AI Agents Fuel Identity Debt Risks Across APAC

AI is actively transforming organizations across APAC, from Singaporean banks to Indian startups, as noted in this IDC report. At the center of this shift are AI agents—autonomous systems acting on behalf of people and companies. However, these agents require deep access to sensitive data, creating a security vulnerability when outdated authentication methods are used.

Outdated Authentication Elevates AI Risks

According to Okta Threat Intelligence, misconfigured permissions and orphaned accounts lead to identity debt, increasing breach risks and compliance challenges. When AI agents are granted excessive permissions without proper credential rotation, they can become "super admins," offering threat actors undetected access if compromised.

Okta’s 2025 AI at Work report reveals that while executives rank data privacy and security as top concerns, only 10% of organizations have a well-developed strategy for managing Non-Human Identities (NHIs).

Access Controls Remain a Weak Spot

Analysis of authentication methods linking security applications to Microsoft Copilot shows:

• 20% rely on basic authentication (exposing credentials).
• 75% use static API keys (vulnerable if intercepted).
• Only 5% employ secure OAuth 2.0 with short-lived tokens.

Enterprises adopting no-code tools like Gemini Code Assist face an explosion of unmonitored AI agents, escalating risks.

Managing the Agent Identity Lifecycle

Key strategies include:

• Programmatic provisioning: Automate agent deployment via CI/CD pipelines.
• Granular permissions: Limit access to specific use cases.
• Short lifespans: Rapidly provision and de-provision agents.
• Enhanced visibility: Track agent actions with robust logging.

The Bottom Line

Organizations must prioritize identity-first strategies by investing in secure authorization flows tailored for AI, rather than retrofitting outdated methods. Failure to do so leaves critical systems vulnerable to breaches.

Stephanie Barnett, VP and Interim GM, Asia Pacific & Japan at Okta, emphasizes the need for integrated digital identity solutions. Read her insights here.

Featured image: Pexels