Today, organizations are grappling with increasingly complex identity security challenges. As cloud computing and remote work become the norm, the traditional perimeter-based security model is no longer adequate. Identity has emerged as the new perimeter, making its security crucial for safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring business continuity. It's essential for IT leaders to grasp and address the changing landscape of Identity Security Posture Management (ISPM).While securing human user accounts is important, a more pressing concern in identity security is the management of non-human identities and service accounts. These often-overlooked entities are critical in modern IT infrastructures and pose significant risks if not properly managed. The 2024 Identity Security Posture Management (ISPM) Survey Report by Anetac reveals a concerning statistic: 76% of organizations misuse service accounts, exposing themselves to critical identity security vulnerabilities.This alarming figure highlights the urgent need for improved identity security practices, particularly for non-human identities. Service accounts, which are used to execute automated tasks and facilitate communication between systems and applications, often have elevated privileges and access to sensitive data. When mismanaged, they become attractive targets for cybercriminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access to critical systems.The main challenges in managing service accounts include:
- Visibility: Many organizations struggle to maintain an accurate inventory of their service accounts, leading to "identity sprawl." This lack of continuous discovery and visibility hinders the enforcement of proper security controls and increases the risk of unauthorized access.
- Lifecycle management: Service accounts are often created for specific projects but rarely decommissioned when no longer needed. This results in a proliferation of dormant accounts with extensive privileges that can be exploited by malicious actors.
- Access governance: Organizations often find it difficult to implement and maintain the principle of least privilege for service accounts.
These challenges are exacerbated by the increasing complexity of modern IT environments. With the adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures, organizations must manage identities across diverse platforms and services. This heterogeneity complicates the maintenance of consistent security policies and practices across the entire environment.
Furthermore, the rapid pace of technological change introduces new types of non-human identities constantly. From containers and server-less functions to IoT devices, each new technology brings its own set of identity-related challenges. IT leaders must be prepared to adapt their identity security strategies to accommodate these evolving technologies. According to Enterprise Security Group (ESG) estimates, non-human identities are projected to increase by 24% in the coming year alone.An often overlooked aspect of identity security is the human factor. While technical controls and automated solutions receive much attention, human error and negligence remain significant contributors to security incidents. There have been instances of employees using service accounts for personal tasks, such as ordering food or automating non-work-related activities.This underscores the need for comprehensive security awareness training programs that address the unique challenges of managing non-human identities. Employees at all levels of the organization, from IT administrators to developers and business users, need to understand the importance of proper service account management and the potential consequences of misuse.To address these challenges, IT leaders should adopt a holistic approach to identity security that encompasses both human and non-human identities. This approach should be built on the following key pillars:
- Continuous discovery: Implement tools and processes to maintain an accurate, real-time inventory of all identities, including service accounts, across your entire IT environment.
- Lifecycle management: Continuously monitor, review, and decommission unnecessary service accounts to prevent identity sprawl and reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
- Least privilege access: Enforce the principle of least privilege for all identities, ensuring that each account has only the permissions necessary to perform its intended functions.
- Continuous monitoring and analytics: Implement robust discovery and analytics capabilities to detect anomalous behavior and security threats associated with service accounts and other non-human identities to identify gaps and areas of improvement.
- Automation and orchestration: Leverage automation to streamline identity management processes, reduce human error, and ensure consistent policy enforcement across diverse environments.
- Security awareness and training: Develop comprehensive training programs that educate employees about the importance of proper identity management and the specific risks associated with service accounts.
Navigating the complex landscape of Identity Security requires a proactive, holistic approach for modern enterprises. By investing in robust identity security practices, IT leaders can significantly reduce their organization's risk exposure and build a more resilient security posture. It's crucial to remember that identity security is an ongoing process that requires continuous attention and adaptation, not a one-time project.As leaders in their organizations' digital transformation journeys, IT executives are at the forefront of safeguarding against ever-evolving Identity Security threats. By prioritizing the management of both human and non-human identities, they can create a strong foundation for their organization's overall security strategy.About the Author: Baber Amin is a transformative senior technology executive with a rich background in enterprise security, identity and access management, Identity and Data Governance, privacy, and API security. He currently serves as Chief Product Officer at Anetac Inc., where he leads product strategy, design and overall digital experience. He is responsible for setting the product vision, and strategy, and overseeing its executionBefore joining Anetac, Baber served as Chief Product and Operating Officer at Veridium, where he led product strategy, technical field operations, product and field marketing, and the company’s overall go-to-market strategy. He was instrumental in driving Veridium’s innovation in identity proofing, passwordless authentication, and biometric security, all while championing a privacy-first approach on behalf of customers.Baber’s earlier career includes a pivotal role at Ping Identity as Chief Technology Officer for the West Region, shaping Ping’s OpenBanking, GDPR, and Consumer Identity solutions. He also helped drive Ping’s global go-to-market strategy, elevate its Zero Trust Access portfolio, and led several successful M&A initiatives that significantly boosted market share and revenue. Earlier in his career, Baber held senior roles at Oracle, where he spearheaded the Identity as a Service (IDaaS) strategy, and at CA Technologies (now part of Broadcom), where he focused on multifactor authentication and risk management offerings. His leadership extended to Novell, where he led and championed cloud security initiatives as part of the identity management business.A recognized thought leader, Baber is an author of multiple patents in software security, web caching, and content distribution. He is a speaker at industry conferences and an advocate for strategic identity execution, helping organizations leverage identity and access management to enhance security and streamline digital transformation.
