Analyst Chat #258: Defining Identity - Beyond Secrets, Credentials, and Accounts

In this episode of the KuppingerCole Analyst Chat, Matthias Reinwarth is joined by Martin Kuppinger to untangle one of the most complex—and increasingly urgent—topics in digital identity: non-human identities (NHIs).

With AI agents, workloads, service accounts, and API keys exploding in number, it’s no longer enough to rely on traditional IAM structures. But what is an NHI, exactly? And how can organizations secure them without collapsing under the weight of siloed systems and unmanaged identities?

Martin and Matthias explore:

• The blurry boundaries between identities, accounts, secrets, and credentials
• Why "non-human" is a problematic but useful term
• Agentic AI vs. API keys: where identity management really changes
• Practical starting points for managing NHIs in real-world environments

💡 Whether you're a CISO, architect, or IAM practitioner, this episode gives you a pragmatic foundation for approaching NHI—without getting lost in terminology wars.