Securing Non-Human Identities in Air-Gapped Networks

Non-human identities are the invisible operators of modern software infrastructure. They run CI pipelines, deploy code, read secrets, and open connections without human intervention. In an air-gapped environment, they remain active, often holding privileges greater than any human user. If compromised, they can exfiltrate data or corrupt systems the moment any controlled link reconnects.

Air-gapping is often misunderstood as total security. It is physical separation, nothing more. Non-human identities in air-gapped systems still require authentication, access controls, and auditing. Without strict lifecycle management—key rotation, minimal permission scopes, and identity revocation—these agents create permanent attack surfaces.

Key steps to secure non-human identities in air-gapped environments:

• Maintain a complete inventory of all machine accounts and service credentials.
• Implement offline authentication methods with cryptographic strength equal to online systems.
• Store credentials in secure, hardware-protected vaults not tied to the main execution environment.
• Require approval processes for any identity use, even in local-only workflows.
• Audit and log all activity for later review when the system reconnects.

Experienced teams use automated tools to track and enforce these controls continuously. If left unchecked, non-human identities can accumulate unused privileges and stale credentials over years, turning an air-gapped asset into a soft target. Security depends on visibility, control, and proactive governance.

Air-gapped security is not passive. It demands discipline, process, and tools purpose-built to manage the silent workforce of machines. Non-human identities will keep operating whether you watch them or not. The choice is whether they operate inside your rules—or outside them.

See how hoop.dev manages non-human identities in air-gapped networks, with live visibility and control in minutes.