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Key Takeaways
- Identity is the new battleground: Traditional perimeters have dissolved; securing credentials for humans, machines, and AI is now the primary defense against breaches.
- Static access is obsolete: The industry is moving toward "Continuous Identity"—a real-time approach where privilege is granted Just-in-Time (JIT) based on context, not permanent standing rights.
- AI and NHIs complicate the landscape: Modern access solutions must manage not just employees, but Non-Human Identities (NHIs) and autonomous AI agents, requiring a platform-centric approach like the one signaled by CrowdStrike’s strategic partnership with SGNL.
Definition and Overview: The End of "Standing Privilege"
For years, the cybersecurity model was relatively simple: build a high wall around the castle, check an ID at the gate, and once someone is inside, trust them. But here’s the thing. That model fell apart a long time ago.
With cloud adoption, remote work, and the explosion of SaaS apps, the "castle" is gone. Now, identity is the perimeter.
We are currently witnessing a massive shift from legacy Privileged Access Management (PAM)—which often relied on vaulting passwords and rotating credentials—to something far more dynamic: Continuous Identity. This isn't just a buzzword. It is a fundamental architectural change. Recently, CrowdStrike invested in SGNL to cement this exact capability.
So, what is it?
Continuous Identity is the practice of assessing risk and authorizing access in real-time, every time a resource is requested. It redefines privilege for three distinct groups:
- Humans: Your sysadmins, developers, and workforce.
- NHIs (Non-Human Identities): API keys, service accounts, and bots.
- AI Agents: The newest and perhaps riskiest category—autonomous software acting on behalf of users.
In this model, "standing privilege" (having admin rights 24/7 just because of your job title) is eliminated. Instead, access is granted Just-in-Time (JIT) and revoked immediately after the task is done.
Key Components: How It Actually Works
You can’t just buy a box and plug it in anymore. Modern identity security is an ecosystem. When we look at solutions like the SGNL integration into the Falcon platform, we see a few non-negotiable components.
The Authorization Engine
This is the brain. It connects to your directories (like Okta or Entra ID) and your infrastructure (AWS, Azure, internal apps). It doesn’t just check who you are; it checks why you are here. Is there an open support ticket requiring this access? If not, access denied.
Real-Time Context (The "Continuous" Part)
Context is king. A valid user logging in from a known device might still be risky if that device has outdated firmware or if the user is exhibiting strange behavior. This is where the synergy between endpoint security (EDR) and identity becomes critical.
Non-Human Identity (NHI) Management
Let's be honest, developers have a bad habit of hardcoding secrets. It happens. A robust Continuous Identity strategy scans for and manages these non-human credentials. But it goes further now. We have to account for AI agents. These agents need access to data to function, but giving an AI "god mode" over your database is a recipe for disaster.
Benefits and Use Cases
Why go through the trouble of modernizing? Because the bad guys are logging in, not breaking in.
Stopping the "Golden Ticket"
Adversaries love compromised credentials. If they steal a session token for an admin account with standing privileges, they own the network. With JIT access, there are no standing privileges to steal. The window of opportunity snaps shut.
Taming the Compliance Beast
Ever sat through an audit? It’s miserable. Auditors want to know who has access to what. In a legacy model, you show them a group list and hope for the best. With Continuous Identity, you can show a precise log: "User X was granted access to Server Y for 30 minutes to fix Ticket Z, and access was revoked automatically." It turns a painful audit into a simple report.
Operational Velocity
Security is usually the "Department of No." Or at least the "Department of Wait Three Days for Approval." Automated JIT access removes the friction. Developers get the access they need when they need it, without waiting for manual ticket approvals, provided they meet the security context requirements.
Selection Criteria: What Buyers Should Look For
Choosing the right technology here is tricky. The market is noisy.
When evaluating vendors, you need to look past the flashy dashboards. Ask the hard questions. Does the solution require you to rip and replace your existing Identity Provider (IdP)? It shouldn't. It should sit alongside it, enhancing decisions with real-time data.
Platform vs. Point Solution
This is the biggest consideration. Do you want a separate tool just for JIT access, another for endpoint protection, and a third for cloud security? Probably not. The trend is consolidation.
CrowdStrike’s move to invest in SGNL illustrates the value of a platform approach. By combining world-class telemetry from the endpoint (CrowdStrike’s bread and butter) with SGNL’s access engine, organizations get a single source of truth. The security policy isn't just "Is the password correct?" It becomes "Is the device healthy, is the user behavior normal, and is the access necessary right now?"
Scale and AI Readiness
Can the system handle the volume of machine-to-machine traffic? As your company deploys more AI agents, the volume of authentication requests will skyrocket. Legacy PAM tools will choke on that traffic. You need cloud-native scale.
Future Outlook
We are moving toward a world where the distinction between "endpoint security" and "identity security" disappears completely. They are two sides of the same coin.
The future isn't just about locking doors; it's about intelligent, fluid access that adapts to the threat landscape instantly. AI agents are going to force this issue sooner than many CIOs expect. These agents will need to interact with sensitive data autonomously.
Trusting them blindly is not an option.
Organizations that adopt a Continuous Identity strategy today—leveraging platforms that integrate JIT access for humans, NHIs, and AI—will be the ones who survive the next generation of identity-based attacks. The perimeter is gone, but the control is just getting started.
