A service account is a non-human identity used to perform automated tasks and manage services in a secure manner.
Description
In the context of Non-Human Identities (NHIs), a service account is a special type of account that is used to run applications, services, or automated tasks without direct human interaction. These accounts are typically created for specific applications or processes and are assigned permissions and access controls tailored to their operational needs. Service accounts help in securely managing tasks such as software automation, API interactions, or background services, allowing organizations to maintain strict control over security and access. Unlike regular user accounts, service accounts are not tied to a specific individual and often have long-lived credentials. It is critical to manage these accounts carefully, as their access rights can lead to significant security vulnerabilities if misconfigured or compromised. Best practices for service accounts include regularly rotating credentials, using least privilege access, and monitoring account activity to detect any unauthorized access or anomalies.
Examples
- A service account used by a web application to access a database securely.
- An automation script that utilizes a service account to deploy resources in a cloud environment.
Additional Information
- Service accounts often use OAuth tokens or other secure methods for authentication.
- They can be scoped to specific roles and permissions to minimize security risks.
References
- Service account
- NHI Discovery - Astrix Security
- Clutch | Securing Non-Human Identities. Everywhere.
- GitHub - HumanBrainProject/hbp-bsp-service-account: Rest API service allowing HBP Collaboratory developers to submit jobs, on behalf of HBP Collaboratory users, on HPC systems
- Non-Human Identity Management | OASIS Security
- Wherever There's Ransomware, There's Service Account Compromise. Are You Protected?
- 1. Defining Service Users and Groups for a HDP 2.x Stack - Hortonworks Data Platform
- Service Animals
- Defining Service Users and Groups for a HDP 2.x Stack - Hortonworks Data Platform
- Service accounts