Table of Contents
In today’s complex threat landscape, organizations face sophisticated adversaries who employ advanced techniques to breach defenses and compromise systems. Reactive security measures are no longer sufficient. Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) has emerged as a critical discipline that enables organizations to anticipate, prepare for, and mitigate targeted attacks before they occur.
This guide provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of cyber threat intelligence for intermediate to advanced security professionals. Whether you’re transitioning from another security role, looking to formalize your CTI program, or seeking to enhance your existing threat intelligence capabilities, this resource will help you develop a structured approach to identifying, analyzing, and responding to cyber threats.
What is Cyber Threat Intelligence?
Cyber Threat Intelligence is the collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of information about adversaries, their capabilities, infrastructure, motives, and tradecraft. Unlike raw data or information, intelligence is:
- Relevant: Tailored to your specific organization, industry, and threat landscape
- Actionable: Provides clear guidance for defensive measures
- Timely: Delivered when it can still impact security decisions
- Accurate: Based on reliable sources and rigorous analysis
- Contextualized: Explains the “who,” “what,” “why,” and “how” behind observed threats
Effective CTI helps organizations:
- Understand the capabilities and intentions of threat actors targeting them
- Prioritize security efforts based on actual threats rather than hypothetical risks
- Proactively adjust defenses to counter emerging attack vectors
- Make informed decisions about security investments and resource allocation
- Improve incident response through better threat context and adversary understanding
CTI is both a process and a product. As a process, it involves the systematic collection and analysis of threat data. As a product, it delivers insights that security teams can use to enhance their defensive posture.
The Intelligence Cycle
The intelligence cycle provides a structured framework for producing actionable intelligence. While adaptations exist, the traditional cycle consists of six phases:
- Planning and Direction: Define intelligence requirements based on organizational needs, assets, and threat landscape.
- Collection: Gather raw data from various sources (technical feeds, human sources, open-source intelligence, etc.).
- Processing: Transform raw data into a format suitable for analysis, including normalization, enrichment, and correlation.
- Analysis: Evaluate processed data to identify patterns, develop insights, and create intelligence products.
- Dissemination: Deliver intelligence to stakeholders in appropriate formats and timeframes.
- Feedback: Gather input from intelligence consumers to refine future collection and analysis.
This cycle is iterative rather than linear, with continuous refinement based on changing requirements and feedback.
Learn more about the Intelligence Cycle →
Types of Cyber Threat Intelligence
CTI is typically categorized into three primary levels, each serving different organizational needs and audiences:
Strategic Intelligence
Strategic intelligence informs executive-level decision-making and security strategy. It addresses broad trends, emerging risks, and the geopolitical context of cyber threats.
- Focus: Long-term threats, industry trends, geopolitical factors
- Timeframe: Months to years
- Audience: Executive leadership, board members, senior security leaders
- Examples: Annual threat reports, industry risk assessments, geopolitical analyses
Explore Strategic Intelligence →
Tactical Intelligence
Tactical intelligence provides information about threat actor TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) to inform defensive measures.
- Focus: Attack methodologies, tools, and procedures
- Timeframe: Weeks to months
- Audience: Security architects, defenders, blue teams
- Examples: TTP analysis, malware capabilities reports, vulnerability exploitation trends
Explore Tactical Intelligence →
Operational Intelligence
Operational intelligence offers context about specific threats to support security operations and incident response.
- Focus: Specific campaigns, indicators, and imminent threats
- Timeframe: Days to weeks
- Audience: SOC analysts, incident responders, threat hunters
- Examples: Campaign analyses, threat actor profiles, IOC collections
Explore Operational Intelligence →
Technical Intelligence
Technical intelligence consists of machine-readable data about specific threat indicators, artifacts, and observables that can be directly implemented in security controls.
- Focus: Indicators of Compromise (IOCs), signatures, artifacts
- Timeframe: Immediate to days
- Audience: Security engineers, detection teams, automation systems
- Examples: IP blocklists, malware hashes, YARA rules, detection signatures
Explore Technical Intelligence →
Intelligence Requirements
Effective CTI programs are driven by clear intelligence requirements that align with organizational priorities. Intelligence requirements typically fall into several categories:
- Priority Intelligence Requirements (PIRs): High-level questions that address critical information needs for decision-makers
- Specific Intelligence Requirements (SIRs): Detailed questions that support PIRs
- Intelligence Collection Requirements (ICRs): Specific data points needed to answer SIRs
Well-crafted requirements:
- Align with business objectives and security priorities
- Focus collection efforts on relevant information
- Provide clear criteria for evaluating intelligence value
- Establish a framework for measuring intelligence program effectiveness
Learn how to develop Intelligence Requirements →
Intelligence Sources
CTI draws from a diverse range of sources, typically categorized as:
Technical Sources
- Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Solutions
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Platforms
- Network Traffic Analysis Tools
- Commercial Threat Intelligence Feeds
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
- Security Blogs and Research Publications
- Social Media and Forums
- Code Repositories
- Vulnerability Databases
- News and Media Reports
Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
- Information Sharing Communities
- Industry Partners
- Government Briefings
- Threat Intelligence Vendors
- Internal Expertise
Effective CTI programs leverage multiple source types to develop a comprehensive understanding of the threat landscape.
Explore Intelligence Collection Sources →
Analysis Methodologies
Analysis transforms raw data into actionable intelligence through various methodologies:
Structured Analytical Techniques
- Analysis of Competing Hypotheses
- Kill Chain Analysis
- Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis
- MITRE ATT&CK Framework Mapping
- Activity Threat Trees
Technical Analysis
- Malware Analysis
- Network Forensics
- Log Analysis
- Indicator Extraction and Enrichment
- Campaign Correlation
Strategic Analysis
- Trend Analysis
- Threat Actor Profiling
- Geopolitical Analysis
- Risk Assessment
- Capability Development Forecasting
Effective analysts employ multiple methodologies based on the type of intelligence being produced and the needs of their audience.
Learn more about Analysis Methodologies →
Intelligence Products
CTI programs generate various products tailored to different stakeholders:
Strategic Products
- Annual Threat Landscapes
- Quarterly Threat Briefings
- Industry-Specific Risk Assessments
- Emerging Threat Reports
Tactical Products
- TTP Reports
- Vulnerability Assessments
- Defensive Recommendations
- Security Control Guidance
Operational Products
- Indicator Feeds
- Malware Analysis Reports
- Campaign Briefs
- Threat Actor Profiles
Each product should be tailored to its audience in terms of technical depth, format, and timeframe.
Explore Intelligence Products →
Integration with Security Operations
The true value of CTI lies in its integration with security operations:
Security Operations Center (SOC)
- Alert Enrichment
- Detection Development
- Threat Hunting
- Incident Contextualization
Incident Response
- Attribution Support
- Campaign Understanding
- Adversary Emulation
- Response Prioritization
Vulnerability Management
- Exploitation Risk Assessment
- Patching Prioritization
- Vulnerability Trending
- Exploitation Monitoring
Security Architecture
- Defense-in-Depth Planning
- Control Selection
- Security Testing Scenarios
- Risk-Based Security Engineering
Effective integration requires clear processes, appropriate tooling, and cross-functional collaboration.
Learn about CTI Integration →
Challenges and Best Practices
Common challenges in CTI programs include:
Information Overload
- Best Practice: Implement rigorous prioritization based on intelligence requirements
- Best Practice: Deploy automation for routine collection and processing tasks
- Best Practice: Focus on quality over quantity in intelligence production
Attribution Difficulties
- Best Practice: Establish clear confidence levels for attribution claims
- Best Practice: Recognize the limitations of available evidence
- Best Practice: Separate factual observations from analytical judgments
Measuring Effectiveness
- Best Practice: Develop clear metrics aligned with intelligence requirements
- Best Practice: Collect regular feedback from intelligence consumers
- Best Practice: Track both operational outcomes and strategic impacts
Team Development
- Best Practice: Build diverse teams with complementary skill sets
- Best Practice: Invest in continuous education and certification
- Best Practice: Foster connections with the broader intelligence community
Explore CTI Best Practices →
Further Reading
- Cyber Threat Actor Tracking and Profiling
- Intelligence Analysis Methodologies
- Threat Data Collection and Processing
- Intelligence Sharing and Collaboration
- Building a CTI Program
Navigation
- Return to Threat Intelligence Home
- Explore Defensive Security
- Explore Offensive Security
- Explore Detection and Response