How Do I Ensure Secure Authentication For NHIs In An IAM System?
Security Boulevard, Friday, March 21st, 2025
Is Your IAM System Adequately Protecting Non-Human Identities?
Non-Human Identities (NHIs) are one such intricacy that has increasingly made its way into IAM (Identity Access Management) systems. However, the question remains: How do we ensure secure authentication for NHIs in an IAM system?
Peeling Back the Layers of NHI
NHIs, essentially, are machine identities used in cybersecurity. They include anything from a server, to a device, to an application. Each NHI has a unique identifier or 'secret' - an encrypted password, token, or key - and access permissions granted by a destination server. The goal? To safeguard both these identities and their access credentials, while consistently observing their behaviors within the system.