Importance of safeguarding identity in the current era - reasons detailed
As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) agents in organizations continues to grow, so does the need for robust identity security measures. A recent report by Silverfort indicates a projected 29% increase in the use of non-human identities (NHIs) over the next 12-18 months.
Challenges in Managing AI Agent Identities
AI agents, unlike human users, lack accountability, have short, dynamic lifespans, and rely on various non-human authentication methods. This unique nature poses several challenges in managing their identities effectively. Two-thirds (67%) of survey respondents expressed either very high concern or concern about the potential for damage relating to NHIs.
Key Concerns and Mitigation Strategies
- Increased Complexity and Security Risks: AI systems, particularly autonomous agents, increase the complexity and security risks associated with NHIs. To address this, organizations should implement identity security posture management (ISPM) solutions to continuously discover, assess, and remediate NHI-related risks.
- Multitude of Identities: AI agents often span multiple NHIs across environments, leading to governance challenges and visibility issues. Ensuring that every AI agent has a designated owner responsible for its lifecycle and security posture can help mitigate these issues.
- Sensitive Permissions Drift: AI agents may inherit or require administrative-level access, exposing sensitive data and systems to unauthorized access. Regular monitoring for anomalies and ensuring that AI agents operate with least privilege access can help mitigate these risks.
- Exploitation by Attackers: NHIs related to AI systems can be exploited by attackers to move undetected through networks. Implementing zero trust principles, secure authentication and token management, and monitoring behavior and anomalies can help protect against these threats.
- NHI Explosion: The rapid adoption of AI is projected to increase the NHI-to-human ratio, exacerbating identity management challenges and security risks for organizations. Organizations should implement a centralized governance model for AI to manage these growing numbers effectively.
The Importance of IAM in AI Agent Security
As the industry recognizes the growing need for proper security measures, organizations are increasingly viewing Identity and Access Management (IAM) as important to their security posture. According to a survey from Okta, 85% of respondents view IAM as crucial to their security strategy.
Okta recommends involving AI project leaders, including data officers, data scientists, and line-of-business leaders, in governance to ensure a comprehensive approach to managing AI agent identities.
Lack of Well-Developed Strategies for NHI Management
Despite the growing concerns, only 10% of organizations have a well-developed strategy for managing NHIs, according to the report. Remediating risky NHI accounts is a concern for 53% of survey respondents, and lifecycle management of NHIs is a concern for 69%.
Poor visibility into NHIs is also a significant challenge, with 57% of respondents expressing this concern. An AI agent security solution needs to address these concerns, ensuring every AI agent is tied to a human and has the proper policies in place to prevent and detect improper activity.
In conclusion, as the use of AI agents continues to grow, so does the need for robust identity security measures. By implementing best practices such as creating distinct and verifiable agent identities, implementing zero trust principles, securing authentication and token management, monitoring behavior and anomalies, assigning ownership and aligning with standards, organizations can ensure the safe and effective operation of their AI workforces.
Cybersecurity in the context of data-and-cloud-computing and technology is becoming increasingly important as the use of AI agents in organizations increases, due to the unique challenges they pose in managing their identities effectively. To mitigate the risks associated with AI agent identities, it's essential for organizations to implement Identity and Access Management (IAM) strategies, ensuring that every AI agent is tied to a human and has the proper policies in place to prevent and detect improper activity.
