[CTI] What is Cyber Threat Intelligence? Should I care?

[Andy]

Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) is my focus area in the Information Security world, and I wanted to share with y'all a bit about what it is in practice.

CTI is the collecting, analyzing, and sharing information about cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and risks to an organization's infrastructure, data, and users. In simpler terms, it's like gathering intelligence about potential enemies to protect your digital assets better. CTI helps organizations make informed decisions about their cybersecurity strategies and stay ahead of potential cyberattacks.

There are three primary types of CTI:

1. Tactical CTI: This type focuses on the technical aspects of cyber threats, such as identifying specific malware signatures, IP addresses, or phishing URLs. Tactical CTI provides immediate benefits, helping security teams to detect, block, and respond to threats.
2. Operational CTI: This type deals with analyzing and understanding the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by threat actors. It helps organizations understand how attackers operate and allows them to adapt their defenses accordingly.
3. Strategic CTI: This type focuses on understanding the broader context of the threat landscape, including the motivations, goals, and capabilities of threat actors. Strategic CTI helps organizations anticipate emerging threats, prioritize resources, and make long-term security decisions.

CTI analysts help the organization with:

1. Proactive Defense: staying ahead of threats by identifying and analyzing potential risks before they become attacks. This approach can save time, resources, and could prevent damage to an organization's reputation.
2. Improved Incident Response: we can provide the team with valuable context and insights during a security incident, helping them to respond more effectively and efficiently.
3. Resource Optimization: By understanding the threat landscape and specific risks to an organization, we can help prioritize resources, ensuring the most significant threats are addressed first and reducing the potential impact of cyberattacks.
4. Enhanced Collaboration: we often work closely with other cybersecurity professionals, both internally and externally, sharing information and collaborating on best practices. This collaboration can lead to improved overall security posture.

CTI is a very exciting field and there is a lot of really useful information that can be turned over from a CTI analyst to IT teams to better protect their infrastructure.