Archives January 2025

In today’s digital landscape, non-human identities (NHIs) have become an integral part of modern enterprise operations. From APIs and bots to service accounts and IoT devices, these digital entities are revolutionizing how businesses function. However, with this technological advancement comes a new set of cybersecurity risks that organizations must address.

The Staggering Scale of Non-Human Identities

Recent research reveals a startling statistic: non-human identities now outnumber human users by a ratio of 45 to 1 in many IT ecosystems. This exponential growth has created a vast and often overlooked attack surface for cybercriminals to exploit.

Top Threats to Non-Human Identities

The OWASP Top 10 Non-Human Identities Risks for 2025 provides a comprehensive overview of the most critical security risks associated with NHIs. Let’s examine some of these threats and compare them with other industry findings:

1. Improper Offboarding

OWASP highlights the risk of inadequately deactivating or removing NHIs when they’re no longer needed. This aligns with industry observations about the challenges of managing the lifecycle of non-human identities. Many organizations struggle with tracking and decommissioning unused service accounts, leaving potential backdoors for attackers.

2. Secret Leakage

The exposure of sensitive credentials like API keys and tokens is a significant concern. This risk is echoed in other sources, which emphasize the dangers of storing secrets in plaintext or hardcoding them into source code. Such practices can lead to unauthorized access and data breaches.

3. Overprivileged NHIs

OWASP warns against assigning excessive privileges to NHIs. This issue is widely recognized in the industry, with experts stressing the importance of implementing the principle of least privilege. Overprivileged identities, if compromised, can give attackers broad access to critical systems.

Mitigation Strategies for Businesses

To address these threats, organizations should consider the following steps:

1. Implement Robust Lifecycle Management: Automate the provisioning, rotation, and de-provisioning of NHI credentials. This helps ensure that unused or outdated identities are promptly removed, reducing the attack surface.
2. Enforce the Principle of Least Privilege: Grant NHIs only the minimum permissions necessary for their specific functions. Regularly review and adjust access rights to maintain a strong security posture.
3. Continuous Monitoring and Auditing: Implement systems for real-time monitoring of NHI activities. This allows for quick detection of anomalies and potential security breaches.
4. Secure Secrets Management: Utilize dedicated secrets management solutions to store and protect sensitive credentials. Avoid hardcoding secrets in source code or storing them in plain text.
5. Regular Security Assessments: Conduct periodic audits of your NHI landscape to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

The Human Element in Managing Digital Identities

While technological solutions are crucial, it’s important to remember the human aspect of managing NHIs. As Mitch Greenfield from Humana points out, “The complexity grows as you manage thousands of applications and more than 100,000 entities. Without proper integration and governance, the risks multiply”.

This highlights the need for a cultural shift within organizations. Businesses must treat non-human identities with the same level of attention and security as human ones. It’s not just about implementing tools; it’s about fostering a security-conscious mindset across all levels of the organization.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

As we navigate the evolving landscape of digital identities, the management of NHIs has become a critical component of cybersecurity strategy. The risks are real and growing, but so are the solutions available to mitigate them.

By taking proactive steps to secure non-human identities, businesses can turn what could be a vulnerability into a strength. As Parham Eftekhari of CyberRisk Alliance reminds us, “Every unmanaged or under-secured identity is a potential breach waiting to happen”. The time to act is now – before these silent threats become tomorrow’s headlines.

Read more about non-human identities at Owasp and SCWorld. You may also find our article on Quantum Computing Threats interesting.

Cybersecurity #NHI #IdentityManagement #InfoSec #DigitalIdentity

In today’s competitive job market, LinkedIn has become an indispensable tool for professionals seeking new opportunities. After analyzing successful job transitions and gathering insights from hiring managers and job seekers, here are the most effective strategies to maximize your job hunt on the platform.

Optimize Your Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital resume and often the first impression you make on potential employers. To stand out:

• Use a professional headshot
• Craft a compelling headline that showcases your expertise
• Write a concise but impactful summary highlighting your key skills and achievements
• List relevant work experiences with quantifiable accomplishments
• Include certifications, skills, and endorsements

Remember to incorporate industry-specific keywords throughout your profile to improve visibility to recruiters.

Leverage Your Network Strategically

Building and nurturing a robust network is critical for job hunting success on LinkedIn:

• Connect with former colleagues, classmates, and industry peers
• Identify “warm connections” who can provide introductions or insights
• Set up monthly virtual coffees with industry contacts
• Offer genuine help and insights without expecting immediate returns
• When reaching out to potential employers, ask for warm introductions from mutual connections

Remember, networking is about building relationships, not just asking for favors.

Engage with Content and Share Your Job Expertise

Establishing yourself as a thought leader in your field can attract potential employers:

• Share relevant industry articles and add your insights
• Write and publish your own articles on LinkedIn
• Comment thoughtfully on posts from industry leaders and companies
• Create short-form content about your expertise
• Participate in LinkedIn Live events and webinars

Consistent, valuable engagement increases your visibility and demonstrates your passion and expertise.

Go Beyond Traditional Job Applications

Instead of relying solely on job boards:

• Use the “Reverse Search” method: Find people who recently landed roles you want and study their career progression
• Engage with content from target companies before applying
• Join and participate in relevant LinkedIn groups
• Follow company pages of organizations you’re interested in
• Create a target list of 15-20 companies and monitor their growth indicators

Utilize LinkedIn’s Job Search Features

LinkedIn offers robust job search tools. Use them effectively:

• Set up job alerts for relevant positions
• Use the “Easy Apply” feature for quick applications
• Check the “Jobs” tab regularly for new postings
• Look at who in your network is connected to the hiring company
• Consider LinkedIn Recruiter if you’re serious about your job search

Implement Unconventional Tactics

Some successful job seekers have found success with creative approaches:

• Create a newsletter focused on your industry expertise
• Record short video takes on industry news
• Write articles analyzing your target companies’ strategies
• Host informal AMAs (Ask Me Anything) sessions in your area of expertise
• Turn on “Creator Mode” and use relevant hashtags

Maintain a Positive Attitude: Stay Persistent in Your Job Search

Job hunting can be challenging, but maintaining a positive mindset is crucial:

• Set small, achievable goals for your job search activities each week
• Celebrate small wins and acknowledge your progress
• Focus on what you can control and don’t let rejections discourage you
• Keep your network updated on your journey and learnings

Remember, finding the right opportunity takes time. As one job seeker shared, “I applied for hundreds of positions over the next month… It did pay off in the end though as I now have a job I really like doing with a really good organization”.

By implementing these strategies and leveraging the power of LinkedIn, you can significantly enhance your job search efforts. Remember, the most successful job searches aren’t about finding open positions – they’re about being found by the right opportunities. Stay persistent, engage authentically, and showcase your unique value proposition. Your next great career move may be just a connection away.

You can find other job hunting strategies at Indeed, FlexJobs, LinkedIn. Our article on staying safe using social media and protecting your privacy may also be of interest.

#JobSearch #Hiring #JobOpening #NowHiring #CareerOpportunities #OpenToWork #JobSeeker #Recruiting

Free speech on social media platforms has become a contentious issue, with concerns about content moderation, misinformation, and the balance between protecting expression and preventing harm. Recent developments have highlighted the challenges in this area:

Free Speech Concerns

Social media platforms face a complex balancing act when it comes to content moderation and free speech:

• As private companies, platforms like Facebook and Twitter are not bound by First Amendment restrictions and can moderate content as they see fit.
• However, their significant role in public discourse has led to calls for them to preserve robust debate and err on the side of preserving speech.
• Government attempts to regulate how platforms moderate content have faced legal challenges on First Amendment grounds.
• There are concerns that overly aggressive moderation could infringe on users’ ability to express themselves freely online.

Third-Party Fact-Checking

Many platforms have relied on partnerships with independent fact-checkers to combat misinformation:

• Meta (Facebook) has used a third-party fact-checking program since 2016 to evaluate potentially false or misleading content.
• Fact-checks by third parties were found to be perceived as more effective than other approaches like algorithmic labels.
• Studies have shown fact-checking can be effective at reducing false beliefs across different countries.

However, there are some drawbacks:

• Fact-checking programs have faced accusations of political bias.
• The process can be slow compared to the rapid spread of misinformation.
• There are concerns about scalability given the volume of content on social media.

Community Notes Approach

Some platforms are shifting towards a community-driven fact-checking model:

• X (formerly Twitter) pioneered the “Community Notes” system, which allows users to add context to potentially misleading posts.
• Meta recently announced plans to replace its third-party fact-checking program with a Community Notes-style system in the US.

Potential benefits of Community Notes include:

• Improved scalability by leveraging users to identify and contextualize misinformation.
• Increased trust, as some studies found community notes were perceived as more trustworthy than simple misinformation flags.
• Empowering users to provide context rather than relying solely on removals or labels.

However, the effectiveness of Community Notes is still being evaluated:

• Early studies on X’s system found mixed results, with some showing high accuracy of notes but limited impact on election misinformation.
• There are concerns about whether a diverse enough group of users will participate to ensure balanced fact-checking.

Balancing Free Speech and Misinformation

The shift towards community-driven approaches reflects ongoing attempts to balance free speech concerns with efforts to combat misinformation:

• Community Notes aim to provide context rather than removing content, potentially addressing censorship concerns.
• However, there are worries that moving away from expert fact-checkers could make it harder for users to find trustworthy information.
• The effectiveness of community-driven approaches in reducing the spread and impact of misinformation remains to be seen.

As social media platforms continue to grapple with these issues, finding the right approach to content moderation and fact-checking while preserving free expression remains an ongoing challenge. The move towards community-driven systems represents an attempt to strike this balance, but their long-term impact on both free speech and misinformation is still uncertain.

You may also be interested in these free speech articles on freedomforum, Harvard, and global business. Interested in why there’s a rise in teen cybercrime? Read our article.