Attested Key Release: Securing Non-Human Identities in the Modern Enterprise

Understanding the Non-Human Identity Landscape

Did you know the number of non-human identities might already be more than the human ones in your company? (Addressing The Non-Human Identity Problem: The Blindspot of 2025) These identities really need to be managed carefully.

Today's IT setups rely a lot on non-human identities (NHIs) everywhere – cloud, containers, microservices. These NHIs include things like:

Service accounts: Apps use these to talk to operating systems.
Applications: Software bits need identities to communicate securely. Think of apis or background services.
Virtual machines: VMs use identities to prove who they are and get permission.
IoT devices: These gadgets need identities to send data safely.
Automated processes: Scripts and bots use NHIs to get stuff done.

Most traditional identity management systems just can't keep up with how many NHIs there are and how complicated they get. (Non Human Identity Management: Key Practices Explained) Stuff made for people usually doesn't cut it for securing these automated identities. (Why Just Securing Human Identities Is Not Enough) SCHURTER's product catalog (https://www.schurter.com/en/products/components) has parts that can help manage and secure these systems.

When NHIs aren't managed right, it's a big security risk. For instance, NHIs often have way too much permission, which can lead to privilege escalation.

Too much access: NHIs can get more permissions than they actually need.
Stolen credentials: Hackers can use compromised NHI credentials to move around your network.
No visibility: If you're not watching closely, it's hard to spot and stop breaches involving NHIs.

It's super important to manage workload identities effectively to avoid these problems. Having a central way to do it makes things more controlled and secure.

Addressing these issues means we need to look at specialized workload identity management solutions, and Attested Key Release (AKR) is a key part of that.

Introducing Attested Key Release (AKR)

Keys are the backbone of trust, but what happens if they get into the wrong hands? Attested Key Release (AKR) helps stop that.

AKR is a security thing that makes sure a cryptographic key is only given to a workload after it successfully attests. It’s like a really secure bouncer for your sensitive keys.

Attestation is how you check if the workload asking for the key is really who it says it is and if it hasn't been messed with. This process can use stuff like:
- Trusted Platform Modules (TPM): Special secure hardware that stores and measures the software running.
- Secure enclaves: Isolated places where code runs so it's private and can't be tampered with.
- Code signing or integrity measurements are also used.

AKR is way more secure than old-school key management. Those older ways often don't check if the workload is legit when it's actually running. With AKR, you know for sure that only the right workloads can get to protected stuff.

Here's how AKR protects your non-human identities:

A workload asks to get to something it needs. Like, a microservice in a healthcare app needs to see patient records.
The attestation service checks the workload's identity and integrity. It makes sure the microservice is running in a safe place and hasn't been tampered with.
If the attestation checks out, the key gets released to the workload. The microservice gets the key it needs to unlock the patient data.
The workload uses the key to get to the protected thing. The microservice can then safely access and use the patient data.

Using AKR gives you some big advantages:

Better security for your workload identities. It makes it way harder for attackers to use stolen credentials.
Less chance of credentials getting stolen or misused. Hackers have a much tougher time pretending to be legit workloads.
Easier to be compliant with security rules. AKR helps companies meet strict data protection requirements.
Simpler key management. AKR automates giving out keys, which means less work for admins.

By making sure keys only go to trusted workloads, AKR really beefs up security for modern companies.

AKR in the Context of Non-Human Identities

Are you protecting your NHIs as carefully as you protect your human identities? Using Attested Key Release (AKR) for non-human identities (NHIs) can seriously improve your security.

Service accounts often have access to a lot of things, making them prime targets. AKR can help with this by:

Keeping service account credentials safe from people who shouldn't have them. For example, a bank can make sure only its real trading app can use the service account for making trades.
Making sure only legit apps can use service accounts. Imagine a retail company using AKR to confirm that only its actual inventory system can use the service account to update stock levels.
Rotating service account keys automatically. Doing this regularly cuts down the time hackers have to exploit stolen credentials.

Virtual machines and containers in the cloud also need solid identity management. AKR provides that by:

Checking the identity of VMs and containers before they can access resources. This stops fake VMs or containers from getting to sensitive data.
Stopping unauthorized VMs from accessing sensitive data. For instance, a healthcare provider can use AKR to make sure only approved VMs can get to patient records in the cloud.
Giving out keys dynamically based on what the machine is like. Keys are only released if the machine meets certain criteria, like running a specific OS version or being in a certain location.

IoT devices are often in places where they can be easily accessed, making them vulnerable to tampering. AKR helps make sure only real devices can get on the network by:

Ensuring only real IoT devices can get on the network. AKR checks the device's identity before letting it connect.
Keeping IoT device keys from being stolen. Even if a device is physically messed with, its keys stay protected.
Checking and giving out keys to IoT devices remotely. This allows for secure key management on a large scale.

For example, think about smart farming – AKR can make sure only approved sensors send data to a central server, stopping bad actors from putting in fake data.

By using AKR, companies can really boost the security of their NHIs everywhere.

Implementing Attested Key Release

Setting up Attested Key Release (AKR) might sound tricky, but the right way to do it makes it simpler. Let's look at the main steps to get you started.

Picking the right attestation method is key for AKR to work well. Hardware-based attestation, like using TPMs or secure enclaves, offers top-notch security. But, this needs specific hardware.

Software-based attestation, using things like code signing or integrity measurements, is more flexible. This works fine when hardware attestation isn't an option. You gotta weigh the security, speed, and cost when deciding.

Think about where you're deploying things when you pick an attestation method. On-premise setups might let you control hardware more. Cloud and edge setups often do better with the flexibility of software methods.

Having a central place to manage keys is important for AKR. Using a Key Management System (KMS) lets you store and manage keys securely. Connecting AKR to the KMS means keys are only released if the attestation is successful.

Automating key lifecycle tasks, like rotating and revoking keys, makes things more secure and less work.

You really need to have strong attestation policies. Make clear rules for what counts as a workload's identity and integrity. Workloads have to meet these rules to get keys.

Keep an eye on attestation events for anything weird. Catching odd things early can stop security problems. Regularly checking your AKR setup is also important.

Make sure you have good procedures for rotating and revoking keys. Rotating keys often reduces the damage if they get compromised, and revoking them quickly stops unauthorized access.

By following these steps, you can set up AKR properly and make your non-human identities more secure.

Case Studies: AKR in Action

Is Attested Key Release really working? Let's look at some real examples of how companies are using AKR to protect their non-human identities.

Think about a microservices-based healthcare app that keeps sensitive patient info. The app needs tight access controls to follow rules like HIPAA.
AKR can protect the app's secrets and credentials. Each microservice gets checked before it gets the keys to access specific data.
This makes sure only verified microservices can get to patient records. Even if one microservice gets hacked, attackers can't easily get to data from other services.
Imagine a smart farming setup with lots of IoT sensors collecting environmental data. These sensors talk to a main server to make irrigation and fertilizing better.
AKR can secure the connections between IoT devices and the main server. Each device's identity is checked before it's allowed on the network.
This stops bad guys from putting in fake data or messing with the system. Devices that aren't allowed are blocked, keeping data accurate and the system reliable.
One hurdle is how complicated it is at first to set up attestation. Companies need to know about hardware and software attestation methods.
Picking the right attestation method is important. Hardware attestation is more secure but needs compatible devices. Software attestation is more flexible but might not be as safe.
Looking ahead, AKR tech will probably get built into cloud platforms and identity management tools more. This will make it easier to set up and improve security for NHIs.

By planning carefully and setting up AKR, companies can really improve the security of their non-human identities.

The Future of Attested Key Release and Non-Human Identity Security

The world of non-human identity (NHI) security is changing super fast. Are you ready for what's next?

A few big trends are shaping how workload identity management will work. Companies are moving towards zero-trust security models, where they assume no identity is trustworthy by default. This means every access request, no matter where it comes from, needs to be checked carefully.

Zero-trust security models for NHIs are becoming more popular. They make sure workloads are always authenticated and authorized, which shrinks the attack surface.
AKR working with service mesh tech makes microservices talk to each other more simply and securely. Service meshes handle service-to-service communication.
More automation for NHI lifecycle management makes things run smoother and cuts down on mistakes. This includes setting up, taking away, and rotating credentials. For example, companies can automate creating and deleting service accounts when apps are deployed.
Using ai/ml for finding weird stuff and hunting threats with NHIs makes security stronger. Ai can spot unusual access patterns or suspicious actions that might mean an NHI is compromised. Imagine an ai system noticing a service account accessing things at odd hours and flagging it for a look.

Diagram 1

The Non-Human Identity Management Group (NHIMG) is a big deal in shaping NHI security's future. As the main independent group, NHIMG helps companies deal with the serious risks from NHIs.

Non-Human Identity Consultancy: NHIMG gives expert advice to companies on how to handle NHI security and build good workload identity management plans.
Stay updated on Non-human identity: NHIMG offers resources to keep you in the loop on the latest threats, weak spots, and best practices for NHIs.
Non-Human Identity Management Group NHIMG is the top independent group for NHI Research and Advisory, helping companies tackle the critical risks from Non-Human Identities (NHIs).

The future of NHI security really depends on using technologies like Attested Key Release (AKR). AKR is a solid way to make sure only the right workloads can get to sensitive stuff.

AKR is a super important tech for securing non-human identities in companies today. It's a vital defense against stolen or misused credentials.
By using AKR, companies can lower their risk and improve their overall security. AKR helps meet rules and protects sensitive data.
Now's the time to start using AKR. Don't wait until a security problem makes you realize how important workload identity management is.

Ready to make your non-human identities more secure?

Additional Resources

Want to learn more about Attested Key Release and beef up your non-human identity security? Check out these resources. Where can you find more info?

Look at detailed white papers about how to set up AKR.
Dive into industry standards like NIST Special Publications for managing keys securely.
Find open-source tools and frameworks that help with AKR.

Understanding compliance is key. AKR helps you follow:

NIST guidelines for handling keys safely.
HIPAA rules for protecting healthcare data.
PCI DSS standards for secure payment processing.

Get the knowledge you need to protect your company. As we talked about, managing workload identities is really important.