The Top 11 Cyber Threat Intelligence Solutions
Discover the best Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) solutions on the market. Take a deep dive into key features such as detection and analysis, tailored intelligence, and automated remediation.
Written by Alex Zawalnyski
Technical Review by Laura Iannini
The Top 11 Cyber Threat Intelligence Solutions Include:
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Cisco Talos incident Response
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5.
CrowdStrike Adversary Intelligence
Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) solutions are designed to gather data and analyze trends, then provide your organization with actionable intelligence regarding cybersecurity threats. This information needs to be collated efficiently, ensuring that threat insights can be delivered in a timely manner. Once armed with this intelligence, organizations are better able to protect themselves from the threats that they face.
CTI security platforms tend to be designed with a very specific use-case in mind. It is, therefore, important that you ensure you select the right platform for your needs and uses. If your platform is not the right fit, you may not be getting the most coverage from your platform. The best threat intelligence platform will have a host of features to ensure that data is gathered effectively, and that it is analysed effectively. It can also be very helpful for alerts to be prioritized as this prevents admin from having to respond to insignificant notifications. Instead, your human resources can focus on their other tasks, knowing that they will be warned of any significant risks.
Each solution will have a different configuration of AI, ML, human expertise, and automation combining to quantify the level and type of threat that your organization faces. Some might specialize in brand protection, while others will focus on threat-actor identification and threat hunting. They can be used to help identify compromised credentials, allowing you to respond to breaches before they occur.
Before selecting a solution, you need to have some idea of the type of threats that you face, and what you want your security platform to detect. Taking the time to find the right solution is the first step to delivering robust and effective cyber threat intelligence.
When selecting a Cyber Threat Intelligence platform, you may wish to look for features such as prioritized alerts, accurate and precise analysis, and actionable insights that suggest the best means of remediation.
In this article we’ve selected the top Cyber Threat Intelligence platforms across a range of use-cases, to help you decide which one is right for your organization. We have highlighted their features and stand out capabilities too.
ESET Threat Intelligence is a comprehensive cyber threat intelligence solution that leverages ESET’s cybersecurity expertise to provide detailed insights into the threat landscape. It offers continuous monitoring of advanced persistent threat (APT) groups and delivers actionable intelligence to enhance business defense strategies.
Why We Picked ESET Threat Intelligence: We like the persistent monitoring of APT groups from countries like Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. Additionally, the automated threat investigation feature scans for threats even when the system is in a resting state.
ESET Threat Intelligence Best Features: Key features include monitoring of APT groups, automated threat investigation, curated feeds, comprehensive reports, and actionable content for threat preparation. The premium service includes access to an ESET analyst for detailed discussions and problem resolution. The solution integrates easily with existing systems.
What’s great:
- Provides actionable insights for enhanced threat hunting and remediation
- Continuous monitoring of global APT groups
- Automated threat investigation even in resting state
- Access to ESET analysts for premium users
- Enhances cybersecurity architecture
What to consider:
- Great fit for teams of all sizes
Pricing: ESET Protect is offered in multiple packages, with Entry starting at $211/5-users/year.
Who it’s for: ESET Threat Intelligence is best suited for businesses seeking to enhance their threat intelligence capabilities, particularly those needing detailed insights into APT groups and actionable threat data for improved cybersecurity strategies.
Cyware Threat Intelligence Platform (TIP) is a comprehensive solution designed to automate the entire cyber threat intelligence lifecycle. It enables real-time threat analysis and proactive responses by ingesting and processing multi-format threat intelligence from various sources.
Why We Picked Cyware TIP: We appreciate Cyware’s ability to provide real-time threat context and facilitate bidirectional threat intelligence sharing, enhancing an organization’s ability to respond swiftly to cyber threats.
Cyware TIP Best Features: Key features include real-time threat intelligence actioning, multi-source intelligence ingestion, data enrichment and analysis, long-term threat storage, severity assessments, confidence scoring, and standardized data formatting. The platform integrates with SIEM, EDR, MDR, and vulnerability management systems, enabling automatic threat response actions based on pre-established rules.
What’s great:
- Automates the entire threat intelligence lifecycle
- Facilitates real-time threat analysis and actioning
- Supports bidirectional threat intelligence sharing
- Integrates seamlessly with existing security technologies
- Provides customizable dashboards for threat data management
What to consider:
- Ideal for enterprise-level threat intelligence
Pricing: Contact Cyware directly for pricing information.
Who it’s for: Cyware Threat Intelligence Platform is best suited for organizations seeking to automate their threat intelligence processes and enhance real-time threat response capabilities. It is ideal for security teams requiring a centralized, dynamic platform for managing and sharing tactical and technical intelligence.
Cisco Talos incident Response
Cisco Talos is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that offers advanced threat intelligence and incident response services. It leverages one of the world’s largest threat intelligence and research units to provide actionable insights into ransomware threats and emerging vulnerabilities.
Why We Picked Cisco Talos: We appreciate Cisco Talos’ 24/7 emergency incident response capabilities and its Intel on Demand service, which provides direct access to the latest threat intelligence from expert analysts.
Cisco Talos Best Features: Key features include real-time threat detection using extensive telemetry data, emergency event response services, custom incident response planning, readiness assessments, and proactive security services. Integrations include native support for various Cisco products, enhancing their threat intelligence capabilities.
What’s great:
- Access to one of the largest threat intelligence units globally
- 24/7 emergency incident response services
- Customizable incident response plans and playbooks
- Comprehensive readiness assessments and cyber range training
- Proactive security services to bolster organizational security posture
What to consider:
- Pricing details are not publicly available and require direct contact with Cisco
- May be more suited for organizations already using Cisco products
Pricing: Contact Cisco directly for details on pricing.
Who it’s for: Cisco Talos is best suited for organizations with SOC teams looking to proactively manage cyber risks, especially those already invested in Cisco’s ecosystem.
ManageEngine Log360 is a unified SIEM, DLP, and CASB solution that excels in detecting, prioritizing, investigating, and responding to security threats across on-premise, cloud, and hybrid networks.
Why We Picked ManageEngine Log360: We appreciate its comprehensive security oversight and advanced threat detection capabilities powered by machine learning and the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
ManageEngine Log360 Best Features: Key features include machine learning-based anomaly detection, threat intelligence, rule-based attack detection, and a Threat Detection, Investigation, and Response (TDIR) engine. It also offers log management, real-time auditing of Active Directory changes, cloud infrastructure visibility, compliance management with audit-ready reports, and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) capabilities. Integrations cover AWS, Azure, Salesforce, Google Cloud Platform, and more.
What’s great:
- Comprehensive security oversight across various environments
- Advanced threat detection with machine learning and the MITRE ATT&CK framework
- Detailed log management and intuitive reporting
- Real-time auditing and cloud infrastructure visibility
- Compliance management with regulatory alignment
What to consider:
- Best suited for security teams looking for threat intelligence
Pricing: Contact ManageEngine directly for pricing information.
Who it’s for: ManageEngine Log360 is best suited for organizations requiring advanced security analytics and monitoring capabilities, particularly those with complex, multi-environment infrastructures and dedicated security teams.
CrowdStrike Adversary Intelligence
CrowdStrike Adversary Intelligence is a comprehensive threat intelligence platform that integrates advanced AI and automation to enhance security operations. It provides real-time monitoring and incident response capabilities, designed to streamline security processes for organizations.
Why We Picked CrowdStrike Adversary Intelligence: We appreciate its pre-built incident response playbooks that enable rapid defensive automation. Additionally, the platform’s real-time threat intelligence effectively uncovers domain impersonations, exposed credentials, and data leaks.
CrowdStrike Adversary Intelligence Best Features: Key features include 24/7 monitoring across the open, deep, and dark web, real-time alerting on active threats, adversary profiling, context-aware indicators, vulnerability intelligence, automated threat modeling, and an advanced malware sandbox for rapid file and email analysis. Integrations include seamless compatibility with other CrowdStrike security products.
What’s great:
- Automates incident response with pre-built playbooks
- Provides real-time threat intelligence across multiple web layers
- Offers advanced malware sandbox for quick analysis
- Creates detailed adversary profiles and vulnerability insights
- Reduces response times from days to minutes
What to consider:
- Optimal use may require further CrowdStrike security products
Pricing: Contact CrowdStrike directly for information on pricing.
Who it’s for: CrowdStrike Adversary Intelligence is best suited for organizations with a SOC team looking to enhance their incident response processes. It is particularly beneficial for those already utilizing other CrowdStrike security solutions.
Cyble Threat Intelligence Platform
CybleVision is a leading threat intelligence platform that leverages AI-driven analysis and continuous monitoring to deliver real-time protection against cyber threats and brand impersonation. It collects and processes data at a petabyte scale across the dark, deep, and surface web to provide actionable insights into potential and existing threats.
Why We Picked CybleVision: We appreciate CybleVision’s comprehensive data collection and its ability to deliver detailed insights into threat vectors, threat actor engagement, and their TTPs.
CybleVision Best Features: Key features include real-time threat monitoring, AI-driven analysis, brand impersonation protection, third-party threat tracking, and automatic generation of threat landscape reports. Integrations include compatibility with existing vulnerability management tools.
What’s great:
- Collects data at petabyte scale in real-time
- Provides detailed insights into threat vectors and TTPs
- Protects against brand and C-suite impersonation
- Easy to manage and integrate
- Offers remediation support including malware analysis and takedown services
What to consider:
- Advanced features may require additional configuration
Pricing: Start a free trial by clicking the link.
Who it’s for: CybleVision is ideal for organizations of all sizes seeking detailed, actionable threat intelligence to mitigate cyber risks effectively.
Flare
Flare is a leading cyber threat intelligence and dark web monitoring solution. It provides a comprehensive platform for monitoring and tracking cybercrime, threat exposure data, and clear web risks to organizations.
Why We Picked Flare: We like Flare’s autonomous remediation and recommendation features, which enable organizations to respond quickly to emerging threats. The platform’s robust monitoring capabilities cover thousands of sources, ensuring comprehensive threat intelligence.
Flare Best Features: Features include continuous dark web archiving, monitoring of cybercrime forums and Telegram groups, autonomous remediation, real-time alerts, AI-based takedown options, and detailed event reporting. Integrations include monitoring supply chain ransomware exposure and credential leaks.
What’s great:
- Comprehensive monitoring of dark web and cybercrime sources
- Autonomous remediation and recommendations for quick threat response
- User-friendly admin console with clear exposure metrics
- Customizable options and detailed reporting
- Trend tracking for a broader view of the threat landscape
What to consider:
- A great fit for all-rounder cyber threat intelligence workflows
Pricing: Contact Flare directly to start a free trial.
Who it’s for: Flare is a comprehensive cyber threat intelligence solution suitable for organizations of all sizes and verticals, particularly those seeking to monitor and respond to threats from the cybercrime ecosystem.
IBM Security X-Force
IBM Security X-Force is a comprehensive suite of offensive and defensive cybersecurity services provided by IBM’s team of ethical hackers, researchers, and responders. This solution aids organizations in preventing, detecting, responding to, and recovering from security incidents through a range of services including threat intelligence, incident response, and vulnerability management.
Why We Picked IBM Security X-Force: We appreciate the global threat intelligence gathered and shared through X-Force Exchange and Threat Intelligence Insights. This intelligence, derived from proactive threat hunting, provides organizations with critical, real-time data to enhance their security posture.
IBM Security X-Force Best Features: The suite includes threat intelligence services, incident response, offensive security, cyber range training, adversary simulation, and vulnerability management. Key components include X-Force Exchange and Threat Intelligence Insights, which gather and share global threat data. Additional services cover strategic threat assessments, reverse engineering of threats from the surface, deep, and dark web, and proactive threat hunting.
What’s great:
- Global threat intelligence enhances decision-making
- Comprehensive suite covering prevention, detection, response, and recovery
- Strategic threat assessments identify likely attackers
- Reverse engineering capabilities analyze threats from various web layers
What to consider:
- May be more than needed for smaller organizations, better suited for larger teams
Pricing: Contact IBM directly for pricing information.
Who it’s for: IBM Security X-Force is ideal for large enterprises seeking a managed service from a highly experienced team of ethical hackers to proactively identify and mitigate cybersecurity threats.
Google Cloud’s Mandiant
Mandiant Threat Intelligence is a comprehensive threat intelligence solution that provides organizations with actionable insights into cyber threats. It is part of the Mandiant Advantage XDR platform and excels in gathering, analyzing, and disseminating threat data to help businesses stay ahead of advanced threats.
Why We Picked Mandiant Threat Intelligence: We appreciate its clear threat prioritization based on expert guidance and the ability to integrate seamlessly with third-party tools like SIEM, NTA, and EDR platforms.
Mandiant Threat Intelligence Best Features: Key features include threat data collection from various sources, analysis and curation of threat information, the Mandiant IntelGrid for real-time threat visibility, a centralized repository of vulnerabilities with CVSS and EPSS scoring, and a browser plugin for embedding threat indicators into web pages. Integrations include compatibility with SIEM, NTA, and EDR platforms via API.
What’s great:
- Provides a comprehensive view of ongoing threat activity
- Offers daily insights and expert analysis for quick action
- Includes a unique indicator confidence score
- Supports three subscription levels to cater to different needs
What to consider:
- This is an enterprise focussed solution
Pricing: Contact Mandiant directly for pricing information.
Who it’s for: Mandiant Threat Intelligence is best suited for large organizations, including law enforcement agencies and governments, that require a robust threat intelligence solution to guard against advanced threats.
Palo Alto Cortex XSOAR Threat Intelligence Management
Cortex AutoFocus by Palo Alto Networks is a SaaS-based contextual threat intelligence service that provides a high-fidelity repository of threat data, sourced from a vast network of sensors and expert research. It is designed to help security teams efficiently identify and prioritize threats to their organizations.
Why We Picked Cortex AutoFocus: We appreciate its extensive, crowdsourced threat intelligence repository and the ability to integrate this data into existing security tools via an open API.
Cortex AutoFocus Key Features: Features include a vast repository of threat intelligence, custom feed builder for relevant threat data, integration with third-party tools like SIEM and SOAR, and human-curated insights from the Unit42 research team. It integrates seamlessly with other Palo Alto Networks solutions like Cortex XDR and XSOAR.
What’s Great:
- Comprehensive threat intelligence from a large network of sensors
- Customizable threat feeds tailored to specific organizational needs
- Easy integration with existing security tools via open API
- Expert insights from the Unit42 research team
- SaaS-based deployment without additional hardware requirements
What To Consider:
- Pricing information is not publicly available
- May require time to fully leverage all advanced features
Pricing: Contact Palo Alto Networks directly for pricing information.
Best suited for: Cortex AutoFocus is ideal for security teams in enterprises looking to enhance their threat detection and response capabilities with comprehensive, actionable threat intelligence.
ZeroFox
ZeroFox provides comprehensive brand protection services, focusing on managed protection, threat intelligence, and takedown services across public channels including the surface, deep, and dark web.
Why We Picked ZeroFox: ZeroFox excels in its ability to unify data from multiple sources, offering a holistic view of threats. Its use of AI and deep learning technologies to analyze data from its threat data lake provides actionable intelligence.
ZeroFox Best Features: Key features include managed protection, threat intelligence, and takedown services. The platform gathers data from various web layers, storing it in a threat data lake for analysis using AI, machine learning, and human intelligence. It offers on-demand investigations and integrates with SIEM, SOAR, TIP, and IAM tools. ZeroFox is also available as a fully managed service.
What’s great:
- Unifies data from surface, deep, and dark web
- Leverages AI and deep learning for threat analysis
- Provides actionable security recommendations
- Offers on-demand investigations
- Integrates easily with third-party security solutions
What to consider:
- Pricing information requires direct contact with ZeroFox
Pricing: Contact ZeroFox directly for pricing information.
Who it’s for: ZeroFox is best suited for mid-sized to large enterprises across various industries seeking robust brand protection and effective takedown services, with dedicated support.
Other Security Operations Services
We researched lots of threat intelligence solutions while we were making this guide. Here are a few other tools that are worth your consideration:
Identifies cyberthreats relevant to your organization so you can take action to mitigate possible threats.
Contextualises threat research and IoCs from a variety of threat feeds to give you an accurate view of threats.
Provides detailed insights into fraud, ransomware, account takeover, brand risk, vulnerabilities, physical threats.
An intelligence hub fed by Fortra's telemetry and insights from the dark web, social media, and law enforcement.
Deep and dark web monitoring, alerts, and intelligence to help you prioritize mitigation efforts and shorten investigations.
Threat analytics, outbreak alerts, research, publications, and presentations to help you identify the threats.
How to Choose the Right Cyber Threat Intelligence Solution?
Selecting the right cyber threat intelligence (CTI) solution involves aligning the tool with your organization’s security strategy and threat landscape. Consider these key steps to make an informed choice:
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Assess Your Threat Environment: Evaluate your industry’s risk profile, common attack vectors (e.g., ransomware, phishing), and the types of threats most relevant to your organization.
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Define Integration Needs: Factor in your existing security stack (e.g., SIEM, SOAR, endpoint protection) and compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, NIST) to ensure seamless deployment.
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Prioritize Scalability: Choose a solution that supports your current operations and can scale to handle increased data volumes or evolving threat complexity.
Focus on critical features to ensure actionable intelligence and operational efficiency:
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Real-Time Threat Feeds: Look for up-to-date, high-quality threat data from diverse sources, including dark web monitoring and industry-specific intelligence.
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Integration Capabilities: Prioritize solutions that integrate with SIEM, SOAR, or firewalls to automate threat response and enrich existing security workflows.
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Threat Analysis Tools: Ensure robust analytics, such as risk scoring, attribution, and contextual insights, to prioritize and act on threats effectively.
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Customizable Reporting: Verify features like tailored dashboards and compliance-focused reports to support decision-making and regulatory needs.
Balance functionality with usability to maximize effectiveness:
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User-Friendly Interface: Avoid complex platforms that overwhelm security teams, opting for intuitive dashboards and clear visualizations.
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Vendor Support Quality: Select providers with responsive support and expertise in threat intelligence to assist with implementation and incidents.
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Testing and Trials: Use demos, free trials, or independent reviews to validate performance and fit before committing.
Summary and Key Takeaways
Our guide to the leading cyber threat intelligence solutions provides a comprehensive overview of platforms designed to empower organizations with actionable insights to combat cyber threats. The article evaluates tools based on features like real-time threat feeds, integration with security ecosystems, advanced analytics, and customizable reporting, catering to businesses of all sizes. It underscores the importance of combining high-quality intelligence with usability and scalability to proactively address ransomware, phishing, and other evolving threats in a complex digital landscape.
Key Takeaways:
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Actionable Threat Intelligence: Top solutions deliver real-time, diverse threat feeds and contextual analysis to enable proactive defense.
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Seamless Integration: Choose platforms that integrate with SIEM, SOAR, and other tools to enhance security workflows and automation.
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User-Centric Design: Prioritize intuitive interfaces and reliable support to streamline threat analysis and response.
What Do You Think?
We’ve explored the leading cyber threat intelligence solutions, highlighting how these tools help organizations stay ahead of cyber threats with real-time insights and integrations. Now, we’d love to hear your perspective—what’s your experience with CTI platforms? Are features like real-time threat feeds, advanced analytics, or seamless integrations critical for your organization’s security strategy?
Selecting the right CTI solution can transform how you anticipate and respond to threats, but challenges like data overload or integration complexity can arise. Have you found a standout platform that’s enhanced your threat detection, or encountered hurdles with usability or scalability? Share your insights to help other organizations navigate the CTI landscape and choose the best tool for their needs.
Let us know which solution you recommend to help us improve our list!
FAQs
Cyber Threat Intelligence Solutions: Everything You Need To Know (FAQs)
Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) describes any data that is gathered and analyzed to answer questions relating to your digital and cyber infrastructure or events. This can be a very broad subject area. Some CTI solutions will focus on your organization, your capabilities, and the active threats that you face. However, CTI also encompass broader trends that may affect entire industries or technologies.
CTI may be used to carry out threat hunting and investigation time into specific types of malware, as well as highlighting suspicious activity. Information can be gathered regarding the malware’s origin, attack method, and Indicators of Compromise (IoCs). This assessment will be based on detection rules and other cybersecurity experts, if the platform offers a Managed service with a skilled Security Operations Center (SOC) team.
This intelligence can be used to identify the malware more quickly in future cases. This, by extension, improves remediation times, keeping your organization more secure.
At the other end of the scale, organizations might use CTI to identify market trends and plan future cybersecurity strategy. In this case, organizations will be looking at the “big picture” – such as new cybersecurity technology to implement – rather than the specific details of an individual threat. The big questions in today’s CTI landscape include AI and its uses in carrying out or defending against attacks, as well as how the metaverse might change the way we work.
Cyber Threat Intelligence can be split into three main intelligence groups, defining the type of intelligence they gather and who it is designed for.
Tactical Intelligence is the most granular and specific form of intelligence that focuses on individual threats.
- Attack behavior
- Indicators of Compromise (IoC)
- Best remediation actions
Operational Intelligence relates to the implementation of policies and effectiveness of security tools overall.
- Configuration policies
- Malware detection rates
- Network dwell time
Strategic Intelligence looks at the big picture, long term trends to plan a multi-year cyber security strategy.
- Emerging threats and vulnerabilities
- Competitor and peer experience
- Cost effectiveness and ROI of cybersecurity tools
Depending on which type of intelligence you need, there will be different solutions on the market, with different preset (and configurable) detection rules. Some platforms may offer intelligence across multiple areas, or package information differently depending on destination. This information has a range of applications and uses, depending on the questions that you ask of it.
Cyber Threat Intelligence is a very broad topic that can have a broad range of applications. Because of this, it can seem overwhelming when trying to identify which features are important for your use-case. In this section, we’ll highlight some of the key features that you should consider when selecting a cyber threat intelligence platform.
- Effective Data Analysis – CTI platforms are able to ingest vast amounts of data from across your digital estate. This information should be properly assessed and analyzed to give accurate and relevant insights. Human users have very little use for vast quantities of raw data but have a lot to gain from processed data and accurate insights.
- Data Collection – Your CTI solution should collect data from across your estate, infrastructure, devices, and wider databases to ensure that its insights are accurate and relevant. The more data your platform has access to, the more reliable your data will be. The exact locations that you gather data from will depend on the type of information that you need, as well as the structure and configuration of your organization. When searching for compromised credentials, for instance, it is important to scan dark web forums and marketplaces.
- Automation – Some platforms deliver automatic responses and remediation. This ensures that any loopholes or errors can be addressed quickly, thereby reducing the time that you are at risk. Effective automation allows you to streamline workflows and improve response times.
- Scalability – Good CTI platforms should be able to manage all the data that you can provide them. As your organization grows, you will increase the amount of data that a CTI platform has access to. Your platform should have capacity for this, ensuring that no data is overlooked and, therefore, no threat is ignored.
- User-Friendly UI – Your platform should provide clear and concise findings and intelligence, allowing you to quickly understand status and events. There should also be ways of generating and sharing specific reports for different parties. Many solutions use clear intelligence graphs and vulnerability reports to share findings with relevant stakeholders.
- Intelligence Quality Ratings – While it would be great if intelligence quality could sit at 100% all the time, this simply isn’t possible. Some CTI platforms will generate an intelligence quality rating, evaluating how strong the intelligence is. High-quality, critical information can then be prioritized over less accurate or less risky data.
When it comes to gathering cyber threat intelligence, you might hear the phrase: “cyber threat intelligence lifecycle”. This is used to outline the ongoing process for collecting, collating, analyzing, and presenting relevant information.
The timeframe for this lifecycle will differ depending on how urgent the information is, and who it is designed to advise. For example, strategic intelligence might only be presented quarterly, whilst tactical intelligence needs to be presented minute-by-minute to keep your organization safe.
There are six steps that inform how CTI is gathered and presented to relevant parties:
- Requirements
Your organization must decide what type of intelligence you intend to gather. You’ll need to consider who your stakeholders are, and what you would like the outcome of the analysis to be. You might want to explore an attack surface, understand assets, or decide how best to strengthen security implementation.
2. Collection
In this step, data is collected to answer the questions that the requirements demand (step 1). The nature of this data collection depends on the question. This might involve monitoring traffic logs, conducting interviews with experts, or extracting metadata from devices and internal networks. This stage will produce raw data that can be processed in step 3.
3. Processing
Once data has been collected, it will need to be processed and formatted to make it easier to analyze. To do this, data might need to be decrypted or decoupled from personally identifiable information (PII) or other information that is not relevant to the outcomes stated in step 1. This is also the stage where you can evaluate the data for relevance and reliability.
4. Analysis
This stage requires human intervention to make sense of the compiled data, and to identify trends and anomalies. You might perform statistical analysis to understand if threats are increasing or if response times have altered. In essence, this is the stage where you find the answers to the questions asked in step 1.
5. Dissemination
With data that has been processed, you need to be able to share it with relevant stakeholders. Key findings will need to be highlighted with suggestions of how active threats can be remediated. In this stage, you will consider who the intelligence is for, and the level of detail that is required. You might need to reduce or explain jargon and tailor your findings for the relevant audience. This data might be distributed in a variety of ways – from an email to a presentation or hands-on demonstration.
5. Feedback
Once the intelligence has been collected and shared with relevant parties, the target audience needs to consider how they will act upon the findings. Again, the specific details of this action depend on the target audience and their role within the organization. Are they responsible for procuring new cybersecurity solutions, or for tailoring the policies of existing tools?
The remit for CTI can be as broad or as specific as you decide. The level of detail, as well as the data collected, all depends on what questions you set out to ask, and who the answers are being reported to. This is decided in step 1 of the CTI lifecycle. Common areas analyzed as part of the CTI process include:
- Online brand intelligence
- Dark web monitoring
- Domain impersonation
- Social media impersonation and misuse
- Data breach identification
- Vulnerability intelligence and prioritization
There are several companies that offer CTI solutions to gather relevant data and process it to provide relevant intelligence. Many of these solutions will automatically remediate vulnerabilities to ensure your network is as secure as it can be. These solutions can also be used to:
- Validate findings
- Filter out false positives
- Removing anomalous, “noisy” data points
- Provide immediate, automated response
Again, this is a very broad topic with the benefits depending on what you want to investigate with CTI. However, the most common benefits of carrying out cyber threat intelligence include:
Efficient Incident Response
CTI is sometimes described as a cybersecurity “roadmap” – it gives security teams an invaluable insight into how security implementation affects the network and guides them to where more work is needed.
This “roadmap” will ensure that remediation efforts can be quick and effective in light of a cyber-attack. The intelligence can identify where a security breach is likely to have happened, then predict the behavior of an attack, to put your response one step ahead of the attack.
Using CTI helps to identify where a security team should be directing their efforts. As they don’t have to work out which areas need to be focused on, they are able to use their time effectively and efficiently. They won’t spend expensive human time sifting through data that a machine can analyze much quicker. It also ensures that any new security implementation will be specific and targeted. This reduces the number of vulnerabilities within your organization, and helps to ensure you’re investing in the right areas the first time around.
Ultimately, CTI can help to improve efficiency by streamlining your cybersecurity response, thereby proving a good return on investment.
Ensure Compliance
With attacks becoming more sophisticated and complex, regulatory bodies are asking for more significant cybersecurity infrastructure. Regulatory frameworks – such as GDPR, SOX, HIPPA, etc – often mandate what security implementation they expect you to have in place. As part of this, effective CTI might be required to ensure your organization is alert to, and prepared for, attacks.
Insurance companies, too, will require you to have effective tools in place to protect your organization. Not only will CTI identify the effectiveness of your existing security set up, but it can also instruct you on where you can improve. If you follow these recommendations, some insurance providers will reduce your premiums.
Failure to implement CTI, or the recommendations made by CTI, could see your insurance cover invalidated, or result in fines and penalties from regulatory bodies.
For more information about how to qualify for cyber security insurance, you can read our comprehensive article here.
Inform Security Awareness Training (SAT)
The insights provided by CTI are not limited to tailoring policies or suggesting new security tool implementation; CTI can also highlight how your staff can become an important cybersecurity asset. When employees understand the benefits and the limits of a security tool, they are better placed to ensure success.
For example, if an employee understands the significance and the repercussions of a phishing email that has passed through a spam filter, they will be able to act appropriately. They know that a SEG (Secure Email Gateway) is not infallible and are therefore less likely to fall victim to this type of attack. The infromation gained through CTI can inform an SAT solution by highlighting where an organization’s vulnerabilities are. This ensures that users can spend their time completing the most relevant and valuable training.
By gathering information about your network, you can understand the threats you face, and ensure that employees are properly trained to further minimize the risks.
You can read our list of the Top Cybersecurity Awareness Training Solutions here.
Collaborative Knowledge
By sharing details gleaned from your CTI, you can ensure that organizations present a united front against cyberattacks. By improving security infrastructure across the board, you make it harder for attackers to succeed. There is, therefore, less incentive for hackers to pursue cyberattacks as a means of income, which reduces the likelihood of you becoming a target.
Sharing information about IOCs between organizations will allow you to identify these same indicators more readily, should your network be attacked. Beyond this, if your organization is attacked by a specific malware, another organization’s information regarding the remediation of that malware can be invaluable in managing your own remediation efforts. You will have access to information about how a threat responds once inside a network, and the best strategy for its removal.
The core purpose of cyber threat intelligence is to provide you with the knowledge that allows you to preempt future attacks and thwart them before they can strike—to shift your security practices from reactive to proactive. As ThreatQuotient’s Chris Jacob told Expert Insights in our interview with him.
“Threat intelligence allows you to be predictive in your incident prevention and response. The whole idea is that you’re identifying the malware before you’re infected; you know enough about it from your own research and intelligence feeds to be able to recognize it and know how it’s going to move.”
Having access to the accurate intelligence at the right time enables you to predict and prioritize threats, ensuring that you can implement the right protection to safeguard your organization.
Written By
Alex is an experienced journalist and content editor. He researches, writes, factchecks and edits articles relating to B2B cyber security and technology solutions, working alongside software experts. Alex was awarded a First Class MA (Hons) in English and Scottish Literature by the University of Edinburgh.
Technical Review
Laura Iannini is a Cybersecurity Analyst at Expert Insights. With deep cybersecurity knowledge and strong research skills, she leads Expert Insights’ product testing team, conducting thorough tests of product features and in-depth industry analysis to ensure that Expert Insights’ product reviews are definitive and insightful. Laura also carries out wider analysis of vendor landscapes and industry trends to inform Expert Insights’ enterprise cybersecurity buyers’ guides, covering topics such as security awareness training, cloud backup and recovery, email security, and network monitoring. Prior to working at Expert Insights, Laura worked as a Senior Information Security Engineer at Constant Edge, where she tested cybersecurity solutions, carried out product demos, and provided high-quality ongoing technical support. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida.