Agentic AI can make decisions, take actions, and evolve its approach based on defined objectives. Unlike static automation tools, these agents dynamically interact with multiple systems, often requiring or generating credentials along the way. This creates a significant shift in how digital identities are produced, used, and managed.

Key Security Risks Introduced by Agent AI

Identity Sprawl

Agentic AI can create multiple NHIs rapidly, each time it triggers an API, launches a service, or performs a task.

Privilege Escalation

Since agents are built to solve problems, they may attempt to bypass permission errors by escalating their access.

Lack of Oversight

These agents operate 24/7 across environments. If you’re not actively monitoring them, agents could run critical processes unnoticed.

Is Your NHI Strategy Ready?

Organizations must assess their readiness for agentic AI by reviewing three key areas:

Inventory Management

Do you have real-time visibility into every NHI, including who created it, when it was made, why it was created, and which systems it impacts? Traditional IAM tools fall short here. Adequate inventory must include metadata like creation timestamps, access logs, and connections to specific AI agents.

Access Controls

You need policies that dynamically align with an AI agent’s behavior, allowing precise, short-term permissions that adapt as the agent’s tasks evolve.

Lifecycle Management

How are identities retired when agents complete their tasks or are replaced? With agentic AI, these lifecycle events happen frequently and unpredictably. Manual processes won’t scale. You need automated logic tightly coupled to agent activity to revoke credentials quickly and efficiently.

Building an NHI Strategy for the Future

Dynamic Access Management

Implement short-lived credentials and context-aware permissions. Policy-as-code tools help enforce rules like “Only allow agent-created identities during business hours” or “Restrict identity creation to approved namespaces.”

Automated Discovery and Monitoring

Use tools that continuously scan for new NHIs, map them to their origin, and track behavior in real time.

Strong Governance Frameworks

Build security policies that incorporate AI ethics, compliance standards, and risk assessments.

What’s Coming Next

As agentic AI becomes better, your NHI footprint will grow rapidly. Soon, regulations will demand transparency in autonomous decision-making.

Solutions like Doppler can help centralize secrets management and secure NHIs in environments powered by autonomous systems.