Utilizing Credentials as Distinct Identifiers: A Strategic Framework for NHI Inventories

Identity-based attacks are increasingly prevalent, with malicious actors impersonating entities to gain unauthorized access to sensitive resources and data. Recent reports indicate that a significant majority of attacks—estimated at 83%—involve the compromise of credentials, highlighting a shift towards credential theft for initial access over vulnerability exploitation.

The focus of attackers extends beyond individuals; Non-Human Identities (NHIs) are targeted, significantly outnumbering human identities within organizations by a ratio of at least 50 to 1. Unlike humans, machines lack effective means for multi-factor authentication, relying primarily on credentials such as API keys, bearer tokens, and JSON Web Tokens (JWTs).

Historically, Identity and Access Management (IAM) has centered around stable human attributes. Once an individual passes verification, they are assumed to possess consistent identity traits, which allows for role-based access permissions. However, for machines, securing identities hinges on managing access keys—the critical elements that need safeguarding.

Recognizing access keys as unique identifiers for machine identities is essential. By treating these credentials as vital identities, organizations can enhance observability and control over access permissions across their enterprises.

Understanding NHIs

Defining NHIs poses challenges as they vary widely across different environments, including cloud services, container orchestration, and legacy systems. The distinction between an Azure managed identity and a Kubernetes service account signifies the complexity of managing these identities, often leading to fragmented and inconsistent policies.

The rapid growth of NHIs has outstripped traditional asset inventory capabilities. Security teams struggle to enforce consistent permissions, leading to vulnerabilities exacerbated by aging legacy systems that remain unmanaged. The absence of ownership and metadata surrounding NHIs leaves many identities unaccounted for, increasing the risk of security incidents.

Secrets as Identifiers

In order to function, NHIs must authenticate to access data and resources, typically via secrets such as API keys or tokens. These credentials serve as unique identifiers, enabling traceability and accountability within systems. Utilizing secrets as access identifiers clarifies inventory management, providing a unified view of machines and workloads across all environments.

Implementing this model facilitates effective lifecycle management and supports Zero Trust principles, as secrets remain valid only during authorized use. Consequently, unused or expired secrets can be flagged for removal, mitigating risks associated with identity sprawl.

Security Risks of Secrets

While secrets are instrumental as identifiers, they are also prone to leakage. Recent studies reveal a significant increase in leaked secrets, highlighting the vulnerabilities companies face. Compromised API keys or tokens enable attackers to establish valid sessions and gain extensive access rights, particularly when credentials are tied to highly privileged accounts.

Orphaned secrets—those that persist without necessary oversight—pose a risk as they often retain elevated permissions and lack visibility. Effective management of these credentials is essential to prevent exploitation by adversaries.

GitGuardian: A Comprehensive NHI Inventory Solution

GitGuardian offers a solution for comprehensive inventory management of secrets, ensuring that organizations can track and manage credentials effectively. By establishing a contextualized inventory that includes metadata regarding each secret’s usage, GitGuardian enhances visibility and governance over NHIs.

This platform enables teams to identify publicly leaked NHIs, internal leaks, redundancy in multiple storage locations, and provides insights into the lifespan of secrets requiring attention. With capabilities to monitor and analyze the environment, GitGuardian empowers proactive identity governance, which is critical for modern security strategies.

Moving Towards Effective NHI Governance

The expansion of non-human identities necessitates a shift in identity management strategies. Secrets serve not merely as access keys but as gateways for potential security breaches. Without comprehensive visibility into credential management practices, organizations remain at risk of identity-based attacks.

GitGuardian fosters a holistic view of NHI security by mapping identities to their corresponding secrets while integrating rich metadata for lifecycle management. This functionality allows organizations to address vulnerabilities, manage permissions effectively, and mitigate risks of credential misuse.

Ultimately, by transforming credential management from reactive to strategic governance, organizations can enhance their security posture against identity-based attacks. GitGuardian equips enterprises with visibility and control, ensuring that monitored, scoped, and managed credentials are not left vulnerable to exploitation.