Cybersecurity for RPA: Address Risks First

The Expanding Role of Robotic Process Automation

Robotic process automation (RPA) is rapidly transforming operations across all sectors. Despite its widespread adoption, many remain unaware of its prevalence and frequently interact with it without realizing it.

RPA represents a significant and accelerating trend. Predictions from Gartner suggest that 90% of global organizations will be utilizing RPA by 2022.

The Rise of RPA Driven by Recent Events

The transition to remote work models has prompted companies in diverse industries to integrate some form of RPA. This implementation aims to streamline operations and effectively manage increased request volumes.

A prime example occurred during the initial stages of the pandemic when major airlines faced a surge in cancellation requests. RPA became a critical component of their customer service approach.

Forrester reports that a leading airline processed over 120,000 cancellations within the first few weeks of the pandemic. Leveraging RPA allowed the airline to simplify its refund procedures and provide timely assistance to customers.

Achieving such an efficient cancellation process under immense pressure would have been exceptionally difficult, if not unfeasible, without the capabilities of RPA technology.

Sustained Growth and Increasing Interest

The numerous additional RPA use cases that have emerged since the onset of COVID-19 demonstrate its enduring relevance. Currently, interest in RPA implementation is at an all-time high.

Gartner observed a more than 1,000% increase in RPA-related inquiries during 2020, reflecting continued investment from businesses.

A Critical Oversight: RPA Security

Despite its benefits, a significant concern regarding RPA is often overlooked: security. Similar to other technological advancements, security considerations are frequently deferred during the initial phases of RPA development.

This delay in addressing security vulnerabilities leaves organizations susceptible to cyberattacks.

The Urgency of Securing RPA

Failure to promptly address the security risks associated with RPA could lead to a series of substantial breaches in the near future.

However, by recognizing that these new “digital coworkers” possess unique identities, organizations can proactively secure their RPA deployments and avoid becoming the subject of the next major data breach.

The Digital Identity of Robotic Process Automation

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) involves the deployment of digital workers designed to automate routine, manual processes previously handled by people. These digital entities interact with business applications in a manner that closely resembles human user behavior, utilizing credentials and permissions. Consequently, each robot acquires a distinct digital identity.

This identity functions at a significantly accelerated pace compared to human identities, devoid of the need for sustenance, rest, vacation time, or remuneration. It also circumvents the potential for labor disputes.

Effective task execution by these digital workers necessitates access to diverse networks, systems, and applications. However, a significant oversight in many organizations is the insufficient safeguarding of the privileged credentials granted to these automated entities.

Considering that 53% of all security breaches stem from the compromise of privileged credentials, the unrestricted and unmonitored access inherent in RPA deployments renders them potentially more vulnerable than their human counterparts.

Extending Identity Governance to Digital Workers

To mitigate this risk, organizations must integrate their digital workers into existing identity governance and privileged access management frameworks. Some businesses currently establish simulated employee records to bypass standard HR onboarding, transfer, and offboarding procedures.

This practice is also employed to circumvent established security controls designed for account management. However, this approach ultimately undermines the effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies.

Specifically, it exacerbates issues such as privilege creep, the proliferation of orphaned accounts, inaccurate or meaningless account attributes, exposure of sensitive passwords and secrets, and a lack of clear ownership accountability.

Key Risks of Ignoring Digital Worker Identities

• Privilege Creep: Unnecessary permissions accumulate over time.
• Orphaned Accounts: Accounts remain active after the robot is decommissioned.
• Exposed Credentials: Passwords and secrets are vulnerable to compromise.
• Lack of Ownership: No clear responsibility for the robot’s access.

Implementing robust identity governance for RPA is crucial for maintaining a secure operational environment. Proper management ensures that digital workers operate within defined boundaries and do not introduce undue risk to sensitive data and systems.

Identity Issues Arising from RPA Implementation

Acknowledging the existence of a problem is the initial phase in finding a solution. Recognizing that our newly deployed digital workforce possesses identities represents the foremost and most crucial step in safeguarding the future of RPA.

When organizations initially explore the advantages of investing in RPA, even with a strong understanding of the associated security risks, the potential for increased productivity often drives the investment forward. However, securing the realized investment can prove difficult when security audits are conducted, particularly if security solutions are prohibitively expensive to deploy and integrate.

Currently, RPA solutions primarily concentrate on enhancing productivity rather than addressing security concerns. Consequently, integrating third-party security measures is essential to establish appropriate controls for risk mitigation. A readily implementable control is Privileged Access Management (PAM).

Enterprises can effectively secure, manage, and audit the credentials and privileges utilized by robotic process automation bots with a PAM system offering connectivity to RPA systems. Selecting a PAM solution that is straightforward to deploy and integrate ensures productivity and the return on investment from the RPA program remain unaffected.

A global private security firm experienced the advantages of this approach after implementing an RPA solution. The addition of digital workers enabled the company, with a workforce exceeding 160,000 employees globally, to reallocate employee time towards more strategic initiatives.

The firm implemented a PAM system that integrated smoothly with its existing RPA infrastructure, automating the control of privileged access for its digital workforce. Now, when a robot requires privileged access, it can automatically retrieve credentials from the PAM system, eliminating exposure to bot owners or developers.

This provides a comprehensive audit trail detailing which digital workers accessed specific applications, establishing individual accountability and verifying that passwords cannot be obtained through non-compliant methods.

As a result of this system, the company successfully scaled its digital workforce across 14 business units within just two years, returning 350,000 hours to the business without compromising security.

The Evolving Landscape of the Digital Workforce

During 2021, security departments started recognizing previously overlooked security risks associated with Robotic Process Automation (RPA). The root cause of these issues consistently centered around a single critical element: identity management.

What procedures govern the creation of automated robots within your company? How are their credentials established, utilized, and ultimately deactivated? Who maintains oversight of robotic activity, and what mechanisms are in place to detect a potentially compromised bot?

RPA solutions, possessing access to numerous systems across the network, operate with identities analogous to human users. Therefore, securing these identities should be approached with comparable diligence.

Consider the implications of a growing non-human workforce. Are you aware of the number of entries in your human resources database that actually represent automated processes rather than people?

Key Considerations for RPA Security

Effective RPA security necessitates a comprehensive identity strategy. This includes robust authentication, authorization, and continuous monitoring of robotic activities.

• Identity Lifecycle Management: Implement processes for the creation, modification, and deletion of robot identities.
• Access Control: Restrict robot access to only the systems and data required for their designated tasks.
• Monitoring and Auditing: Continuously track robot activity and maintain detailed audit logs for security investigations.

Failing to address these security concerns could expose organizations to significant risks, including data breaches and operational disruptions.