The Future of Enterprise Identity: Preparing for Non-Human Users

Aug 21, 2025

As AI agents become integral to enterprise operations—automating tasks, querying data, and interacting with APIs—traditional identity management systems are being pushed beyond their limits. These non-human identities require new approaches to ensure security, compliance, and operational efficiency.

The Growing Challenge

A recent report by SailPoint reveals that while 96% of organizations plan to expand their use of AI agents over the next year, 82% are already using them, yet only 44% have policies in place to secure them. This gap highlights the urgent need for enterprises to rethink their identity management strategies to include AI agents.Frontier Enterprise+2Kiteworks | Your Private Data Network+2

Expert Insight

According to Alex Simons, CVP of identity at Microsoft, "Traditional directory services weren’t architected for autonomous systems operating at this velocity." This underscores the necessity for identity systems to evolve in tandem with the increasing complexity and autonomy of AI agents.VentureBeat

Adapting Identity Management for AI Agents

To effectively manage AI agents, organizations should consider the following strategies:

  • Implement Agent-Specific Identity Frameworks: Develop and deploy identity models tailored to the unique characteristics of AI agents, such as their ephemeral nature and delegated authority.Strata.io

  • Enhance Visibility and Monitoring: Utilize advanced tools to monitor AI agent activities in real-time, ensuring compliance and detecting anomalies promptly.

  • Integrate with Existing Infrastructure: Ensure that AI agent identity systems seamlessly integrate with current identity and access management frameworks to maintain consistency and control.

  • Establish Clear Governance Policies: Define and enforce policies that govern AI agent behaviors, including access permissions and operational boundaries.activantcapital.com+2TechRadar+2

Looking Ahead

As AI agents continue to evolve and become more embedded in enterprise workflows, the importance of robust identity management cannot be overstated. Organizations that proactively adapt their identity systems to accommodate non-human identities will be better positioned to leverage the full potential of AI while mitigating associated risks.