While organizations in the Middle East are increasingly savvy about the need for robust cybersecurity measures, there remains a worrying lack of knowledge about specific risks including the rapid proliferation of machine identities. In fact, machine identities are increasing at a frightening pace. Last year, they outnumbered human identities by a ratio of 45:1 and this has only been increasing, creating numerous challenges for organizations in the UAE and the wider Middle East.
This trend is being driven by the fast growth of cloud technologies, AI, and microservices. Each of these technologies relies on a unique identity to function securely, leading to a surge in machine identities.
The UAE has embraced advances in AI and machine learning, positioning itself as a global tech hub. However, this progress presents both opportunities and challenges.
While machine identities are essential for powering digital infrastructure, their proliferation is also being exploited by cybercriminals, and as the number of machine identities grows, so does the potential for cyberattacks. A report from 2024 revealed that 99% of UAE organizations experienced two or more identity-related breaches in the past year. But just how quickly are they growing?
The Growing Number of Machine Identities
It’s difficult to overstate how quickly machine identities are multiplying. The recent CyberArk Machine Identity Security report found that 79% of organizations expect the number of machine identities to keep growing at an overwhelming pace. Over the next year, 63% of organizations expect machine identities to grow by up to 50%, with 16% expecting it to surge even higher – between 50% and 150% annually.
Why Machine Identities Are Attractive to Hackers
Machine identities may seem like a technical detail, but in the wrong hands, they can be a goldmine for hackers. Cybercriminals exploit machine identities to gain unauthorized access to systems, steal data, or cause major disruption. A weak or expired machine identity is an easy entry point for attackers, and with so many organizations relying on machines to carry out critical operations, the risk is significant.
In March, the UAE experienced more than 600 cyberattacks targeting both public and private sectors within a matter of days. While these attacks – which were part of a global surge – were successfully blocked, it is vital that organizations anticipate and protect themselves from future incidents. This is especially important given the UAE’s role as a leading global hub for key industries and smart city initiatives.
The Growing Gap Between Human and Machine Identity Security
Despite the rapid growth in machine identities, many organizations are still focusing primarily on securing human identities. In the UAE, where AI, IoT, and cloud-based systems are quickly being integrated into nearly every sector, the sheer volume of machine identities is outpacing the ability to monitor, manage and protect them.
As the number of machine identities grows, managing their security becomes increasingly complex, and those with a siloed approach can create further risks. When different tools are used across various departments to manage machine identity security, it creates inefficiency, complexity, and management challenges, which all equate to risk. For example, responsibilities for preventing machine identity-related compromises are often fragmented, split between security, development and platform teams. This lack of coordination can leave gaps in security, making it harder to protect critical systems effectively.
In addition, organizations now need to protect a wide range of machine identities, with API keys (36%) and SSL/TLS certificates (34%) being the most challenging to secure, according to the CyberArk report. With more companies adopting cloud technologies and IoT devices, these difficulties will only grow further.
Issues such as quickly revoking certificates, tracking who has access, and keeping up-to-date inventories are all major hurdles. Yet, despite these rising challenges, many organizations globally (34%) still rely on manual processes to manage machine identities, which makes it harder to spot risks and respond quickly.
Three Pillars to improve Machine Identity Security
It’s crucial that organizations in the UAE take steps to continue safeguarding their operations to protect themselves, their customers and partners, and contribute to the UAE’s digitization strategy. Here are three strategies organizations can take to improve their machine identity security posture.:
Invest in Machine Identity Security: Organizations must continue to prioritize investing in robust machine identity security tools. These tools should focus on strong encryption, lifecycle management, and automatic identity rotation to ensure machine identities are constantly secure.
Leverage AI for Cybersecurity: Organizations in the UAE have a unique opportunity to apply AI-driven solutions to their cybersecurity efforts. AI-powered systems can detect unusual patterns in machine identity behavior, helping to spot potential attacks before they escalate.
Cybersecurity Training and Awareness: As machine identities continue to grow, so does the need for specialized cybersecurity training. UAE businesses should focus on educating their teams about the complexities of machine identity security and ensure that professionals are equipped to handle these new challenges.
Machine identities are reshaping the way businesses operate, but they also come with a new set of risks. For the UAE, which is embracing technology at a rapid pace, securing these identities will be critical for maintaining a safe and thriving digital economy.
