Cybersecurity has traditionally focused on one thing: people.
Who has access?
What can they access?
When should that access be removed?
But that model is rapidly changing.
Today, organizations are seeing a rise in non-human identities:
- AI agents
- Automation tools
- Service accounts
- Bots and integrations
These identities are performing real work inside systems and often have significant access to sensitive data. This makes them target number one for hackers.
While human identities are typically governed through structured processes, non-human identities often exist in the background:
- Created quickly to solve a problem
- Granted broad access to ensure functionality
- Rarely reviewed or audited over time
This creates a dangerous blind spot.
At Phoenix 2.0, we’re seeing more organizations struggle with questions like:
- “How many non-human identities do we have?”
- “What do they actually have access to?”
- “Who is responsible for them?”
In many cases, there are no clear answers.
Why governance must evolve
As AI and automation continue to grow, identity governance must expand alongside it.
Non-human identities should follow the same principles as human users:
- Least privilege access
- Defined ownership
- Continuous monitoring
- Lifecycle management
Without this, organizations risk:
- Uncontrolled access to sensitive systems
- Increased attack surfaces
- Compliance failures
- Increased risk of hackers
The role of industry frameworks
Frameworks like NIST, ISO, FedRAMP, and CISA have already established strong guidance for cybersecurity and identity management.
However, there is a growing need for these frameworks to expand and address AI-driven identities more explicitly.
Consistency matters.
Too many frameworks create confusion, especially for small and mid-sized businesses trying to stay compliant. Expanding existing, trusted frameworks is a more effective path forward than introducing entirely new ones.
BalkanID bridging the gap
This is where platforms like BalkanID become critical.
BalkanID enables organizations to:
- Discover all identities across their environment (human and non-human)
- Analyze access and identify risk
- Automate governance processes
- Continuously monitor for changes
By bringing visibility to all identities, businesses can move from reactive security to controlled, intentional access management.
Protection from the future of AI
AI isn’t going away. It’s becoming more embedded in daily operations.
Organizations that start governing these identities now will be better prepared for:
- Evolving compliance requirements
- Increased system complexity
- Future security threats
At Phoenix 2.0, we believe the future of cybersecurity is not just about protecting systems, it’s about understanding who (and what) has access to them.
Explore how BalkanID helps manage identity risk: HERE
