When we think of identity management, it’s easy to focus on employees and partners. But what about the automated processes, bots, and APIs that keep your business running? These non-human accounts often interact with critical systems, yet they frequently operate under the radar. This blog explores why these identities are no less critical than human ones and how managing them effectively can make all the difference in robust security and operational stability.
What Are Non-Human Identities?
Non-human identities include:
- Bots and Chatbots
Customer service assistants or automated help desk agents.
- Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
Services that communicate with external partners or internal microservices.
- Service Accounts
Credentials used by software applications to perform scheduled tasks or manage resources.
Why They Matter
- High-Level Permissions
Non-human identities often require extensive permissions to read or write data across multiple systems. - Continuous Operation
Unlike employees, these accounts never log out. If compromised, attackers can operate indefinitely, often undetected. - Complex Relationships
APIs might connect to external partners, creating a web of trust relationships that extend beyond traditional enterprise boundaries.
Treat Non-Human Identities Like Real Users
- Access Provisioning
Use the same strict onboarding and offboarding processes, defining clear permission sets and logging every action. - Policy Enforcement
Apply password rotation or key rotation policies. If the identity uses SSH keys, treat them with the same rigor as user passwords. - Adaptive Authentication
Some advanced IAM solutions can check for anomalies in how a bot or API behaves, flagging irregular requests as potential security incidents.
Common Pitfalls
- Credentials Hardcoded in Code
Storing tokens or passwords in plain text within code repositories is an open invitation to attackers. - Lack of Ownership
Non-human accounts often fall between operational silos, with nobody fully responsible for their management. - Over-Provisioning
Granting full administrative rights to scripts or APIs just to avoid “hassle” can lead to catastrophic breaches.
Common Pitfalls
- Credentials Hardcoded in Code
Storing tokens or passwords in plain text within code repositories is an open invitation to attackers. - Lack of Ownership
Non-human accounts often fall between operational silos, with nobody fully responsible for their management. - Over-Provisioning
Granting full administrative rights to scripts or APIs just to avoid “hassle” can lead to catastrophic breaches.
Success Story: Automated Inventory Management
A global retailer leveraged non-human identities for inventory management, using an API to track stock levels across warehouses. By employing robust IAM practices—role-based access, frequent credential rotation, and continuous monitoring—they prevented a significant attack attempt where intruders tried to spoof the API to manipulate pricing and product availability. The incident was thwarted thanks to detection of unusual API calls and immediate lockdown of the compromised key.
Beyond Traditional IAM—Evolving to Machine Identity Management
Forward-thinking organizations are turning to specialized machine identity management solutions. These platforms handle the lifecycle of digital certificates, SSH keys, and API tokens, offering a holistic view of all non-human entities within the ecosystem. By centralizing this management, security teams gain unified oversight and automation capabilities for quick remediation.
Ignoring non-human identities is no longer an option. Whether it’s an internal service account, a chatbot, or an external API, these accounts hold the keys to mission-critical operations and sensitive data. Treat them with the same rigor as human identities—enforce least privilege, continuous monitoring, and rigorous policy enforcement. The payoff is a resilient infrastructure where all identities, human or not, operate under strict governance, keeping your business secure and agile.
