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Cyber threat intelligence is useful information on cyberattacks. Following data processing and classification based on dependability, this information gets to the security team. Using structured trading methods and secondary data gathered from reliable sources, security experts probe risks completely.
Threat information helps cybersecurity professionals look at possible hazards and the attack strategies used by hostile actors. This intelligence lets companies spot possible cyberattacks and implement defenses against attack paths, therefore lowering the danger and influence of cyberattacks. By means of data analysis concerning attackers, their skills, and motivations, threat intelligence helps teams to prevent cyberattacks.
Why Is Threat Intelligence Critical?
Industries and companies have to raise their threat intelligence capacity since attackers are getting more sophisticated in using cybersecurity weaknesses to target companies. Protection of digital infrastructure and assets depends on effective, actionable threat intelligence.
Knowing the threat environment completely helps companies to correctly spot and rank hazards and apply the correct tools and methods to handle them. Finding information in the correct locations is a big component of threat intelligence. Knowing where to search is getting more challenging when threat actors exploit several channels.
Dark or deep web operations allow many hacker groups to function. Security teams have to know these hidden, sometimes disregarded areas of the cyberspace. Organizations also have to know how attackers might target them (i.e., risk apertures) if they are to actively avoid assaults.
Depending on their objectives, attackers employ different strategies ranging from brute force attacks and credential stuffing to software flaws being exploited and ransomware injection.
What are threat intelligence feeds?
Providing information on many attacks, including malicious software (malware), zero-day vulnerabilities, and botnets, a threat intelligence feed is a constant stream of data linked to either existing or anticipated security concerns. Core security infrastructure components, threat intelligence feeds, enable companies to evaluate possible hazards and direct their response activities.
Data on possible hazards from both public and private sources is gathered by researchers, who then analyze this data and produce carefully selected lists (or feeds) of possibly hazardous behavior. danger intelligence is used by companies and security teams to pinpoint possible behaviors or traits linked to a certain danger, apply more exacting security regulations, and spot and stop security breaches
What Exactly are Threat Intelligence Platforms?
In order to collect, organize, analyze, and visualize information regarding security risks, vulnerabilities, and attacks, the threat intelligence platform makes use of a variety of data sources. This software solution assists information technology and security professionals in better comprehending the various dangers that could befall their firm.
In order to compile intelligence from a wide variety of sources and present it in a variety of formats, businesses might make use of a threat intelligence platform. Following the platform’s collection and organization of the threat intelligence data, the security team will be able to utilize it to obtain insights into the cyber risks that are already known. As a result of the high rates of cybercrime that occurred during the pandemic, threat intelligence platforms have developed a growing amount of popularity.
The security team receives external information about risks through the use of a threat intelligence platform, which collects threat data from across all companies. Both improved decision-making and the ability to take a proactive approach to security are enabled by it.
There are dozens of distinct sources of threat intelligence, and it can be difficult to manually aggregate and manage significant amounts of this data. As a consequence of this, a great number of businesses rely on threat intelligence platforms in order to promptly and effectively identify cyber attacks, investigate them, and respond to them.
Security analysts are able to devote their time and resources to studying security data and patching vulnerabilities when they have access to a threat intelligence platform. This allows them to focus on these tasks rather than gathering and maintaining data. An additional significant advantage of a threat intelligence platform is the capacity to quickly and effectively disseminate intelligence throughout the enterprise as well as with other interested parties. The deployment of a threat intelligence platform can be accomplished either on-premises or through the utilization of a software-as-a-service (SaaS) system.
Threat Intelligence vs. Threat Hunting
An organization’s network may contain threats that are undiscovered or unpatched, and threat hunting is a proactive technique that discovers these threats. The abundance of data that is available in the environment is critical to the success of a program that works to search down threats. In order to continuously collect data, organizations must first take the necessary steps to build corporate security systems. The information that was gathered offers suggestions that are helpful to the team that is hunting them down.
The strategies of threat hunting assist in the discovery of previously undiscovered characteristics of a given environment. systems such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) are examples of traditional threat detection systems. These technologies go beyond these technologies.
The process of threat hunting involves searching through security data for malicious software and covert attackers. They uncover suspicious behavioral patterns that the computer either ignores or fails to notice, and then they improve or fix company security systems in order to avoid these cyber attacks from occurring again.
Information regarding successful breaches and attempts to break into a system is what is meant by the term “threat intelligence.” Data sets that have been gathered and analyzed by an automated security system that is equipped with artificial intelligence and machine learning would typically be included in this category.
For the purpose of searching for hostile actors within the system, threat hunters make use of threat intelligence. The continuation of threat intelligence is what we mean when we talk about threat hunting. Threat hunting can also identify threats that have not yet been discovered in the wild.
For the purpose of hunting, threat hunters also make use of threat indicators as hints or assumptions. For example, a strange IP address, phishing email, or other aberrant network traffic can all serve as examples of danger indicators. danger indicators are a virtual fingerprint that an attacker or malware leaves behind.
Threat Intelligence Lifecycle
The threat intelligence lifecycle offers the structure to turn unprocessed security data into ordered, useful intelligence to guide decisions. Though there are several intelligence lifetimes, their main goals and basic components are shared. The method directs the cybersecurity team in developing and implementing a successful threat intelligence program.
Creating a threat intelligence plan can be difficult since cyber threats are dynamic and companies have to quickly change to fit the changing threat scene. The structure guiding teams to maximize resources and handle complex threats is the threat intelligence lifecycle. It comprises six fundamental steps, therefore generating an ongoing feedback loop.
1. Requirements
The road map for threat intelligence activities comes from this level. When teams agree on the objectives and approaches of the threat intelligence program, it marks the most important planning period. They could point out the following:
- The attackers: Who they are and what drives them?
- The attack surface: The particular actions to guard against the next attacks.
- Mitigation and prevention: The specific measures to defend against future attacks.
2. Data Collection
The security team can begin gathering the data required to satisfy the defined goals once it specifies the criteria of the program. Usually, the team looks through public data sources, traffic records, forums, social media, and industry experts.
3. Data Processing
The team has to convert the raw data into appropriate forms for study after gathering it. Usually, the processing period consists of:
- Organizing the data on spreadsheets.
- Data decryption
- Converting information coming from many sources and formats.
- Evaluating the dependability and applicability of the material
4. Analysis
The data is ready for the team to examine once handled. The study should be exhaustive and cover the issues expressed during the requirements period. The security staff translates the acquired data into practical advice and actionable items for the pertinent parties.
5. Distribution
Translating the analysis of the threat intelligence team into understandable forms to show to ordinary stakeholders is the dissemination stage. The intended audience determines how the team presents the analysis; normally, the observations and suggestions should be succinct and expressed in simple English (no complex jargon). The team can divide the study across PowerPoint decks or short papers.
6. Review
Usually the beginning of the next cycle, the feedback stage marks the conclusion of the threat intelligence life. The team uses the comments of stakeholders on the intelligence report to guide its decisions regarding possible changes to the threat intelligence program. The stakeholders may shift their priorities, how they wish to get threat intelligence reports, or the frequency of expectation for reports.
Various Forms of Threat Intelligence
Usually falling into four groups, threat intelligence offers a whole picture of the cyber threat scene.
Strategic intelligence
For a non-technical audience, such corporate stakeholders, strategic threat intelligence compiles possible assaults and effects. Intelligence teams typically provide this kind of information as a white paper, report, or presentation depending on an in-depth study of developing worldwide trends and hazards. It outlines the high-level threat scene influencing a certain company or sector.
Tactical Intelligence
This kind of threat intelligence offers specifics on the strategies, tools, and approaches (TTP) attackers apply. Its target readership is those directly in charge of data resource security and IT. Tactical threat information explains the possible attacks on a company and how best to stop or lessen their effects.
Technical Intelligence
Technical threat intelligence centers on the indications of compromise (IoCs) implying an ongoing attack. These IoCs comprise attack paths, weaponizing vulnerabilities, and reconnaissance operations. Stopping social engineering attempts depends much on this kind of intelligence. Although many individuals mix it with operational intelligence, technical intelligence is more flexible and rapidly adjusts when attackers switch their strategy to seize fresh attack targets.
Operational Intelligence
This kind of threat intelligence covers material from many sources, including historical events, chat rooms, antivirus logs, and social media sites. Operational intelligence helps analysts forecast the timing and type of the next cyberattacks. Data mining and machine learning let multiple data points in several languages be automatically processed.
Using operational intelligence, incident response and security teams, modify the configurations of security controls like firewall rules, access restrictions, and incident detection policies. It gives a distinct direction for research, helping to lower response times.
Best Techniques for Integrating Threat Intelligence Tools
There are numerous approaches to incorporating threat intelligence into an organization’s security strategy. Here are some best practices for starting a threat intelligence program.
Adopt a proactive approach to intelligence
Threat intelligence can assist in guiding security policy by helping teams to detect vulnerabilities before an attack occurs.
Teams should utilize threat intelligence to make decisions about the following:
- Restricting access permissions.
- Implementing access controls to prevent and mitigate attacks.
- Identifying the necessary upgrades and patches.
Threat intelligence feeds aid in early incident identification by assisting teams in identifying high-risk behaviors and security incidents. They also help to direct the response. This information is especially important when used with an automated incident response pipeline since it aids in predicting the trajectory of an attack. Understanding the attacker’s activities and objectives enables teams to anticipate their next move and limit damage.
Integrate threat intelligence with existing security solutions.
Threat intelligence solutions are not particularly useful as independent tools. Manually matching events in the system might be challenging. Instead, threat intelligence should be integrated into an automated system that identifies suspicious occurrences and behavioral patterns.
Threat intelligence works well with solutions such as SIEM, which offer a centralized platform for monitoring and gathering security information. A SIEM solution combined with threat intelligence gives early warnings and context for alerts.
Another option that frequently uses threat intelligence is an incident management system, which encrypts communication between security engineers. It safeguards important information and security alerts both at rest and during transit. The system alerts the appropriate engineers so that security threats may be addressed swiftly.
Minimize alert fatigue
Alert fatigue happens when the security team is no longer able to respond to notifications. It is caused by an excessive number of alarms overwhelming the team, rendering security data unmanageable. Other variables that contribute to alert fatigue include using various data collection methods and establishing low alert thresholds.
Threat intelligence assists in filtering security data and prioritizing the most critical alarms while reducing white noise. It ensures that security teams never miss crucial notifications by addressing higher-priority concerns first.
An issue alert management solution would also rotate and escalate notifications based on the availability of engineers. If one engineer is unavailable, the system routes the warnings to another engineer specified by the web interface administrator, so preventing the team from burning out. It highlights which warnings are the most important, allowing engineers to prioritize simply.
