Why Your NHI Strategy Doesn't Cover AI Agents
If you're a CISO or security architect, you've probably heard of Non-Human Identity (NHI) governance. You might even have a platform in place -- Oasis, Entro, Astrix, or Clutch. These tools manage your service accounts, API keys, OAuth tokens, and SSH keys across cloud environments.
But here's the uncomfortable truth: your NHI strategy has a blind spot. AI agents are the fastest-growing class of non-human identity in your organization, and your current tools weren't designed to govern them.
The NHI Market Is Booming -- But Missing the Point
The NHI security market has exploded. Over $400 million in venture funding flowed into NHI platforms in 2025 alone. Non-human identities outnumber human identities 45:1 in the average enterprise.
Traditional NHI platforms do excellent work managing service accounts. But they all share a common assumption: non-human identities execute fixed, predictable operations.
AI Agents Are a Different Class of NHI
AI agents don't just authenticate and execute a predetermined operation. They reason. They make decisions. They call tools dynamically based on context.
| Characteristic | Traditional NHI | AI Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior | Fixed, deterministic | Dynamic, context-dependent |
| Capabilities | Static permissions | Drift over time |
| Tool access | Predefined API endpoints | MCP servers with changing tools |
| Interactions | Service-to-service | Agent-to-agent (A2A) |
| Decision-making | None | Autonomous reasoning |
| Attack surface | Credential theft | Prompt injection, tool misuse, capability drift |
The Questions Your NHI Platform Can't Answer
What capabilities does this agent actually use at runtime?
Traditional NHI tools see static permissions. Agent behavior is dynamic.
Has this agent's behavior drifted from its declared purpose?
An agent might be approved for "customer support" but start accessing financial data.
Which MCP servers is this agent connected to, and have their tools changed?
MCP servers can add new tools at any time. Your agent's attack surface expands silently.
If this agent is compromised, what's the blast radius?
Agents interact with other agents. A single compromised agent can cascade.
Who is accountable for this agent's actions?
Service accounts are typically owned by teams. Agents often have no clear owner.
The Agent NHI Gap
What traditional NHI sees
- An API key was created
- The key has access to OpenAI
- Last used: 3 minutes ago
- Owner: unknown
What agent governance sees
- Agent: customer-support-bot
- Owner: jane.doe@company.com
- Capabilities: db:read, api:call
- Trust score: 87/100 (declining)
- MCP servers: 2 attested, 1 drifted
- Behavior: accessing financial tables (unusual)
What Agent NHI Governance Actually Requires
Cryptographic agent identity
Not just API keys -- Ed25519 keypairs with challenge-response authentication. Post-quantum cryptography (ML-DSA) for future-proofing.
Capability-based access control
Agents declare what they can do (db:read, api:call, file:write). Every action is checked against declared capabilities at runtime.
MCP server attestation
Cryptographic fingerprints of MCP server tool surfaces. Automatic drift detection when tools change.
Behavioral trust scoring
Not a static risk rating -- a continuous 8-factor trust score that adapts based on agent behavior.
Ownership and lifecycle management
Every agent linked to a human owner. Automated lifecycle transitions. Orphan detection when owners leave.
Complementary, Not Competitive
This isn't about replacing your existing NHI platform. Many enterprises will run both:
- Traditional NHI platform for service accounts, API keys, OAuth tokens
- Agent NHI platform for AI agents, MCP servers, A2A interactions
What You Can Do Today
Inventory your AI agents
How many AI agents are running in your organization? Who deployed them? What do they access?
Map your MCP servers
Which MCP servers exist in your environment? Are they registered? Attested?
Evaluate agent-native governance
Look for platforms purpose-built for AI agent identity -- not service-account platforms with agent features bolted on.
Start with visibility
You can't govern what you can't see. Begin by getting visibility into agent deployments.
Close the Gap in Your NHI Strategy
AIM is the open-source NHI platform purpose-built for AI agents. Cryptographic identity, capability-based access control, MCP attestation, and full lifecycle governance.