Security Considerations for Human and Non-Human Identities

Understanding the Landscape: Human vs. Non-Human Identities

Ever wonder what all those apps and services in your company are really doing? Turns out, they have digital identities too – and these non-human identities (nhis) are often way less secure than your own login. These identities are really important for access and security in modern cloud environments. Did you know that 54% of executives have reported that inappropriate access rights granted to non-human identities have led to security issues?

Human identities are pretty straightforward: Usernames, passwords, maybe a fingerprint. We use things like multi-factor authentication (mfa) and role-based access control (rbac) to keep them safe. Plus, people tend to have somewhat predictable patterns, you know?

Non-human identities? That's where it gets wild. We're talking api keys, oauth tokens, service accounts – the whole nine yards. These nhis are diverse and often get overlooked, but they're kinda essential for automation and integrations.

Here's the thing: nhis are different, and that means they need special treatment.

• They often operate on their own, without anyone watching over them. It's like giving a robot the keys to the kingdom and hoping for the best.
• Their lifecycles are weird, too. They might pop up for a short project and then disappear, or they might stick around forever.
• There's just so many of them. CyberArk research has found that machine identities outweigh human identities by a factor of 45 to one.

It's important to understand the difference between human and non-human identities.

So, what's next? We'll dive deeper into why nhis are such a headache and what you can do about it.

The Growing Threat: Security Risks Associated with Each Identity Type

Did you know that the bots running your automated tasks might be a bigger threat than a disgruntled employee? It's kinda scary, right? Let's dive into why securing both human and non-human identities is crucial.

Human identities are still targeted by phishing attacks, even with all the awareness training going around. People click links, they reuse passwords – it's just human nature, i guess. Credential leaks are another biggie. A breach somewhere else can compromise your employees, and social engineering? Still works like a charm.

nhis, on the other hand, present totally different challenges. Think about those api keys and service accounts. They're often tucked away in code or config files, ready for someone to stumble upon.

• Hardcoded Credentials: nhis often have credentials hardcoded directly into applications or scripts. It’s like leaving the key under the mat – super convenient, but not exactly secure.
• Insecure Storage: It's surprising how many organizations don't have a solid plan for storing these sensitive credentials. It can lead to all sorts of problems, like unauthorized access.
• Unauthorized Access: nhis, by their nature, need access to systems and data. But sometimes, they get way more access than they actually need, which, obviously, creates risks.

As mentioned earlier, CyberArk research has found that machine identities outweigh human identities by a factor of 45 to one.

Imagine a healthcare provider using an api to automate appointment reminders. If that api key gets compromised, hackers could potentially access patient data. Or, think about a retailer. If their nhis aren't secured, attackers could get access to customer data, like credit card numbers or addresses.

That's just a tiny glimpse of what's at stake. Securing these nhis is really important.

Next up, let's look at real-world examples of how these risks can play out, and believe me, they are eye-opening.

Mitigation Strategies: Strengthening Security for Human Identities

Okay, so you're trying to lock down human identities, huh? Honestly, it's still a massive headache even with all the fancy tools we got. It's like whack-a-mole, but with phishing attempts and password reuse.

First things first, are you running regular audits on user accounts? I mean, really digging in those access logs? It's tedious, but crucial. You need to spot anomalies fast. Are people accessing stuff they shouldn't be?

And don't even get me started on user training. Seriously, how many times do we need to tell people not to click on sketchy links? But, hey, gotta keep hammering it home. Phishing simulations, password hygiene tips--the works. Make it engaging, or they'll just tune out.

User training must be engaging to be effective.

Then there's mfa and sso. I know, I know, it's basic. But are you really enforcing it across the board? No exceptions for the ceo or that one "too busy" executive, right? 'Cause that's where things fall apart.

Look into biometric authentication. Fingerprints, facial recognition—it's harder to spoof than a password, that's for sure.

And, adaptive authentication? Okay, it sounds like something out of a sci-fi flick. But it's just about tweaking security based on user behavior and the context. Like, if someone's logging in from a weird location at 3 a.m., crank up the security.

let's talk about role-based access control (rbac). Give people only what they need, and nothing more. It's like giving them the right tools for the job, not the whole toolbox.

just-in-time (jit) access? Elevate privileges only when needed, then yank 'em back. It's like a temporary key to the executive washroom.

And, don't forget continuous monitoring. Watch for strange activity and get alerted if something looks off. It's like having a security guard who's always on patrol.

Speaking of access, we need to talk about non-human identities and how to lock them down.

Mitigation Strategies: Securing Non-Human Identities

Okay, so you're probably thinking, "How do I even begin to secure these non-human entities?" It's not like you can give a bot a lecture on phishing, right?

Well, one of the best ways to start is by applying the principle of least privilege. It's like giving someone the keys only to the rooms they need, not the whole building.

• Granting nhis only the necessary permissions for specific tasks. Imagine a chatbot used by a hospital for appointment scheduling. It should only access patient names, appointment times, and contact info—not medical history or billing details. That's least privilege in action.
• Avoiding broad permissions that could lead to unintended access. Think about a retail company. Does their inventory management system really need access to customer credit card data? Probably not. Limiting access reduces the blast radius if something goes wrong.
• Regularly reviewing and adjusting permissions based on usage. I've seen so many companies set up permissions once and then, forget about them. It's important to check things regularly. Are those permissions still needed? Are they too broad?

What about the credentials themselves? Are you just storing them in plain text somewhere? Please don't do that.

• avoiding storing secrets directly within code or configuration files. It's like leaving your house key under the doormat – super convenient for burglars.
• utilizing secure secrets management solutions like aws secrets manager or azure key vault. These tools are designed to store and manage sensitive information safely.
• implementing centralized storage and encryption of credentials. think of it as a digital vault with layers of protection.

You can't just set it and forget it. You need to keep an eye on things. Because, you know, stuff happens.

• tracking nhi activities in real-time to detect anomalies. If a service account suddenly starts accessing data it never has before, that's a red flag.
• setting permission boundaries to limit access to specific resources. This is really important. It prevents nhis from wandering off into areas they shouldn't be near and helps with setting permission boundaries.
• automating credential rotation to minimize impact of potential leaks. This is kinda like changing your passwords regularly--but for your bots.

Speaking of protection, okta offers solutions for protecting non-human identities.

Alright, so, we've covered mitigation. Next up: how to make sure all this actually works in practice.

The Path Forward: A Unified Approach to Identity Security

Okay, so you're probably wondering how all this identity stuff comes together, right? It's not just about throwing tools at the problem – it's about weaving everything into a solid security strategy.

It's kinda obvious, but securing both human and non-human identities in cloud environments is the foundation. You can't leave one out in the cold!

• Think of a hospital: Doctors and nurses need access to patient records, sure, but so do the automated systems that schedule appointments and send reminders. It's gotta be seamless and secure, for both.
• Enforcing least privilege access across all identities is next. Don't give anyone – human or bot – more access than they absolutely need. A hospital chatbot for scheduling shouldn't be able to access patient medical histories, right?

• Continuously monitoring identity behaviors, to catch threats early. If a service account starts doing weird stuff at 3 a.m., you wanna know immediately.

You know what's a pain? Manually managing all those nhis! Automation is where it's at.

• Automating the discovery and management of nhis is crucial. You can't protect what you don't know exists. Use tools that automatically find and catalog all those api keys, service accounts, and whatever else is lurking in your systems.
• Orchestrating identity workflows to streamline security processes. Think about onboarding a new application. Instead of a million manual steps, automate the whole thing – from provisioning access to setting up monitoring.
• Leveraging ai and machine learning for advanced threat detection is the future, honestly. These technologies can spot subtle anomalies that humans might miss, like a bot suddenly trying to access sensitive data it never has before.

Addressing the critical risks posed by nhis requires expert guidance. The Non-Human Identity Management Group (nhimg) offers Nonhuman Identity Consultancy and keeps you updated on Non-human identity. nhimg is the leading independent authority in nhi Research and Advisory, empowering organizations to tackle the critical risks. Visit nhimg.org to learn more and secure your organization's future.

So, yeah, it's a lot, but it's gotta be done. A unified approach is really the only way to win.