Exploring the Characteristics and Types of Threat Intelligence

The introduction of digital connectivity has been transformative for us. It’s now possible to interact easily and anytime across borders. Connectivity has also enabled having a remote workforce and offering products and services globally. But the highly connected world has also brought with it some channels.

Cyberattacks have become more common than ever. The sophistication levels of these attacks have also increased. As such, it’s increasingly important for businesses to adopt proactive methods to protect crucial information and assets. Threat intelligence has emerged as a way to investigate potential threats and attack methods. Continue reading as we explore the essentials of threat intelligence and detail the key factors shaping the evolving threat intelligence market landscape.

Threat Intelligence: Introduction

Threat intelligence is a dynamic technology. It makes use of data and analysis from threat history for blocking and remediating cyberattacks on a target network. Threat intelligence isn’t something like a hardware-based solution. Instead, it involves the use of tactics, procedures, and techniques. Threat intelligence forms an important component of the overall security architecture of an organization. As cyberthreats continue to evolve in complexity, cybersecurity systems rely on threat intelligence to ensure they catch the maximum number of attacks.

Some key data: Our latest market analysis reveals that the threat intelligence market is expected to witness steady growth. The market for threat intelligence stood at USD 14.08 billion in 2024. It is projected to account for a CAGR of 6.6% from 2025 to 2034.

Key Characteristics of Threat Intelligence

There are three main characteristics of threat intelligence that make it different from raw data. They include:

Organization-Specific

Threat intelligence isn’t limited to general information about potential attacks and threats. The focus here is on the specific situation of the organization. This includes the specific vulnerabilities in the attack surface of the organization and the vulnerabilities enabled by them.

Contextual and Detailed

Threat intelligence goes beyond just the potential threats that an organization might be exposed to. The coverage of the threat actors behind them and their specific techniques is also done. It also covers indicators of compromise that might signal a cyberattack that got through.

Actionable

The information provided by threat intelligence gives crucial insights to security teams. Security teams can then act on the information to prioritize threats and address vulnerabilities. The information can also be used with solutions from the cybersecurity market to improve the overall security posture of an organization.

Understanding the Threat Intelligence Lifecycle

There are six interconnected phases in the threat intelligence lifecycle. Below is  an explanation of these:

Planning and Direction: This is the initial phase of threat intelligence. Here, security teams collaborate with business executives for deciding the goals of the program. The key data and assets that need protection are outlined here. Budget and resource allocation are also done in this phase. Furthermore, it involves tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) for tracking the outcomes of the program.

Collection: The collection phase involves gathering crucial data and information from several sources. Internal sources and investigations are used for collecting data. Some organizations may also go with partnerships to gather information.

Processing: The collected data is cleaned during this phase. It ensures that the data is free from inconsistencies and that any irrelevant information isn’t present. Sorting, decryption, and translation of the raw data into a useful format are done to support further analysis.

Analysis: The processed data is analyzed by teams for detecting anomalies and unusual patterns. Cross-referencing of the data with multiple sources may be done to uncover hidden insights.

Dissemination: This phase involves sharing the analyzed data with operational teams and decision-makers. External partners may also receive the analyzed intelligence. Care is taken that the data remains actionable and easy to understand. 

Feedback: The last phase of the threat intelligence lifecycle involves the collection of feedback from stakeholders on the shared threat intelligence. This helps in identifying gaps and improving analysis.

Types of Threat Intelligence

The security needs of every organization are different. As such, they make use of different types of intelligence based on their goals.

Strategic Threat Intelligence

This is a type of high-level analysis in the threat intelligence market. It is aimed at the non-technical audiences of an organization. Cybersecurity topics that can have a major impact on business decisions are covered here. It also looks for overall trends and their motivators. Strategic threat intelligence is typically based on open sources such as research, media reports, and white papers. So, it can be easily accessed by anyone.

Tactical Threat Intelligence

This type of threat intelligence focuses on the immediate future. It is intended for a more technical audience. Identification of specific IOCs is done to enable research teams to look for specific threats and eliminate them. IOCs include elements such as unusual traffic, bad IP addresses, and login red flags. Tactical intelligence is usually automated, making its generation highly straightforward.

Operational Threat Intelligence

Operational threat intelligence is broader and more technical as compared to tactical intelligence. The major focus here is on understanding the tactics, techniques, and procedures of threat actors. Information security decision-makers use operational threat intelligence for identifying threat actors that are likely to attack the organization. Security controls and mitigation strategies for these attacks are also determined.

AI and Threat Intelligence Market

Artificial intelligence (AI) is having a positive impact on threat intelligence and cybersecurity in general. Solutions from AI in cybersecurity market are capable of analyzing large volumes of data. This helps reduce the time it takes to identify potential threats and the patterns they might have. Predicting potential attacks, which is enhanced by  AI, shifts the focus from reactive analysis to predictive insights. AI also helps in improving the accessibility and affordability of threat intelligence solutions.

To Sum It Up

The world of cybersecurity continues to evolve. And so do the tools and techniques used to protect data and assets. Threat intelligence has become an important element of digital security. Its use helps establish proactive cyber defense. Threat intelligence is also crucial for improving incident response and risk management plans. The threat intelligence market is expected to see the introduction of more advanced solutions that accommodate varying security needs.