Having An Identity Crisis? Best Practices For Mitigating Non-Human Identity Risk

In today’s digital age, managing identities has become a critical task for organizations of all sizes. With the increasing use of technology and automation, the need for efficient and secure identity management systems has grown exponentially. However, managing non-human identities, such as application IDs, API keys, and service accounts, can be a daunting task. Non-human identities are often overlooked, leaving organizations vulnerable to security risks. To mitigate these risks, it’s essential to have a robust identity management system in place. In this article, we will explore the best practices for mitigating non-human identity risk and provide a three-step process for effective non-human identity management.

Step 1: Discovery and Inventory The first step in managing non-human identities is to discover and inventory all the non-human identities within an organization. This includes identifying all the applications, APIs, services, and scripts that use non-human identities. It’s essential to have a comprehensive list of all non-human identities, including their credentials, access levels, and expiration dates.

To achieve this, organizations can use automated tools that can scan the network and identify all the non-human identities. These tools can also provide real-time updates on any changes made to the identities. It’s important to note that non-human identities can be scattered across different departments, teams, and locations, so it’s crucial to have a centralized system for managing them.

Step 2: Governance and Management Once all non-human identities are discovered and inventoried, the next step is to establish governance and management policies. This includes creating policies for issuing, revoking, and rotating credentials, as well as setting access levels and privileges. It’s essential to have a clear hierarchy of roles and responsibilities, ensuring that only authorized personnel can manage non-human identities.

Another critical aspect of governance and management is the implementation of role-based access control (RBAC). RBAC ensures that each non-human identity has a specific role and set of permissions, limiting access to sensitive data and systems. Additionally, organizations should have a process for regularly reviewing and updating access levels and privileges to ensure that they are still relevant and necessary.

Step 3: Monitoring and Auditing The final step in mitigating non-human identity risk is monitoring and auditing. It’s essential to continuously monitor non-human identities for suspicious activity, such as unusual login attempts or data access. Organizations should have a system in place for logging and tracking all actions taken by non-human identities, including successful and failed login attempts.

Additionally, regular audits should be conducted to ensure compliance with established policies and regulations. These audits should include reviews of access levels, credentials, and usage patterns. Any anomalies or discrepancies found during the audit process should be addressed immediately to prevent security risks.

In conclusion, managing non-human identities is a critical aspect of identity management that organizations cannot afford to overlook. By following the three-step process outlined above, organizations can mitigate non-human identity risk and ensure the security of their systems and data. Remember, non-human identities are not going away anytime soon, so it’s essential to have a robust identity management system in place to manage them effectively.