SOC 2 compliance is increasingly required for B2B SaaS companies. While organizations focus on user access controls, the requirements apply equally to non-human identities — an area where many companies struggle.
This guide maps SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria to practical controls for NHI management.
Understanding SOC 2 and NHIs
SOC 2 is organized around five Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. For most organizations, Security is the focus, covering areas directly relevant to NHI management.
The criteria don't distinguish between human and non-human identities — the same controls apply to both. This is where many organizations fall short.
CC6: Logical and Physical Access Controls
CC6.1: Access Based on Authorization
Requirement: Access to protected information and systems is restricted to authorized users, processes, or devices.
NHI Implementation:
- Maintain an inventory of all service accounts, API keys, and machine credentials
- Document the purpose and owner for each NHI
- Implement approval workflows for new NHI creation
- Define and enforce access scopes for each NHI
CC6.2: Role-Based Access
Requirement: Prior to issuing system credentials, the identity is registered and authorized.
NHI Implementation:
- Assign roles/profiles to NHIs based on function (read-only, admin, deployment, etc.)
- Use policy-based access control to define what each NHI can access
- Implement least-privilege by default
CC6.3: Access Removal
Requirement: When access is no longer required, it is promptly removed.
NHI Implementation:
- Implement automatic expiration for credentials
- Link NHI lifecycle to application lifecycle (decommission both together)
- Regular access reviews to identify orphaned NHIs
- Immediate revocation process for compromised credentials
CC6.6: Authentication Mechanisms
Requirement: Appropriate authentication mechanisms are implemented.
NHI Implementation:
- Use strong, unique credentials for each NHI
- Implement credential rotation on a defined schedule
- Store credentials securely (not in code repositories)
- Use short-lived tokens where possible (JIT access)
CC7: System Operations
CC7.2: Security Event Monitoring
Requirement: Security events are detected and monitored.
NHI Implementation:
- Log all NHI authentication events
- Monitor for unusual access patterns (time, location, volume)
- Alert on failed authentication attempts
- Track API usage against established baselines
Building Your Evidence Package
Auditors will want to see evidence of your NHI controls. Key artifacts include:
Policies and Procedures
- NHI management policy documenting standards
- Credential rotation procedures
- Access review processes
- Incident response procedures for compromised NHIs
Technical Evidence
- NHI inventory with ownership and purpose
- Access control configurations showing least-privilege
- Rotation logs showing regular credential changes
- Audit logs showing NHI activity monitoring
- Alert configurations for security events
Operational Evidence
- Access review meeting minutes
- Ticket history for NHI provisioning/deprovisioning
- Incident reports (if any NHI-related incidents occurred)
Common Audit Findings
Be prepared to address these frequent NHI-related findings:
- Missing inventory: No comprehensive list of all NHIs
- No rotation: Credentials that haven't changed in over a year
- Excessive permissions: Service accounts with admin access
- No monitoring: NHI activity not captured in security logs
- Orphaned accounts: NHIs for decommissioned systems still active
Automation is Key
Manual NHI management doesn't scale and creates compliance gaps. Invest in automation for:
- Discovery: Automatically find NHIs across your environment
- Rotation: Schedule credential changes without manual intervention
- Monitoring: Real-time analysis of NHI behavior
- Reporting: Generate evidence artifacts on demand
SOC 2 compliance for NHIs isn't just about passing an audit — it's about building security practices that protect your organization. The controls that satisfy auditors are the same ones that prevent breaches.