Do not give an AI agent your reusable password. If it needs to work with an account or service, authenticate it through a delegated authorization flow when it is acting for you, or give it a separate, narrowly permissioned workload identity when it runs independently. Where the platform supports it, managed identity or workload identity federation can replace credentials stored in code or configuration with short-lived tokens.
Choose access based on who the agent is acting for
The key decision is whether the agent is carrying out a request for a signed-in person or running an independent task. Those cases need different identities and permissions.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Situation | Access pattern | Who the service should treat as the principal |
|---|---|---|
| A signed-in user asks the agent to work with data that user can access | Delegated OAuth access; Microsoft APIs may use an on-behalf-of flow when authority passes between APIs | The user, with the agent acting within the user’s permissions |
| A scheduled or background agent runs without a live user | App-only access through an application or workload identity | The application or workload itself |
| A workload runs on supported Azure compute and accesses a supported Azure resource | Managed identity | The workload’s managed identity |
| A workload runs across supported cloud, CI/CD, or Kubernetes environments | Workload identity federation | The workload identity trusted by the target provider |
| An autonomous agent must access a resource designed around a user-shaped identity | A purpose-built agent user account, where the identity platform offers one | The agent identity authorized to act through that account |
When the agent is acting for a person
Use delegated access so the downstream service can enforce the signed-in user’s resource permissions. A Microsoft on-behalf-of flow can carry delegated user authority across APIs; it is not a reason to substitute a powerful backend identity that bypasses the user’s rights. The action should remain attributable both to the initiating user and to the agent involved.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
When the agent runs on its own
Give it an application or workload identity and only the permissions its task requires. An administrator should approve the necessary application permissions or roles rather than granting broad access by default. This identity lets the organization authorize, manage, and audit the workload; it does not automatically confer a human user’s authority.
#1 Best Overall
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Replace stored secrets where the platform supports it
A workload identity is not the same as a password embedded in a prompt, script, environment file, or agent configuration. Managed identity and federation let a workload prove its identity through a trusted platform and obtain a token for a target service without keeping a long-lived credential in the workload.
Managed identity
For supported Azure hosting and target services, a managed identity lets the workload obtain Microsoft Entra tokens without developers managing its credentials. Check support on both sides: the compute environment must provide the identity, and the resource being called must accept it. Microsoft documents managed identity federation as a production option for autonomous agent identity blueprints.
Rank #2
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5C NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5C NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5C NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
Workload identity federation
With federation, a workload presents a signed identity token from an issuer such as a supported cloud, Kubernetes environment, or CI/CD platform. The target provider checks configured trust conditions and exchanges that token for a short-lived access token. This avoids storing a static API key in the workload, but the exact issuers, setup, and supported services differ by provider.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesOpenAI documents federation for workloads that need to access OpenAI services without storing a long-lived OpenAI API key or ChatGPT credential. Anthropic’s Claude API documentation describes exchanging a workload’s signed OIDC JWT for a short-lived Anthropic access token bound to a service account. These are provider-specific capabilities, not a universal agent login method.
Rank #3
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5 NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
Set up the identity and access in a controlled sequence
- Define the task and principal. Decide whether a live user is requesting the work or whether the agent must run independently. List the data and operations it actually needs.
- Select the matching flow. Use delegated OAuth for user-directed work. For autonomous background work, use app-only access with an application or workload identity.
- Choose how the identity obtains tokens. Prefer managed identity or federation when the workload and target service support them. If a provider requires another credential, follow its production guidance and protect, rotate, and revoke that credential through the identity platform rather than exposing a human password.
- Limit and approve permissions. Request only the required delegated scopes or application roles. Obtain administrator consent where required, and keep the granted authority aligned with the agent’s defined task.
- Configure trust narrowly. For federation, restrict which issuer, workload, and other supported identity claims can obtain tokens. A valid token from an overly trusted issuer can still give an attacker a route to the service.
- Plan audit and revocation. Record the agent or workload principal, the linked user when delegated access is used, the permissions granted, and the actions taken. Ensure administrators can withdraw consent, disable the identity, or remove federation trust when access is no longer needed.
Protect the identity provider and check each action
A token is still a credential, even when it is short-lived. Anthropic’s federation guidance warns that federated authentication is only as strong as the upstream identity provider that signs the JWT. Protect that provider and its signing process, restrict who can alter trust settings, and treat leaked tokens as credentials that require response.
Authentication establishes which principal presented valid proof of identity; it does not establish that every requested operation is appropriate or authorized. The downstream service must enforce the principal’s specific permissions, and sensitive actions may need a separate approval or policy check.
Rank #4
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Sharing a human password with an agent weakens this boundary: the agent may be able to impersonate the person, and logs may not make clear whether an action came from the person or automation. NIST’s August 27, 2026 article, “Back to the Future: Why Agentic AI Needs a Strong Identity Foundation,” notes that shared credentials can blur the distinction between human and agent identity and points to existing delegation patterns for many use cases.
Recommended Free Tools
What provider examples do—and do not—establish
Microsoft Entra
Microsoft distinguishes delegated access, app-only access, managed identity, service principals, and agent identities. Its documentation for autonomous agent identity blueprints recommends managed identity federation or client certificates for production and says not to use client secrets as production credentials. Microsoft also documents agent user accounts for resources such as mailboxes and Teams channels; these accounts have no credentials of their own, and the associated agent identity must be authorized for delegated access. These are Entra-specific features and guidance.
Best Value
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5 is a versatile physical passkey that protects your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 via USB and tap it to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
OpenAI and Anthropic
OpenAI’s workload identity federation applies to authentication to OpenAI services. Anthropic documents API keys, workload identity federation, and App Attest as authentication options for its Claude platform. Availability and configuration depend on each provider’s service and supported workload environment; neither example means the same flow is supported by every API.
Emerging agent identity work
NIST NCCoE’s February 2026 concept paper, “Accelerating the Adoption of Software and AI Agent Identity and Authorization,” identifies agent identification, delegation, authorization, logging, transparency, and data-flow provenance as areas for exploration. It discusses OAuth/OIDC and MCP among relevant standards and protocols. A concept paper is not a claim that a single agent-authentication standard or all proposed capabilities are final or universally deployed.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →
