What is a Non-Human Entity?

What is a non-human entity?

A non-human entity (NHE) in cybersecurity and identity management refers to anything that interacts with digital systems but isn’t a person. These entities still need identities and permissions—just like users—but they operate automatically or programmatically.

Why non-human entities matter in cybersecurity

Just like human users, non-human entities can be exploited if left unmanaged. If an API token leaks or a misconfigured device connects to your network:

• Attackers can move laterally
• Sensitive data can be accessed or exfiltrated
• Uptime and integrity may be compromised

How to secure non-human entities:

• Assign unique digital identities (e.g., device certificates, service accounts)
• Apply least privilege access policies
• Use certificate-based or token-based authentication
• Monitor and log all NHE behavior
• Rotate secrets or credentials regularly

A non-human entity is any device, app, service, or workload that needs access but doesn’t have a face. Just like users, they must be identified, authenticated, and authorized—especially in Zero Trust environments.

What are some examples of non-human entities?

Here are some common and practical examples of non-human entities in digital environments—especially relevant in cybersecurity, IAM, and Zero Trust architecture:

Devices

• IoT sensors (e.g., temperature monitors, motion detectors)
• OT equipment (e.g., PLCs, SCADA controllers)
• Smart printers
• Network cameras
• Point-of-sale terminals
• Smart HVAC systems

Applications & Services

• Automated backup software
• Monitoring tools (e.g., Zabbix, Prometheus agents)
• Business process automation bots
• Email marketing platforms
• Antivirus or EDR agents

APIs & Service Accounts

• Cloud-native services that communicate via OAuth tokens
• API clients that access databases or 3rd-party platforms
• Service accounts used in CI/CD pipelines or automation scripts
• Bots (like Slack bots or support chatbots)

Workloads & Infrastructure

• Docker containers running microservices
• Virtual machines running headless apps
• Kubernetes pods acting as ephemeral services
• Serverless functions (e.g., AWS Lambda, Azure Functions)

Non-human entities are anything that acts on a network but isn’t a person.
They still need identities, credentials, and access control to keep environments secure.

What is the difference between human and non-human identities?

The difference between human and non-human identities comes down to who—or what—is being identified and authenticated in a digital environment.

Both types of identities are crucial in modern cybersecurity, but they operate in different ways and require different management approaches.

Human Identities

Definition:
A human identity refers to a real person using digital systems—employees, customers, contractors, etc.

Examples:

• A user logging into a corporate email account
• An admin accessing a cloud dashboard
• A remote worker authenticating through VPN

Common Characteristics:

• Use credentials like usernames and passwords
• Often protected with multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Have context like roles, departments, and permissions
• Behaviors (login patterns, access history) can be monitored

Managed through:

• Identity & Access Management (IAM)
• Single Sign-On (SSO)
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Non-Human Identities

Definition:
A non-human identity refers to anything that interacts with a system but isn’t a person—such as devices, applications, services, and bots.

Examples:

• An IoT sensor sending data to a dashboard
• A containerized app calling a microservice
• A backup script accessing a cloud database
• A printer or HVAC system connecting to the network

Common Characteristics:

• Use credentials like API keys, certificates, tokens
• May not support MFA
• Often run autonomously or continuously
• Can be hard to monitor and manage without automation

Managed through:

• Secrets managers or PAM solutions for services
• Certificate-based device authentication
• IAM for workloads (e.g., service accounts)

Why This Matters

• Human identities are typically easier to monitor, but still pose insider threats.
• Non-human identities often outnumber human ones—and are frequently overprivileged, invisible, or orphaned after deployments.

Securing both is essential for Zero Trust and modern identity governance.

What are the challenges of securing non-human identities?

Securing non-human identities—like devices, applications, and workloads—is a critical part of modern cybersecurity, but it comes with unique challenges. These entities often outnumber human users, operate autonomously, and are easy to overlook without proper controls.

Here are the key challenges in securing non-human identities:

1. Lack of Visibility

Many organizations don’t have a complete inventory of all non-human entities:

• Devices like IoT sensors or PLCs may connect without oversight
• Service accounts and API tokens are often created and forgotten
• Containers and VMs are ephemeral, spinning up and down dynamically

Why it’s risky: If you don’t know what’s connected or running, you can’t secure it.

2. Hardcoded or Weak Credentials

Non-human entities often rely on:

• Hardcoded credentials embedded in scripts or firmware
• Shared accounts with excessive privileges
• Expired or poorly rotated secrets

Why it’s risky: Attackers can extract or reuse these credentials to move laterally across systems.

3. Overprivileged Access

Many NHEs operate with broad permissions because it’s easier to “just make it work.” Service accounts and scripts often have:

• Full admin access
• Unrestricted network reach
• No fine-grained policies

Why it’s risky: If compromised, these identities provide the keys to the kingdom.

4. Poor Lifecycle Management

Non-human identities often don’t get retired when no longer needed. Or worse:

• They remain active after projects end
• Credentials are never revoked
• Orphaned service accounts remain open forever

Why it’s risky: These become low-hanging fruit for attackers and insiders.

5. Dynamic Infrastructure Complexity

In cloud and DevOps environments:

• Containers and functions are short-lived
• Microservices communicate with each other constantly
• Secrets and tokens must be rotated in real-time

Why it’s risky: Managing identity at this speed and scale is difficult without automation.

6. Limited Monitoring & Auditing

Many non-human entities don’t produce detailed logs or context-aware activity:

• It’s hard to tell what they’re doing
• Alerts can be missed or misattributed
• Behavior baselines are rarely defined

Why it’s risky: Malicious activity from an NHE might go undetected until damage is done.

Solution Strategies:

To address these, you need:

• Automated discovery and inventory tools
• Credential vaulting and rotation (e.g., PAM for machines)
• Role-based and least-privilege policies
• Identity federation for services and workloads
• Continuous monitoring and behavioral analytics