The Impact of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) on Identity and Access Management

What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) utilizes bots to automate repetitive tasks traditionally performed by humans, streamlining operations and enhancing security. These RPA bots, functioning as Non-Human Identities (NHIs), require the same governance as human users for authentication, access controls, and privileged session monitoring.

Why This Matters

Ideal IAM models assume primarily human access, while modern enterprises increasingly rely on automated bots. Without robust NHI management, an organization’s attack surface expands exponentially, and a compromise of RPA credentials can lead to significant data breaches; the average cost of a data breach reached $4.45 million in 2023 according to IBM.

Key Insights

• Increased attack surface: Each bot represents a new potential entry point for cyberattacks.
• Least Privilege is crucial: RPA bots often have excessive access, violating the principle of least privilege and increasing risk.
• PAM and Secrets Management: Tools like KeeperPAM® and dedicated secrets managers are vital for securing RPA credentials and sessions.

Working Example

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Practical Applications

• Financial Institutions: Automating account provisioning and deprovisioning with RPA, secured by a PAM solution like CyberArk.
• Healthcare: Using RPA bots to process patient data, requiring strict access controls enforced through IAM and MFA for managing users.

References:

• https://thehackernews.com/2025/12/the-impact-of-robotic-process.html