Cyber Threat Intelligence — A short intro
What is Cyber Threat Intelligence?
Cyber threat intelligence is a rapidly growing field that is essential for businesses, organizations, and governments to protect themselves against the increasing number of cyber attacks and security threats. Cyber threat intelligence collects, analyzes, and disseminates information about potential or existing cyber threats and vulnerabilities. This information can improve an organization’s security posture, identify potential targets, and mitigate the risks of cyber attacks.
One of the key challenges of cyber threat intelligence is the sheer volume and complexity of data generated by the constantly evolving world of cyber security. This data includes information about new and emerging threats, vulnerabilities in software and systems, and the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by attackers. Organizations need access to specialized tools, expertise, and a comprehensive understanding of the current threat landscape to analyze this data effectively.
One of the main objectives of cyber threat intelligence is to provide organizations with actionable and timely information that can be used to prevent or mitigate the risks of cyber attacks. This involves collecting and analyzing data from various sources, such as dark web forums, social media, and underground marketplaces, to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities. The information gathered from these sources can be used to develop defensive strategies, such as implementing security controls and updating software and systems, to reduce the risks of successful attacks.
Another critical aspect of cyber threat intelligence is sharing information and collaborating with other organizations. This can be particularly valuable for businesses and organizations operating in the same sector or geographic region, as they may face similar threats and vulnerabilities. By sharing information about cyber threats and best practices for mitigating them, organizations can improve their collective security posture and reduce the overall risk of cyber attacks.
In addition to providing organizations with valuable information about potential threats and vulnerabilities, cyber threat intelligence can also help to improve an organization’s overall security posture. Organizations can prioritize their security efforts and allocate resources more effectively by clearly showing the current threat landscape. This can help to ensure that they have the necessary defenses in place to protect against the most significant threats and can also help to identify areas where additional security controls may be needed.
Overall, cyber threat intelligence is critical to any organization’s security strategy. Cyber threat intelligence can help organizations improve their security posture, identify potential targets, and mitigate the risks of cyber attacks by providing actionable and timely information about potential threats and vulnerabilities. By collaborating with other organizations and sharing knowledge, businesses, and organizations can also improve their collective security posture and reduce the overall risk of cyber attacks.
How to approach Cyber Threat Intelligence as an organization
There are several key steps that organizations can take to approach cyber threat intelligence effectively:
Identify the organization’s objectives and priorities: The first step in approaching cyber threat intelligence is to identify the organization’s key objectives and priorities. This can help ensure that the intelligence gathering and analysis efforts are focused on the most critical areas of the organization.
Develop a strategy: Once the organization’s objectives and priorities have been identified, the next step is to develop a strategy for gathering and analyzing cyber threat intelligence. This can include identifying the most important intelligence types, developing processes for gathering and analyzing the data, and establishing protocols for sharing the intelligence with relevant stakeholders.
Gather and analyze intelligence: The next step is to begin gathering and analyzing intelligence. This can include using various sources and methods, such as monitoring social media and other online platforms, conducting open-source research, and utilizing specialized tools and techniques.
Share and act on the intelligence: Once it has been gathered and analyzed, it’s essential to share it with relevant stakeholders and act on it promptly. This can include sharing the intelligence with IT and security teams, other departments, external partners, and vendors. It can also involve implementing security measures, deploying countermeasures, and other measures to protect the organization’s systems and data.
Continuously monitor and update: Cyber threat intelligence is not a one-time activity; it should be an ongoing process to ensure the organization’s systems and data remain secure. This can include regular updates and assessments of the intelligence and continuous monitoring for potential threats.
External Threat Landscape
Another critical aspect of the overall Cyber Threat Intelligence topic is to know your external exposure. To address this, external threat landscape monitoring is the key.
External threat landscape monitoring is the practice of keeping track of potential threats that come from outside an organization’s network or systems. This can include monitoring for cyber attacks, malware, viruses, and other malicious activities that could harm an organization’s network or data. By monitoring the external threat landscape, organizations can take steps to protect themselves and their systems from these threats.
Some key factors to consider when approaching External Threat Landscape monitoring
Identifying potential threats: Understanding the existing threats that could potentially affect an organization’s systems is essential. This can include known vulnerabilities, potential attack vectors, and other factors that could be used to compromise an organization’s network or data.
Gathering intelligence: To effectively monitor the external threat landscape, organizations need to be able to collect and analyze intelligence about potential threats. This can include monitoring for suspicious activity, analyzing security-related data and information, and using tools and techniques to uncover potential vulnerabilities or attack vectors.
Developing a response plan: Once potential threats have been identified, organizations need to develop a plan for responding to them. This can include implementing security measures, deploying countermeasures, and taking other steps to protect the organization’s systems and data.
Ongoing monitoring: External threat landscape monitoring is not a one-time activity; it should be a continuing process to ensure that the organization’s systems and data remain secure. This can include regular updates and assessments of the organization’s security posture and monitoring for potential threats.
Collaboration and communication: To effectively monitor the external threat landscape, organizations need to be able to collaborate and communicate with relevant stakeholders, such as IT and security teams, other departments within the organization, and external partners and vendors. This can help ensure that all parties are aware of potential threats and are working together to address them.
Tools
Many CTI tools are available, some open source and free, some for a price. It is nearly impossible to keep track. I will share a few links here with collections of such tools:
https://www.comparitech.com/net-admin/best-threat-intelligence-feeds/
https://vulcan.io/blog/threat-intelligence-feeds/
https://d3security.com/blog/10-of-the-best-open-source-threat-intelligence-feeds/
However, I want to dedicate a special mention to what I think is the best External Threat Landscape Management solution currently on the market
Special Mention — SOC Radar
SOC Radar is a next-generation Security Operations Center (SOC) platform that provides advanced threat detection, incident response, and security analytics to organizations of all sizes. The platform leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data technologies to help security teams identify, analyze, and respond to cyber threats in real time.
Founded in 2019, SOC Radar is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and has since become a leading provider of SOC solutions. The company aims to empower businesses to protect their digital assets and infrastructure by providing a comprehensive and effective security solution.
SOC Radar’s key offerings include:
Threat Detection: The platform uses advanced algorithms to analyze vast amounts of data from various sources, identifying potential threats and notifying security teams in real time.
Incident Response: SOC Radar’s integrated incident response capabilities allow security teams to quickly and efficiently respond to identified threats, mitigating potential damage.
Security Analytics: The platform provides in-depth analytics and reporting features that help organizations understand their security posture and make informed decisions to improve their defenses.
Threat Intelligence: SOC Radar leverages global threat intelligence to stay ahead of emerging threats, keeping organizations informed of potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors.
Compliance Management: The platform assists organizations in achieving and maintaining compliance with industry regulations and standards, reducing the risk of fines and penalties.
What’s special about it?
The cool thing about SOCRadar is that it offers a free tier and also, with SOC Radar Labs, a selection of great tools you can use
SOCRadar Labs:
More info:
You can also reach out to me for a customized demo of the product
