How can you effectively protect your information system if you're not aware of the reality of threats and the modus operandi used by attackers? That's what Threat Intelligence is all about: collecting security data to raise awareness of cyber threats and effectively prevent attacks.
What is Threat Intelligence and why is it useful for cybersecurity? What security data should be collected, and how can it be used? How can Threat Intelligence be used to strengthen IT security? This article examines the benefits of Threat Intelligence in preventing attacks and improving defense strategies.
What is Threat Intelligence?
Threat Intelligence: definition
Threat Intelligence is an essential branch of cybersecurity. It is the activity of collecting, analyzing and sharing data on cyber threats and threat actors. It's also known as Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) .
What is the main purpose of Threat Intelligence?
The aim of Threat Intelligence is to provide security teams with contextualized, relevant information on vulnerabilities, threats and attacks. It therefore enables organizations to better anticipate cyber threats and develop a proactive approach to cybersecurity.
What are the three types of Cyber Threat Intelligence?
Technical information
The purpose of technical intelligence is to identify indicators of compromise (IoCs) within an information system. In particular, it enables an attack in progress to be spotted and rapidly neutralized.
Examples: IP addresses, domain names, fingerprints (hash lists) of malicious files.
Operational intelligence
It analyses the tactics, techniques and modus operandi used by attackers.
Strategic intelligence
Strategic intelligence provides a global view of threats, trends and even emerging threats. Its purpose is to guide (long-term) security strategies based on previously identified technical elements and modus operandi, taking into account the corporate context. This type of intelligence is useful when making strategic decisions.
Why is Threat Intelligence so important in cybersecurity?
Better vulnerability assessment and risk reduction
With up-to-date, contextualized threat information, organizations can become more aware of their vulnerabilities and improve their risk management. This is precisely the job of analysts and operational defense teams. By gaining an overview of the various threats, teams can then determine priorities when it comes to securing their infrastructures: modifying security policy if necessary, changing certain configurations, implementing security patches, etc.
Attack prevention and a proactive approach to IT security
Threat Intelligence also plays an essential role in preventing attacks. For example, it enables threats to be prioritized according to their type, the level of risk they represent, and the potential impact they would have on the organization if they were actually exploited. This contextual information enables threats to be dealt with more effectively. All the profiling carried out on the perpetrators of threats (tactics, techniques, procedures) also helps to anticipate their actions.
The Kaseya supply chain attack, an example of the use of Threat Intelligence
While Threat Intelligence information is not always sufficient to block a cyber attack, it can help mitigate its impact as part of the incident response process.
This is what happened in July 2021 with the attack on VSA software, published by Kaseya. The attackers succeeded in spreading ransomware through a "Zero-Day" vulnerability.
Following the attack, the NGO Cyber Threat Alliance distributed information and analyses of the situation, with Threat Intelligence providing a concrete understanding of the incident. Mitigation measures were proposed to customers using VSA software. The aim was to help the organizations concerned react as effectively as possible to the incident, so as to limit its impact.
Safety data collection and analysis process
Information gathering tools and methods
The best data collection methods are those that aggregate multiple data sources to cross-reference information and reliably detect elements. Network and system monitoring tools are an important source of data, making it possible to identify abnormal network behavior or patterns of malicious activity.
Vulnerability scanners collect data on known vulnerabilities and related threats. Another important source of data is automated threat intelligence feeds (CTI feeds), which provide information on indicators of compromise, suspicious domains and IP addresses, malicious file hashes, etc.
Some organizations also use Cyber Threat Intelligence platforms that aggregate multiple sources of data, internal and external, open and closed. The appeal of these platforms lies in their ability to integrate seamlessly with existing tools, automate data collection and structure data.
The contribution of information system mapping: the OverSOC example
Information system mapping tools are also an important source of data. OverSOC's information system mapping methodology is based on network mapping analysis. Specifically, OverSOC uses the network characteristics of machines (IP, MAC address, OS, open ports, active services, etc.) to identify security risks for each asset in an information system.
The algorithm developed by OverSOC then calculates a compromise risk score for each asset. Scaled from 0 to 100, the score is used to assess whether the asset represents a risk to the information system. This calculation is based in particular on Cyber Threat Intelligence data: security bulletins (is the asset affected by a published security bulletin?), Deep Web and Dark Web (is the asset affected by a data leak?), Code Repository, and so on. Using such a tool is part of a proactive approach to threat detection.
The importance of contextualization in data analysis
The work of collecting data only makes sense if the data is then contextualized. And it is precisely this contextualization work that gives value to the data and enables it to be properly exploited. Examining data in context and studying the relationships between different pieces of information are prerequisites to any good data analysis. Real-time 3D representation facilitates this contextualization and understanding.
Challenges and solutions in implementing Threat Intelligence
Avoiding safety data overload
One of the main challenges of Threat Intelligence is to sort through the mass of available data, and prioritize alerts according to organizational context and threat analysis. Automation now makes it possible to process large quantities of data.
Correctly implemented, a CTI platform should limit the number of false positives and irrelevant information. Teams receive more reliable alerts and can focus their attention on them. Threats are better identified, classified and managed, in real time. As a result, security operations become more efficient.
Integrating Threat Intelligence data into defense strategies
Collecting security data is not an end in itself. To get the most out of it, you need to exploit it properly and integrate it into your defense strategies. And this is often the point that is most lacking.
According to Mandiant's "Threat Intelligence: Global Perspectives" report, published in February 2023, "the most critical cybersecurity decisions are made without considering malicious actors and their modus operandi".
While those surveyed by Mandiant recognize the need to know the profile of attackers, effectively exploiting this security data is far more complicated. Fewer than one in two (47%) consider that effectively applying Threat Intelligence to all "security systems and processes" is one of their biggest challenges.
Adapting to an ever-changing cyber environment
One of the biggest challenges in implementing proactive Cyber Intelligence is to successfully adapt to constantly evolving cyber threats. Cyber criminals have a vested interest in using unknown techniques to slip through the cracks of detection and defense systems for as long as possible. Effective intelligence gathering therefore requires time to proactively research and identify suspicious behavior and unknown threats.
This is where Cyber Threat Intelligence comes into its own when it comes to preventing attacks: helping organizations to identify emerging risks, look for weaknesses in their defenses and continuously strengthen their IT security, against a backdrop of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
How can you integrate Threat Intelligence into your security policy?
Threat Intelligence is an essential part of an effective cybersecurity strategy, as it aggregates, contextualizes and analyzes large quantities of security data from a variety of sources. The aim of this threat intelligence gathering is to put in place defensive strategies designed to reduce risks.
Cyber Threat Intelligence plays a crucial role in preventing attacks, provided that the data is properly exploited and presented in an understandable way, while taking into account the constant evolution of threats.
Tips for using Cyber Threat Intelligence data effectively
- Correlate attackers' modus operandi (from third-party flows) with the data and vulnerabilities of your information system.
- Prioritize cyber threats by assigning them risk scores
- Prioritize the highest/most urgent risks
- Industrialize" the approach for all safety systems and processes
Would you like to know how OverSOC can help you integrate Threat Intelligence into your cybersecurity policy? Contact us.
