As the number of machines, devices, and automated services rapidly outpaces human users in digital ecosystems, the rise of “non-human identities” (NHIs) has emerged as a critical cybersecurity concern. Fast Company’s recent article by Ken Grohe emphasizes how attackers increasingly target these overlooked identities—such as bots, APIs, and IoT devices—resulting in massive breaches, including a 3.8 Tbps DDoS attack and botnets comprising hundreds of thousands of compromised endpoints. Unlike human accounts, NHIs require specialized management of certificates, SSH keys, and behavioral monitoring, yet are often excluded from traditional identity frameworks. Grohe calls for a shift toward identity intelligence—prioritizing full visibility, ownership mapping, entitlement auditing, and automation—to reduce risk and reinforce accountability across digital infrastructures.
