Non-human identities in shell scripting

Non-human identities in shell scripting are accounts, roles, or service principals that represent machines, processes, and automation tools. They have credentials, permissions, and execution environments, but no human attached. In automated deployment pipelines, server maintenance tasks, and batch processing, non-human identities run shell scripts without manual interaction. They are essential for scaling operations and enforcing security boundaries.

A common example is a CI/CD pipeline’s runner account. This identity logs into servers, pulls code, runs build scripts, and deploys artifacts. Another is a cloud service account that launches shell scripts to move data between buckets. These non-human identities must be handled with the same rigor as human accounts, but with automation in mind.

When working with shell scripting, the technical focus is on three areas:

• Authentication: Store credentials in a secure vault. Use environment variables injected at runtime. Avoid hardcoding secrets directly in scripts.
• Authorization: Restrict privileges to the minimum needed for the task. Service accounts should not have root access unless required.
• Auditing: Log every action taken by non-human identities. Include timestamps, script names, and execution parameters.

Security risks multiply when many scripts run under the same non-human identity. Credential leaks, privilege escalation, and unauthorized changes can happen silently. Separate identities by role and project. Rotate credentials regularly. Monitor usage patterns with automated alerts.

In shell scripting, treat non-human identities as first-class citizens in your infrastructure design. They operate at speed, without emotion, and without hesitation. Use shell scripting best practices—clear function boundaries, parameterization, and error handling—to make these identities predictable and controlled.

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