compliance with regulatory standards.

As AI continues to integrate deeper into business processes, managing NHIs becomes not just a technical necessity but a strategic priority. Security teams must prioritize proactive governance, visibility, and oversight of NHIs to harness AI's benefits while safeguarding against vulnerabilities. In subsequent sections, we will delve deeper into strategies, best practices, and actionable steps to implement robust NHI management that secures your AI-driven future.