Compromised credentials associated with non-human identities (like API keys or service account passwords) can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems and data. This can lead to data breaches, service disruptions, and other serious consequences.
Organizations may lack visibility (Also known as blind spots) into the number and usage of non-human identities within their environment. This can create difficulty in managing and controlling access rights for a large number of non-human identities can lead to security gaps.
Non-human identities are often granted excessive permissions, increasing the potential for misuse and abuse. Compromised accounts with overprivileged access can be used by attackers to move laterally within the network, gaining access to sensitive data and systems.
Organizations rely heavily on third-party software and services, which may introduce vulnerabilities through their own non-human identities. In case of an attack, malicious actors can compromise software components and introduce malicious code that can exploit non-human identities.
Unusual activity from non-human identities can be difficult to detect and distinguish from legitimate behavior, making it harder to identify and respond to security incidents.
Non-human identity management encompasses the processes and technologies used to securely manage and control the identities of machines, applications, and other non-human entities within an organization's IT environment.
While sticking to the basics of identity management, we have tried to break the non-human identity management process down into 6 steps:
Grant non-human identities only the absolute minimum permissions necessary to perform their functions. This significantly reduces the potential impact of a compromise. E.g. If an application only needs to read data from a database, grant it read-only access, not write or delete permissions.
Move beyond basic passwords. Implement strong authentication methods like digital certificates, short-lived API keys, and implement MFA where possible (even for non-human identities).
Automate the creation and provisioning of non-human identities based on defined policies and workflows. Automatically deactivate or revoke access for non-human identities when they are no longer needed. In addition to that, regularly review and update access permissions for all non-human identities.
Continuously monitor the activity of non-human identities for any suspicious behavior, such as unusual access patterns or high-volume requests. Analyze security logs to identify and investigate any potential threats or security incidents related to non-human identities.
Utilize secure methods for storing and managing sensitive credentials, such as API keys, passwords, and certificates. Avoid hardcoding credentials directly into applications. Use secure methods like environment variables or secrets management tools to store and retrieve credentials.
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