A significant transformation is reshaping enterprise cybersecurity, challenging long-held ideas about identity and access controls. Non-Human Identities (NHIs), which encompass things like service accounts, API credentials, automated programs, development pipelines, connected devices, and AI agents are now the primary entities in digital spaces. With machines outnumbering people by 144 to 1, organizations are entering a new period where automated processes, not individuals, drive daily tasks, transactions, and potential hazards.
This shift isn’t just theoretical; it’s evident across various sectors, particularly in India. Entities such as the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) handle billions of daily UPI payments using machine identities. At the same time, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) manages vast numbers of service accounts across its worldwide operations. The sheer volume is immense, as is the associated danger.
The Surge of Non-Human Identities
NHIs have experienced rapid expansion, growing 44% annually, and now constitute 85% of the threat landscape for enterprises, yet they receive less than 5% of governance attention. This discrepancy creates a perilous gap between exposure and oversight.
Unlike human identities, NHIs:
- Operate independently
- Perform transactions at a very high rate
- Often possesses extensive permissions
- Typically lack proper lifecycle management
As organizations automate more tasks and deploy AI entities, NHIs are becoming the digital workforce, but without corresponding structures for human resources, compliance, or supervision.
Primary Drivers of the NHI Explosion (2024–2026)
Expansion of Cloud-Native Architectures
Modern infrastructure has fundamentally altered how identities function:
- Microservices patterns result in 10 times more communication points (API endpoints)
- Kubernetes setups can create over 50 service accounts each
- Serverless setups generate thousands of temporary access codes daily
- Development and deployment pipelines (like GitHub Actions, GitLab Runners) constantly generate new machine identities
The outcome: the typical organization now manages millions of NHIs, compared to just thousands of human users.
Increased Use of Autonomous AI Agents
The emergence of self-directing AI agents is accelerating the spread of identities.
Platforms such as Microsoft Copilot Studio and ServiceNow’s Agent Fabric enable AI-driven workflows that operate without direct human intervention across systems.
These agents frequently:
- Receive administrator-level rights
- Function without a clear designation of responsibility
- Lack controls for their operational lifespan
This establishes a major oversight challenge: AI agents act like users but are managed like software components.
Growth in Connected Devices (IoT and Operational Technology)
The proliferation of connected devices is another significant factor.
In India:
- Urban development projects in Delhi involve millions of sensors
- Telecommunications leaders like Reliance Jio manage tens of millions of device verification keys
- Manufacturing settings utilize extensive industrial control systems (PLC and SCADA)
Every device represents an identity—often using fixed login details and with minimal tracking.
NHI Types and Associated Risks
Not all NHIs pose the same level of threat. Their access level determines their risk, how visible they are, and how mature their management processes are.
- Service Accounts (45%): Commonly have more permissions than needed; many lack assigned ownership or monitoring.
- API Keys/Tokens (28%): Often accidentally disclosed in code; renewal procedures are inconsistent.
- Development Pipeline Identities (15%): Crucial for infrastructure but seldom subject to oversight.
- Autonomous AI (7%): An emerging risk with elevated access and no established norms.
- Connected/Industrial Devices (5%): Usually rely on permanent verification methods, allowing for easier movement within a network.
The common pattern: high access + low visibility = great danger.
The Expanding Target Area
Ways to Gain Higher Privileges
Threat actors are increasingly focusing on NHIs as they offer direct system entry points:
- Compromised service account credentials can bypass Kubernetes access restrictions
- Exposed API credentials allow unauthorized access to cloud resources
- Long-lasting verification keys permit persistent sideways movement within a network
Recent industry trends indicate that NHI compromise is now a primary cause of security incidents, surpassing traditional email-based attacks.
Difficulties in Identification
Organizations struggle with basic awareness:
- Most do not have a complete roster of their NHIs
- Many service accounts are “unclaimed,” with no designated owner
- Standard patterns of machine activity are seldom defined
Without awareness, effective oversight is impossible.
Regulatory and Compliance Pressures
Failures in NHI management are increasingly linked to compliance violations:
- Financial oversight frameworks highlight issues in identity management
- India’s DPDP laws mandate visibility into data handling—including by machines
- Regulatory bodies like the RBI emphasize the ability to audit system access
NHIs complicate adherence to rules as they operate constantly and on a massive scale.
The 2026 NHI Security Framework
To tackle these issues, organizations are adopting an identity system centered around constant verification, prioritizing machines.
Fundamental Structure
Identification → Categorization → Oversight → Real-time Defense
This process is supported by:
- Centralized rule enforcement
- Ongoing verification and authentication
- Access granted only when needed (Just-in-Time)
Key Elements
Identification and Cataloging
Tools like ServiceNow and Tanium aid in finding and mapping NHIs across all systems.
Credential and Secret Handling
Platforms like HashiCorp Vault facilitate the use of temporary credentials with brief validity periods, cutting down on exposure.
Activity Analysis
Solutions such as Darktrace and Vectra AI examine machine behavior to spot irregularities.
- Workload Identity
Frameworks like SPIFFE/SPIRE provide cryptographic proof of identity for software components, enabling secure communication.
Organizational Implementation Approaches
Zero-Trust for Workload Identity
Companies are adopting systems that manage service-to-service communication (like Istio) with mutual verification, ensuring every software component is constantly validated.
Temporary Service Accounts
Modern development pipelines now employ short-lived credentials:
- GitHub Actions using secure token exchange (OIDC federation)
- Cloud access codes with very brief usage windows
This method significantly shortens the time credentials are at risk.
Managing Autonomous AI
To maintain control over AI agents:
- Permission limits restrict their actions
- Emergency shutdown mechanisms are in place
This control is vital as AI agents gain more independence.
India’s Urgent Need for NHI Security
India’s massive digital scale makes effective NHI management particularly critical.
NPCI and the UPI System
Handling billions of daily exchanges, NPCI runs a vast network of interconnected services powered by machine identities.
Reliance Jio’s 5G Network
Managing tens of millions of device verification keys necessitates dynamic credential updates and robust cryptographic safeguards.
TCS’s Global Operational Model
Large-scale secure development environments rely heavily on service accounts and automated processes.
India’s swift digital advancement places it both in a high-risk position and as a global innovator in NHI security solutions.
Vendor Landscape
Major identity and security providers are adapting to address NHIs:
- Saviynt – Strong in lifecycle management
- SailPoint – Expanding into NHI administration
- CyberArk – A leader in managing sensitive credentials
- HashiCorp – Identity solutions integrated with infrastructure
- ServiceNow – Incorporating oversight into automated workflows
Implementation Timeline (6–12 Months)
Stage 1 (Months 0–3):
- Locate and list all NHIs
- Assign ownership and categorize them
Stage 2 (Months 3–6):
- Put in place secret rotation and unified access control
- Remove any credentials that last for a long time
Stage 3 (Months 6–9):
- Introduce behavior analysis tools
- Establish standard patterns for machine activity
Stage 4 (Months 9–12):
- Implement governance for AI agents
- Introduce automated emergency stops
Immediate Action: Scanning code bases for exposed API keys can promptly lower risk levels.
Key Business Benefits
Organizations that prioritize NHI oversight can anticipate:
- Better preparedness for compliance checks
- A smaller area for attackers to target
- Reduced operating expenses through efficiency gains
- Quicker advancement through secure AI and cloud adoption
Studies show a good return on investment from modernizing identity systems, driven by reduced breach costs and better operational efficiency.
Conclusion: Safeguarding the Machine Majority
Classic identity management systems were designed when people were the main digital actors. That time has passed.
Today, machines:
- Outnumber humans 144 times over
- Carry out vital functions automatically
- Represent the largest portion of security risk
To secure this new reality, enterprises must treat NHIs as primary identities—with full management cycles, constant oversight, and firm governance.
The message is clear:
When machines are the dominant presence in your environment, identity protection must adapt accordingly.
Companies that take action now—implementing discovery, rotation, and behavior analysis—will not only mitigate hazards but also realize the full potential of automation and AI in a secure and scalable manner.
