Threat Intelligence: How to Protect Against Cyber Threats

What is Threat Intelligence?

Cyber threat intelligence (CTI) is a fundamental cybersecurity process that enables organizations to gather, analyze, and use information on cyber threats to prevent and mitigate attacks. By leveraging cyber intelligence, businesses can anticipate the strategies of cybercriminals and strengthen their overall security posture.

Types of Cyber Threat Intelligence

There are several types of cyber threat intelligence, each serving a specific role in cybersecurity protection.

Strategic CTI

Strategic threat intelligence provides high-level insights into the threat landscape. It is particularly valuable for decision-makers, helping them plan defense strategies based on trends and future scenarios. This type of intelligence focuses on geopolitical developments and cyber threat trends within specific industries.

Operational CTI

Operational threat intelligence focuses on the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by attackers. It delivers in-depth information on threat actors, enabling organizations to anticipate, detect, and block attacks before they occur.

Technical CTI

Technical CTI collects detailed technical data about threats, such as indicators of compromise (IoCs), malicious IP addresses, file hashes, and exploited vulnerabilities. This intelligence is essential for IT security teams and for deploying automated protection measures.

Tactical CTI

Tactical threat intelligence is geared toward immediate response. It provides specific and timely details about ongoing cyberattacks, enabling CTI professionals to react quickly and enhance incident response effectiveness.

The Threat Intelligence Cycle

The cyber threat intelligence cycle is a structured, iterative process that guides the collection and analysis of threat information. It is divided into six key phases:

1. Planning
   Analysts collaborate with stakeholders to define intelligence goals and needs. For example, a CISO may want to assess the risk of a new ransomware campaign.
2. Threat Data Collection
   The team gathers data from various sources, including:
   • Threat intelligence feeds for real-time updates on emerging threats
   • Information-sharing communities such as ISACs and MISP Threat Sharing
   • Internal security logs, including data from SIEM, SOAR, EDR, and XDR systems
3. Processing
   Collected data is filtered and standardized, removing false positives and correlating information for more accurate analysis. AI and machine learning are often used to identify patterns and trends.
4. Analysis
   Analysts convert raw data into actionable intelligence by identifying specific vulnerabilities and proposing mitigation strategies.
5. Dissemination
   The results of the analysis are shared with business stakeholders, enabling the implementation of security measures such as updating blacklists or modifying monitoring system rules.
6. Feedback
   Stakeholders evaluate the effectiveness of the threat intelligence cycle and identify areas for improvement in the next cycle.

The Benefits of CTI

Implementing a cyber threat intelligence strategy offers numerous benefits:

• Enhanced security and better prevention of cyberattacks
• Faster response times to security incidents
• Improved risk management through accurate, up-to-date information
• Reduced costs from data breaches: in 2021, the average global cost of a data breach was $4.24 million, including legal fees, regulatory fines, and post-incident recovery expenses

How to Implement Cyber Threat Intelligence in an Organization

To effectively integrate cyber threat intelligence into your organization, follow these steps:

1. Define Security Goals and Needs
   Every organization has a different risk profile. For instance, Italgas operates within a relatively low-risk category, which affects its security planning.
2. Identify Trusted Intelligence Sources
   Choose reliable data sources to stay updated on emerging threats in real time.
3. Deploy CTI Tools and Platforms
   Use dedicated tools for collecting and analyzing data to build a solid operational foundation.
4. Integrate CTI into Business Processes
   Seamlessly embed CTI into existing security systems and workflows to continuously improve threat response capabilities.
5. Train Staff
   Maximize the impact of threat intelligence by educating employees through ongoing training and hands-on simulations.

Adopting a cyber intelligence-driven approach enables organizations to build stronger cyber resilience, safeguarding critical data and infrastructure from the ever-growing threat landscape.