Non-human identities, such as service accounts, AI agents, and API tokens, now outnumber human users by roughly 10x in many enterprises. This "silent workforce" continues to process data and make API calls even when human activity slows.

Traditional IAM systems weren’t designed for this landscape. There’s no joiner-mover-leaver lifecycle, no designated approvals, and no user to complete MFA—resulting in many over-privileged accounts that rarely see reviews.

Here’s a practical framework to regain control:

✔️ Discover: Identify every non-human identity, including unmanaged AI agents, by using tools like Okta's Agent Discovery and Google Cloud IAM audits.

✔️ Document: Assign clear ownership and document the purpose of each agent to ensure accountability.

✔️ Govern: Enforce least privilege access and apply time-bound permissions to reduce potential risk.

✔️ Automate: Leverage Okta Workflows alongside Google Cloud Functions to implement policies and streamline identity lifecycle management.

✔️ Monitor: Maintain continuous oversight by auditing activity via Security Command Center and Okta audit logs to catch irregularities early.

Protecting these automated identities is becoming increasingly important.

If you want to discuss how this approach can enhance your governance of non-human identities, feel free to reach out.

#IdentitySecurity #IAM #AI #Okta #GoogleCloud #Cybersecurity