Understanding Non-Human Identities: Types, Risks, and Security Tips

Executive Summary

Non-human identities (NHIs) are pivotal in today's SaaS and cloud infrastructures, outnumbering human users significantly. This growth presents various risks, notably in the management of API keys, OAuth tokens, and service accounts. The guide from Grip Security outlines effective strategies to control and secure these identities, addressing the challenges that come with their visibility and governance. Understanding the complexities and potential attack vectors associated with NHIs is essential to safeguarding modern enterprises.

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Main Highlights

What Are Non-Human Identities?

• Non-human identities include API keys, service accounts, and automation tools that power integrations in cloud environments.
• They significantly outnumber human accounts, posing unique challenges in identity management.

Risks Associated with Non-Human Identities

• NHIs are often over-permissioned, allowing attackers to exploit these identities to access sensitive systems.
• Many NHIs go untracked and remain long-lived, creating vulnerabilities in enterprise networks.

Strategies for Securing NHIs

• Implement visibility controls to monitor the activities of non-human identities effectively.
• Regularly audit permissions to reduce the risk of exploitation by limiting access to necessary functions only.

Governance of Non-Human Identities

• Establish strict governance policies that include the management of NHIs to prevent lateral movement by attackers.
• Automation tools should also be regularly assessed to ensure they comply with security frameworks and best practices.

👉 Access the full expert analysis and actionable security insights from Grip Security here.