Book Image

Operationalizing Threat Intelligence

By : Kyle Wilhoit, Joseph Opacki
Book Image

Operationalizing Threat Intelligence

By: Kyle Wilhoit, Joseph Opacki

Overview of this book

We’re living in an era where cyber threat intelligence is becoming more important. Cyber threat intelligence routinely informs tactical and strategic decision-making throughout organizational operations. However, finding the right resources on the fundamentals of operationalizing a threat intelligence function can be challenging, and that’s where this book helps. In Operationalizing Threat Intelligence, you’ll explore cyber threat intelligence in five fundamental areas: defining threat intelligence, developing threat intelligence, collecting threat intelligence, enrichment and analysis, and finally production of threat intelligence. You’ll start by finding out what threat intelligence is and where it can be applied. Next, you’ll discover techniques for performing cyber threat intelligence collection and analysis using open source tools. The book also examines commonly used frameworks and policies as well as fundamental operational security concepts. Later, you’ll focus on enriching and analyzing threat intelligence through pivoting and threat hunting. Finally, you’ll examine detailed mechanisms for the production of intelligence. By the end of this book, you’ll be equipped with the right tools and understand what it takes to operationalize your own threat intelligence function, from collection to production.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
1
Section 1: What Is Threat Intelligence?
6
Section 2: How to Collect Threat Intelligence
12
Section 3: What to Do with Threat Intelligence

SIRs

One specific requirement that is often overlooked, which is highly granular and immediate in nature, is the SIR. SIRs are operational and tactical, focusing on specific facts and activities. SIRs are where the intelligence analyst can identify requirements pertaining to PIRs. SIRs tend to outnumber GIRs or PIRs simply due to the granularity involved with defining SIRs.

Often, SIRs are time-constrained to some degree. This is because the data and intelligence provided via a SIR is so granular and, therefore, likely actionable. It's recommended that you reevaluate the SIRs that are defined every 30 days since these requirements could change often. SIRs are notably technical in nature, whereas PIRs and GIRs are typically more generic and relate to broader cyber threat activity.

SIRs are highly specific; for example, identify the C2 infrastructure that a specific threat actor is leveraging today. Often, SIRs pertain to the specific attributes of an attack or actor or technical...