Identity Security: A Deep Dive into Protecting Non-Human Identities

1. Introduction

In the digital age, identity security is more critical than ever. With the rise of automation and machine-to-machine interactions, non-human identities (NHIs) have become a significant focus for cybersecurity professionals. Silverfort, a leader in this space, has developed innovative solutions to protect these critical assets.

2. Understanding Non-Human Identities (NHIs)

Non-human identities (NHIs) refer to the credentials assigned to machines, applications, or services to perform automated tasks. These include service accounts, API keys, and OAuth tokens. NHIs are essential for seamless automation and integration across various systems. However, their increasing prevalence also makes them attractive targets for cyber attackers.

3. The Risks Associated with Active Directory (AD) Service Accounts

Active Directory service accounts are a common type of NHI, often holding high-level privileges. Recent data shows that service accounts make up a significant portion of users within AD environments, with large enterprises hosting thousands of such accounts. The lack of visibility and protection for these accounts makes them prime targets for cyber attackers.

  • Statistics: On average, around one-third of users within AD are service accounts. In larger companies, this ratio is smaller but still significant in absolute numbers. For example, a large enterprise with 100,000 users in AD would likely have approximately 23,000 active service accounts.
  • Vulnerability: 46% of service accounts regularly authenticate via NTLM, a weak protocol susceptible to credential access and lateral movement.

4. Silverfort’s Unique Approach to Identity Security

Silverfort addresses the challenges of protecting NHIs through its comprehensive platform, integrating Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR), and Identity Security Posture Management (ISPM). This unified approach ensures robust protection across both on-premises and cloud environments.

  • Innovative Solutions: Silverfort’s technology extends MFA and modern identity security to any sensitive resource, including legacy apps, service accounts, OT systems, and command-line interfaces.
  • Unified Platform: Silverfort provides a unified policy enforcement engine at the backend of all IAM solutions, offering holistic visibility and zero-trust security.

5. Why Attackers Target Service Accounts

Service accounts are often targeted due to their high-access privileges and the difficulty in monitoring them. Attackers exploit these accounts to move laterally within an organization, gaining access to sensitive resources and potentially compromising the entire network.

  • High-Access Privileges: Service accounts often have admin-level access, making them valuable targets for attackers.
  • Low Visibility: Many organizations lack comprehensive visibility into their service accounts, making it easier for attackers to exploit them unnoticed.

6. Silverfort’s Capabilities in Protecting NHIs

Silverfort excels in providing centralized visibility into all authentication and access requests, regardless of the environment. Its platform can detect and block malicious access attempts in real-time, leveraging advanced risk analysis and behavioral analytics.

  • Centralized Visibility: Silverfort offers a unified view of all users, resources, and authentication activities, enabling real-time threat detection and response.
  • Real-Time Monitoring and Blocking: Silverfort’s platform can automatically block atypical service account access attempts, ensuring robust protection against identity-based attacks.

7. Case Studies and Success Stories

Mergers and Acquisitions

During mergers and acquisitions, Silverfort’s platform has proven invaluable. For example, during the acquisition of a smaller entity, a customer utilized Silverfort to gain visibility into the new environment and prevent lateral movement attacks.

Healthcare Sector

Healthcare organizations, dealing with complex IT environments and sensitive data, have benefited significantly from Silverfort’s solutions. By providing real-time monitoring and risk analysis, Silverfort helps healthcare providers secure their environments and protect patient information.

8. Future of Identity Security with Silverfort

Silverfort’s recent $116M Series D funding underscores its potential to revolutionize identity security. This financial boost will enable the company to expand its global footprint, enhance its product offerings, and continue setting new benchmarks in the industry.

  • Funding and Expansion: Silverfort plans to use the additional funds to expand its platform with new innovative product modules and accelerate its go-to-market strategy.
  • Strategic Plans: Future initiatives include enhancing their platform to address emerging threats and providing organizations with the tools needed to protect their critical assets.

9. Conclusion

Silverfort stands out in the field of identity security due to its innovative approach, comprehensive protection capabilities, and proven success across various industries. As the digital landscape evolves, organizations must prioritize the security of NHIs, and Silverfort provides the tools necessary to do so effectively.By integrating Silverfort’s solutions, organizations can achieve a higher level of security and resilience against identity-based threats. For those looking to bolster their identity security posture, Silverfort offers a compelling and effective option. 

Sources:

  1. Shining the Spotlight on the Rising Risks of Non-Human Identities
  2. 7 Identity and Access Management Trends – Zluri
  3. Silverfort Unified Identity Protection Platform – Silverfort.com
  4. How to Create Engaging LinkedIn Posts That Stand Out
  5. How to Secure Non-Human Identities?

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