Are your apps or backups creating a serious vulnerability? Organizations often focus on securing human users—employees, contractors, and partners—when implementing identity and access management (IAM) strategies. However, according to the Non Human Identities Management Group, non-human identities (NHI) "outnumber Human Identities 25x – 50x." These encompass applications, services, devices, and other entities that require authentication and authorization to access systems, data, or networks.
One recent example highlights the need for non-human identities security, in 2024, a vulnerability in Microsoft Entra ID allowed attackers to exploit application permissions for privilege escalation, enabling unauthorized access within enterprise environments. This type of attack bypassed traditional security measures, such as multi-factor authentication, by leveraging flaws in the application's authentication and access token management.
This is not a new issue, but the growth in use of apps, automation, and cloud environments have made it more difficult to track identity and access. This is why adopting a Zero Trust approach to securing NHIs is imperative for safeguarding your business.
Understanding Non-Human Identities
Non-human identities are digital entities that need authentication and authorization to interact with various systems and data. Common types of NHIs include:
Workloads: Identities assigned to or used by software workloads to authenticate to another service or resource. For example, service accounts that connect applications to databases, APIs, and other systems to automatically execute tasks.
API Tokens: Authenticate data exchanges between applications, permitting authorized access to sensitive information.
Applications: Software applications themselves can act as identities when they need to interact with other systems.
Bots: Automation tools, including chatbots and task automation bots, often require access to specific systems or datasets.
IoT Devices: Internet of Things devices, such as smart sensors, industrial equipment, and connected healthcare devices, interact with networks and data in various industries.
Do you have all identities documented? When is the last time you checked your businesses app permissions? If you don't know your environment, it's impossible to protect it. While these NHIs drive efficiency and innovation, they also significantly expand an organization's attack surface.
Common Uses of NHIs
Non-human identities are pervasive across modern IT environments, often embedded in the systems and applications that drive business operations. Here are some of the most common places to find non-human identities:
Cloud Infrastructure and Applications
Cloud APIs: Used for communication and integration between cloud services (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
Service Accounts: Often created in cloud environments to automate tasks like scaling applications, database interactions, or storage management.
Microservices: Each service may authenticate and communicate with others via tokens or certificates.
Infrastructure-as-Code Tools: Platforms like Terraform or Ansible use non-human identities to configure and deploy infrastructure.
On-Premises Systems
Backup Systems: Service accounts or tokens authenticate and automate backup processes, such as copying data to secondary storage or the cloud.
Monitoring and Logging Tools: Agents installed for network monitoring or log collection often act as non-human identities.
Legacy Applications: Older systems frequently rely on hard-coded credentials or service accounts for automation and maintenance tasks.
DevOps Pipelines
CI/CD Tools: Platforms like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab use service accounts to automate builds, tests, and deployments.
Container Orchestration: Systems like Kubernetes manage pods and containers, often using non-human identities to authenticate with storage, networks, and external services.
Secrets Management Systems: Tools like HashiCorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager authenticate using machine identities.
APIs and Integrations
Third-Party Integrations: APIs connecting to external SaaS platforms for payment processing, CRM, or email services.
Internal APIs: APIs enabling communication between internal systems, such as microservices or databases.
IoT and Edge Devices
IoT Sensors and Devices: Smart devices in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics require authentication to securely send data to central systems.
Edge Computing: Devices at the edge of the network, such as gateways or field devices, often authenticate with central platforms.
Automation Tools
Bots: Chatbots, RPA (Robotic Process Automation), and other automation tools need identities to access data and systems for task execution.
Workflow Automation: Tools like Zapier or Power Automate use non-human identities to connect apps and automate workflows.
Databases and Storage Systems
Data Pipelines: Systems moving data between storage solutions, warehouses, or analytics platforms often rely on service accounts or API tokens.
Database Access: Applications use non-human identities to authenticate to databases for read/write operations.
Security and Identity Platforms
IAM Solutions: IAM platforms themselves use non-human identities to monitor access, enforce policies, or integrate with other tools.
Endpoint Protection Agents: Security software authenticates with central servers for threat updates or reporting.
Software Applications
Enterprise Applications: ERP systems, CRMs, and other enterprise software often have service accounts or non-human identities for background operations.
Custom Applications: Custom-developed software frequently integrates with databases, APIs, or other systems through machine identities.
By documenting and continually assessing these environments, organizations can better secure their non-human identities and reduce risks associated with their misuse.
The Rising Threat Landscape
Recent reports highlight a concerning trend: nearly 46% of organizations have experienced security incidents linked to NHIs, such as machine identities and digital certificates.
Furthermore, two-thirds of enterprises have faced successful cyberattacks resulting from compromised NHIs, with an average of 2.7 such incidents in the past 12 months.
These statistics underscore the urgent need for robust security measures tailored to non-human entities.
Implementing a Zero Trust Model for Non-Human Identities
Adopting a Zero Trust framework is essential for securing NHIs. The Zero Trust model operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify," ensuring that every identity—human or non-human—is authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated.
To apply Zero Trust principles to NHIs:
Discovery and Inventory: Establish visibility by identifying all NHIs within your environment. Document workloads, API tokens, applications, bots, and IoT devices, noting their roles, permissions, and access levels.
Enforce Strong Authentication: Implement robust authentication methods such as API keys, certificates, and token-based authentication. Consider integrating multi-factor authentication (MFA) where applicable to add an extra layer of security.
Adopt Least Privilege Access: Evaluate permissions for NHIs and ensure they only have access to the resources required for their function. This limits the damage in case of a breach.
Implement Just-in-Time (JIT) Access: Grant NHIs permissions only when necessary to perform specific tasks and revoke them immediately after. JIT access minimizes the window of opportunity for potential exploitation.
Monitor and Audit Continuously: Use advanced monitoring solutions to track NHIs for unusual behavior, such as accessing unauthorized resources or systems. Conduct regular audits to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities.
Automate Identity Lifecycle Management: Leverage automation tools to streamline the management of NHIs, including provisioning, de-provisioning, and updating permissions. Automation ensures consistent application of security policies across your environment.
Simplify with ManaSec
Implementing a Zero Trust model for NHIs can be complex and resource-intensive. Partnering with ManaSec offers several advantages:
Expertise: ManaSec stays updated on the latest threats and technologies, providing specialized knowledge to secure your environment.
Enterprise Grade Tools: MSPs deploy advanced tools, like 24/7 Managed Detection and Response, for discovery, monitoring, and lifecycle management tailored to your organization’s needs.
Proactive Support: ManaSec helps you move beyond reactive measures by building a proactive and resilient security posture.
At ManaSec, we specialize in helping businesses implement Zero Trust principles to secure all identities, human and non-human alike.
Neglecting non-human identities exposes your business to significant risk. A single compromised API token, orphaned service account, or misconfigured IoT device can result in data breaches, operational disruptions, or regulatory penalties. By adopting a Zero Trust approach and collaborating with ManaSec as a trusted partner, your organization can mitigate these risks and ensure a secure, efficient digital ecosystem.
Contact ManaSec today to learn how we can help your business secure its non-human identities and stay ahead of emerging threats.