Threat Intelligence is a rather timely topic, as more employees are working remotely, accessing online systems, and communicating over online platforms. Some organisations might be particularly vulnerable as a target during these times.
However, while there is a current emphasis on cyber security, there has long been a consensus that good business (and government) requires strong threat intelligence. It is a central component of strategy and management and is vital to the protection and success of a business. With effective cyber threat intelligence, you can assess threats and protect against cyber-attacks. Advanced persistent threats (APTs) are a significant concern, as these sophisticated, stealthy cyberattacks are carried out by well-funded adversaries with long-term objectives to maintain access to networks and exfiltrate sensitive data.
What is Cyber Threat Intelligence?
Cyber threat intelligence refers to the process of identifying, gathering, and analysing information relating to cyber security risks and threats. Cyber threat analysis plays a crucial role in this process by supporting decision-making, risk management, and the development of prevention and incident response strategies. All intelligence is processed and analysed to protect and defend computer networks, servers, and data.
Data can be taken from multiple sources such as government sources, public sources, and private sources as well as human intelligence or intelligence from the dark web. Threat intelligence data is essential in transforming raw data into actionable insights, aiding security teams in understanding threat actors' motives and potential attack methods.
Types of Cyber Threat Intelligence
Cyber threat intelligence can be categorised into several types, each serving a specific purpose and providing unique insights into the threat landscape. Understanding these types is crucial for developing a comprehensive security strategy.
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Strategic Threat Intelligence: Offers a high-level overview of the threat landscape, focusing on the motivations, goals, and capabilities of threat actors. It helps organisations understand broader risks and supports long-term decision-making.
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Operational Threat Intelligence: Looks at the specific tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by attackers. It is essential for supporting incident response and improving overall security operations.
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Tactical Threat Intelligence: Provides detailed insights into specific threats such as malware, phishing campaigns, or known vulnerabilities. This type is crucial for SOCs and technical teams looking to mitigate imminent threats.
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Technical Threat Intelligence: Focuses on the technical aspects of attacks, such as malware behaviour and exploit code, enabling detailed analysis and stronger defences.
Threat Intelligence lifecycle
The threat intelligence lifecycle is a continuous process that involves the collection, analysis, and dissemination of threat intelligence. This lifecycle ensures that threat intelligence remains relevant and actionable. The stages include:
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1. Planning – Defining goals and the types of threats to focus on.
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2. Collection – Gathering data from multiple sources.
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3. Processing – Filtering and formatting raw data into a usable form.
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4. Analysis – Identifying trends, threats, and mitigation strategies.
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5. Dissemination – Sharing insights with the relevant stakeholders.
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6. Feedback – Evaluating and improving the process over time.
How strategic Cyber Intelligence is used in cyber security
Strategic cyber intelligence plays a vital role in helping businesses align their cyber security approach with broader business goals. It’s about more than just preventing attacks—it supports proactive decision-making, risk prioritisation, and long-term resilience.
It enables organisations to:
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Understand the motivations behind potential threats
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Allocate resources more effectively
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Inform executive decision-making and strategic investment
At The Missing Link, we use strategic intelligence to benchmark clients’ maturity and build scalable plans tailored to business risk and compliance requirements.
How AI is transforming Cyber Threat Intelligence
AI is revolutionising how threat intelligence is collected and applied. Instead of relying solely on manual analysis, organisations can now detect subtle threat patterns at speed and scale.
Our AI-powered analytics and machine learning capabilities provide real-time insights into potential attacks, allowing businesses to:
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Detect threats faster and more accurately
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Automate responses to reduce risk exposure
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Predict attacker behaviour based on historical data
This technology is built into our threat intelligence offering, powered by industry leader CrowdStrike, to consolidate security and reduce on-premise overhead.
Benefits of Threat Intelligence Management
The main objective of cyber threat intelligence is to provide organisations with a deeper understanding of what’s happening and to offer better visibility of possible cyber threats. You can then identify any threats that bring the risk to your infrastructure.
Having strong cyber security processes means you can:
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Identify “unseen risk” when it comes to the large volume of threats, vulnerabilities, targets and bad actors.
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Keep leaders, stakeholders and users informed about the latest threats and repercussions they could have on the business.
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Help security professionals better understand the threat actor’s decision-making process.
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Plan for proactive strategy and policy, rather than just reactive responses.
Organisations of all shapes and sizes need to have some level of threat intelligence management. To manage security vulnerabilities, we must understand that the threat landscape is constantly evolving.
Threat intelligence services equip CISOs and SOCs to improve threat analysis, incident response, and risk management, enhancing an organisation's cyber security posture in light of evolving cyber threats.
Threat Intelligence platform and tools
A threat intelligence platform is a software solution that enables organisations to collect, analyse, and disseminate threat intelligence. These platforms provide a range of tools and features that are essential for staying ahead of cyber threats.
Key features include:
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Threat Intelligence feeds: Real-time updates on emerging threats.
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Threat Actor profiling: Detailed information on threat groups, their tactics, and motivations.
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Tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) analysis: Supporting detection and incident response.
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Vulnerability Management: Helping prioritise and remediate high-risk exposures.
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Incident Response support: Providing context and recommendations for faster recovery.
These tools give teams the insights they need to reduce response time, enhance resilience, and improve decision-making.
Knowing your enemy
Cyber-attacks are unwanted. But what if you could understand who is responsible and why they are doing it? Being able to gather info about your adversary is priceless. Physically, the attack will come via the use of computers, software and networks. But what is the human element behind it all?
To build an effective defence, you need to know which assets must be protected, where they reside, who wants them, and how they could be accessed. A cyber threat intelligence analyst plays a crucial role in understanding the human element behind cyber-attacks by monitoring and analysing external cyber threat data.
Smart threat intelligence management gives valuable information to an organisation. Additionally, this information (data) can then be utilised for mitigating security risks, being more proactive about future threats, and making better business decisions.
Case study: Threat Intelligence in action
When The Law Society of NSW needed to bolster their cyber security, they turned to The Missing Link. Our team implemented a tailored ASD8aaS solution, helping them align with the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential Eight maturity model.
Through custom controls, ongoing visibility, and expert management, the organisation:
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Strengthened their threat detection
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Modernised their security infrastructure
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Aligned with government standards for compliance
See the unseen with The Missing Link and Crowdstrike
Our threat intelligence solution gives you a 360-degree view of the threat landscape, allowing you to detect and respond to potential threats before they can cause damage. Our AI-powered analytics and machine learning capabilities provide real-time insights into potential attacks, giving you the information you need to take proactive measures and mitigate risks.
Stopping breaches is an ever-evolving fight which is why we partner with CrowdStrike – an industry leader in endpoint protection and cloud security. CrowdStrike’s single-agent solution is built to stop breaches, data theft, and cyberattacks while consolidating security products, eliminating agent bloat, and eradicating the unnecessary burden of on-premise infrastructure.
Get in touch with one of our security experts today to see the unseen, and improve your threat intelligence management.
