What is Threat Intelligence?

Threat intelligence is the identification and analysis of cybercriminal threats that want to cause chaos in a targeted entity.

The word itself can refer to either the data gathered about a potential threat or the process of collecting, processing, and analysing it to understand threats better. Threat intelligence requires combing through data, contextualising it to identify problems, and applying solutions appropriate to the situation discovered.

Threat intelligence considers every detail, analysing facts and the broader context to create a narrative to guide decision-making. Moreover, it has become a critical component of cybersecurity in the modern digital age, as it helps almost all parties prevent or solve cybersecurity threats.

In essence, threat intelligence allows businesses to make faster and more informed security decisions. It promotes proactive rather than reactive behaviours against cyber threats that have terrorised modern cybersecurity defences over the years.

Classifications of Threat Intelligence

Cybersecurity threat intelligence is commonly classified into three categories:

1. Strategic Threat Intelligence: This is often a high-level analysis intended for non-technical audiences, such as a corporation or organisation’s board. It addresses cybersecurity issues that may affect more significant business decisions and overarching trends and motivations. Strategic threat information is frequently based on open sources, such as media stories, white papers, and research, which means its resources are publicly accessible.
2. Tactical Threat Intelligence: This is pitched toward a more technical audience and focuses on the future. It discovers primary indications of compromise (IOCs), allowing IT professionals to search and remove specific risks from a network. In addition, tactical intelligence is the most straightforward type of intelligence to generate and is typically automated.
3. Operational Threat Intelligence: This category addresses issues by analysing previous cyber-attacks and generating judgments about intent, timing, and sophistication. It is more resource-intensive than tactical intelligence and has a longer lifespan.

Benefits of Threat Intelligence

1. Hackers constantly seek new ways to breach company networks. Cyber threat intelligence enables firms to detect new vulnerabilities early, lowering the risk of data loss or disruption to daily operations.
2. A sophisticated cyber threat intelligence system can help prevent data breaches. It accomplishes this by tracking suspicious domains or IP addresses that try to communicate with an organisation’s systems.
3. Data breaches are costly, including legal fees, fines, and post-incident reinstatement charges. Cyber threat intelligence can help reduce the chance of data breaches and save costs.

Essentially, threat intelligence research assists a business in understanding cyber threats and the procedures required to manage those risks.

Organisations should consider these before employing a Threat Intelligence program.

Managing threats requires a comprehensive perspective of organisational assets. Hence, companies should require a program that monitors activities, spots problems, and relays the data needed to make informed and detailed decisions to ensure the safety of infrastructure.

1. You want a vendor that can access your system, identify vulnerabilities, recommend precautions, and monitor it around the clock. Many cybersecurity systems claim to achieve this, but you should look for one that can customise a solution to meet your specific requirements. Cybersecurity isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, so don’t let a corporation pitch you one.
2. You’ll need an up-to-date feed of websites that have been added to a deny list and a watch list of dangerous actors.
3. You need a company that shares its most current investigations, showing how hackers gain access, what they seek, and how they get it. Businesses can make better decisions if they have this knowledge.
4. A firm’s cyber threat intelligence program should assist in detecting assaults and mitigating risks. The program must be complete so that a firm can employ it to identify potential problems and propose remedies.

Cyber threats can majorly impact an organisation because of the evolving cybercrime in the digital landscape. However, with practical and potent cyber threat intelligence, organisations may reduce the risks of these threats that could cause reputational and financial harm.

How can iZOOlogic help my Company or Organisation?

Find out how iZOOlogic can provide the best Threat Intelligence program through our services.

To find out more about how iZOOlogic can help protect your company’s cyber security, schedule a demo.