Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is widely adopted in enterprises to automate repetitive tasks traditionally performed by humans, creating Non-Human Identities (NHIs) that require robust Identity and Access Management (IAM). RPA bots often have privileged access to sensitive systems and data, making them attractive targets for attackers if not properly managed. Key challenges include managing bot identities distinctly from human users, avoiding hardcoded credentials in scripts, and preventing overprovisioning of access rights that violate the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP). The increased number of bots expands the attack surface, potentially enabling lateral movement and data exfiltration if a bot is compromised. Legacy IAM systems may lack integration capabilities for RPA, leading to unmanaged credentials and inconsistent access controls. Best practices to secure RPA within IAM include assigning unique identities to bots, employing secrets management tools to encrypt and centrally manage credentials, implementing Privileged Access Management (PAM) with Just-in-Time (JIT) access to limit privileged session duration, and requiring Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for human administrators managing bots. Continuous monitoring and audit logging of bot activities are essential for detecting anomalies and enforcing zero-trust principles. The article emphasizes that as bots outnumber human employees in large organizations, failure to adapt IAM strategies to include NHIs can significantly increase security risks.

For European organizations, the integration of RPA bots into IAM systems presents both operational benefits and security risks. The potential impact includes unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical business processes, and compliance violations due to inadequate audit trails. Sectors such as finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, which heavily rely on automation and have stringent regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, NIS Directive), are particularly vulnerable. Compromised bots with excessive privileges can facilitate lateral movement within networks, leading to data breaches or ransomware attacks. Additionally, the lack of proper credential management and monitoring can result in persistent threats that are difficult to detect. The complexity of securing RPA bots may strain existing IAM frameworks, especially in organizations with legacy systems, increasing the risk of security gaps. However, with proper implementation of best practices, the risks can be mitigated, preserving operational efficiency while enhancing security posture.

1. Treat RPA bots as first-class identities by assigning unique credentials and avoiding shared or reused accounts. 2. Deploy a dedicated secrets management solution to securely store and rotate bot credentials, eliminating hardcoded passwords or API keys in scripts. 3. Implement Privileged Access Management (PAM) with Just-in-Time (JIT) access to ensure bots receive elevated privileges only when necessary and for limited durations, coupled with session monitoring and recording. 4. Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all human users managing RPA bots to prevent unauthorized access to critical systems. 5. Integrate RPA identity management within existing IAM frameworks to maintain consistent access policies and comprehensive audit trails. 6. Adopt Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) principles by continuously verifying bot identities and contextual access throughout sessions. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on RPA environments to identify and remediate vulnerabilities. 8. Provide training and awareness for IT and security teams on the unique risks associated with RPA bots and their management. 9. Monitor bot behavior for anomalies using behavioral analytics to detect potential compromises early. 10. Plan for bot lifecycle management including timely deprovisioning upon task completion or organizational changes.