Source URL: https://www.oasis.security/resources/blog/non-human-identity-management-program-guide-step-by-step
Source: CSA
Title: How to Manage Non-Human Identities Effectively
Feedly Summary:
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses the implementation of Non-Human Identity Management (NHIM) programs, highlighting practical steps organizations can take to secure digital identities—ranging from defining goals to automating lifecycle management. This is particularly relevant for professionals in security, as it addresses critical aspects of identity governance that are vital in protecting against digital threats, especially in hybrid cloud environments.
Detailed Description:
The text outlines a comprehensive guide for implementing a Non-Human Identity Management (NHIM) program, focusing on security and compliance in identity governance. The following key points were made:
– **Importance of NHI Management**:
– Non-Human Identities (NHIs) like automated processes, bots, and service accounts are increasingly prevalent, necessitating effective management to prevent security vulnerabilities.
– **Step-by-Step Implementation**:
1. **Define the Scope and Set Goals**:
– Map out stakeholders such as the CISO and cloud administrators.
– Establish measurable objectives linked to business goals (e.g., reducing stale identities).
2. **Select an NHIM Tool**:
– Choose a tool that meets the organization’s specific needs, ensuring it covers essential functions like identity discovery and lifecycle management.
3. **Define and Understand Your Perimeter**:
– Achieve full visibility of NHIs across environments (cloud, on-premise, hybrid).
– Assign ownership to manage and govern NHIs effectively.
4. **Define a Policy Framework and Set Priorities**:
– Develop policies for access and lifecycle management, emphasizing least-privilege access and regulatory compliance.
5. **Strengthen Security Posture**:
– Continuously monitor NHIs and prioritize resolving over-privileged accounts and unrotated secrets to mitigate risks.
6. **Automate Lifecycle Management**:
– Implement automation in provisioning, secret rotation, compliance, and decommissioning of NHIs to reduce operational overhead and maintain security standards.
– **Continuous Improvement**:
– As organizations evolve, so should their NHIM programs, requiring regular updates and scaling of monitoring efforts.
**Bullet Points:**
– NHIM is critical in the current digital landscape.
– The roadmap includes stakeholder engagement and clear goal-setting.
– Tool selection is foundational for effective management.
– Policies should reflect best practices and industry standards.
– Automation and monitoring reduce risks and streamline operations.
This guide serves as a call to action for organizations to adopt NHIM practices actively, thereby reducing the risk of unmanaged digital identities that could compromise security across cloud and hybrid environments. The information is essential for security professionals focusing on identity management in the evolving digital landscape.