Even with all the security tools available today, identity remains one of the most targeted and vulnerable areas in cybersecurity. It’s not because the tools are missing—it’s because manual processes still dominate.
Most organizations already have policies like:
- Enforcing MFA
- Managing access controls
- Offboarding users
- Rotating credentials
But how well are these being followed?
Here’s a quick reality check from real-world data (see chart below):
These aren’t just statistics—they’re open doors for attackers.
Part 1: Human Identity Risks
Manual identity operations lead to:
- Delayed onboarding/offboarding
- Forgotten accounts
- Inconsistent policy enforcement
- Audit and compliance challenges
In fast-moving environments, these gaps create real risk. Manual processes simply don’t scale and leave room for human error.
What helps:
- Automate provisioning and deprovisioning
- Enforce time-bound and least-privilege access
- Rotate credentials regularly
- Establish proper documentation of each identity
- Conduct awareness training for all users
Part 2: Non-Human Identities (NHI) – The Silent Risk
As AI and automation grow, non-human identities are exploding. These include:
- Service accounts
- API keys
- Machine credentials
OAuth tokens
These identities often:
- Have no clear owner
- Lack MFA or approval workflows
- Get hardcoded into code, pipelines, Postman collections, etc.
- Remain active long after use
This makes them a perfect target for attackers.
Why they need a separate strategy:
- They are managed by teams, not individuals
- Lifecycle management is often missing
- They bypass usual identity hygiene checks
This is where the concept of Non-Human Identity Detection and Response (NHIDR) becomes critical focusing on the hidden identity risks caused by automated systems and AI agents.
A Unified Identity Security Strategy Should Include:
- Central documentation of both human and non-human identities
- Automation of onboarding, offboarding, and secret expiration
- Routine cleanup of idle or unused identities
- Strong access restriction and time-based approvals
- Monitoring access patterns and logs
- Continuous education and awareness
Closing Thoughts
Manual identity management is not only slow—it’s risky.
In both human and non-human scenarios, but automation is also the only sustainable path forward.
What is your organization doing to secure identities across both people and machines?
Need help closing identity security gaps?
At AIConsult Sweden AB, we help organizations modernize identity governance and automate security processes—at scale.
Contact us at: director@aiconsults.se
Learn more at: www.aiconsults.se