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Machine identities are an essential yet often overlooked component of organizational security. In an era where digital transformation and cloud computing have enabled a proliferation of applications, devices, and workloads, managing and securing machine identities has become critical. These identities, including certificates, application credentials, API keys, and cryptographic keys, serve as the digital equivalents of human identities. They enable machines to authenticate, communicate securely, and access sensitive resources. Machine identities are a subset of Non-Human Identities (NHI), including service accounts, bots, and IoT devices, that require authentication and authorization.
With the rapid expansion of machine-to-machine communication, the sheer number of machine identities has grown exponentially. Each identity, if not governed properly, can represent a potential attack surface. Poorly managed machine identities can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or downtime, impacting operations and compliance. Managing this risk is increasingly important as organizations adopt hybrid and multi-cloud environments where machines interact across diverse IT infrastructures.
There are many types of digital identities, though we tend to first think of identities associated with human users. For instance, Internet of Things (IoT) devices like temperature sensors and security cameras need robust authentication mechanisms to communicate safely. Industrial OT devices like SCADA systems and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) need secure identities for data exchange, while Kubernetes clusters and cloud instances require identities to manage interactions within dynamic, cloud-native environments. The complexity and scope of these digital interactions mean that every identity, no matter how short-lived, needs to be handled with precision and care.
The complexity of securing machine identities lies in their lifecycle management, from issuance and discovery to rotation and decommissioning. Many organizations might lack visibility in the volume and usage of machine identities within their systems, leading to challenges such as expired certificates, unauthorized access, and inefficient processes.
This report considers the topic of machine identities as an important type of Non-Human Identities (NHIs), exploring their ubiquity, lifecycle, and associated risks. It also examines emerging trends and technologies that support machine identity management, including automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and governance practices. Lastly, we provide actionable recommendations for organizations to strengthen their machine identity management strategies and align with best practices.
