A threat intelligence feed, or cyber intelligence (CTI) feed, is a curated source of information which provides real-time, actionable data about emerging cyber threats. These feeds deliver a stream of information on malicious activities such as malware, phishing or ransomware for example. By collecting timely data from various sources, threat intelligence feeds offer early-warning indicators of potential threats. These enable businesses to detect vulnerabilities and respond proactively and effectively to cyber threats before they cause significant harm.
Where does the information in the CTI feed come from?
The information provided in threat intelligence/ CTI feeds are sourced from a range of diverse locations, including open-source intelligence (OSINT), private databases, cybersecurity vendors, dark web forums and government agencies. Additional sources can include reports from security researchers, attack patterns, vulnerability disclosures and real-time data on global cyberattacks. This multi-source data aggregation allows for comprehensive threat visibility across different regions and sectors to provide an all-encompassing overview of cyber threats.
Benefits of a threat intelligence feed
Organisations can use threat intelligence feeds to detect and respond to cyber threats more proactively. By analysing real-time data, companies can anticipate potential risks and take preventive measures. This approach also allows for more informed decision-making in cybersecurity, ensuring that defences can adapt to evolving threats and better aligned with an organisation’s specific needs, whilst crucially improving on incident response times. Threat intelligence feeds can also help organisations meet cybersecurity regulations and compliance requirements. Ultimately, threat intelligence feeds are a key part of a resilient security infrastructure for businesses.
Types of threat intelligence feeds
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) feeds and paid intelligence feeds make up the primary types of intelligence feed. Real-time OSINT feeds are publicly available and free-of-charge, providing a broad view of threats, but may sometimes lack detail on every cyber threat. Paid Intelligence feeds, alternatively, offer proprietary data from specialised third-party sources with more granular and accurate insights from closed sources. These paid feeds may include real-time monitoring, tailored reporting and access to premium threat intelligence tools.
How threat intelligence feeds are utilised with STIX and TAXII
STIX (Structured Threat Information eXpression) and TAXII (Trusted Automated Exchange of Indicator Information) are standards used for sharing threat intelligence data. Both standards facilitate the structured, automated sharing of relevant data and enable integration between different security tools. STIX formats threat data by providing a common syntax that enables users to consistently describe threats, while TAXII enables the secure transmission of this data between organisations. In simple terms, STIX focuses on the ‘what’ of threat intelligence, while TAXII defines ‘how’ that information is transmitted. By leveraging these frameworks, organisations can streamline the sharing and collaboration of threat intelligence, thereby enhancing collective defence across industries against common cyber threats.
How to use a threat intelligence feed
To effectively utilise a threat intelligence feed, it is essential to integrate it with existing security tools, including all security information and event management (SIEM) systems. This integration allows for seamless sharing and analysis of data, leveraging the information provided by the feed. A threat intelligence feed from Silobreaker, once integrated, can be used to prioritise incoming threats based on their relevance and severity. Regular analysis of the data enables teams to monitor suspicious activities, correlate findings with known threats and adjust security protocols accordingly. Additionally, organisations should consider training their staff on how to recognise and respond to threats to improve the company’s overall security posture.
Threat Feeds vs. Threat Intel Feeds
Threat feeds are basic streams of information on potential cyber threats, often consisting of raw data such as malware signatures or IP addresses. Threat intelligence feeds, however, provide enriched data by analysing and contextualising the information. The curated and analysed information that threat intelligence feeds offer are more actionable for security teams to work with, and often provide security teams a more comprehensive understanding of how to defend against specific attacks.
How to make the insights from a CTI feed actionable
There are three key-ways that security teams can make insights that threat intelligence feeds share actionable:
- Correlate with internal data: Security teams need to combine external intelligence with internal security logs and events to prioritise risks based on severity
- Develop an incident response plan: Create detailed procedures for addressing identified threats for teams to act on once a threat is detected
- Continuously monitor and adjust: Regular threat hunting and vulnerability assessments help ensure that intelligence feed insights lead to concrete actions for organisations
FAQs
What is a threat intelligence feed?
A threat intelligence feed is a continuous stream of cyber threat data that highlights emerging cyber threats. Threat intelligence feeds provide actionable insights on attacks including malware, zero-day attacks and botnets. Threat intelligence feeds enable organisations to identify risks and respond effectively to reduce exposure to cyber threats.
What is CTI feed?
A CTI feed is a threat intelligence feed that provides context for the data that is being provided. CTI feeds provide a multi-source database that helps organisations detect and respond to online threats. CTI feeds often incorporate details about threat actors, attack methods, motivations or potential targets associated with cyber attacks. CTI feeds help organisations make strategic decisions by identifying the patterns and trends between cyber threats.
How does a threat intelligence feed work?
A threat intelligence feed works by collecting and analysing data on cyber threats from various sources (including OSINT) and then converting them into detailed insights and alerts for organisations, enabling them to stay informed about emerging threats and take proactive measures to protect themselves.
How can an organisation implement a threat intelligence feed effectively?
Organisations can implement a threat intelligence feed effectively by integrating the feed into its SIEM system, filter relevant data developing incident response plans, automate alerts and align insights with internal security protocols. Organisations should also train staff on how to recognise and report potential threats.
Threat intelligence feeds and Silobreaker
The Silobreaker Intelligence Platform includes threat intelligence feeds to provide powerful insights on emerging risks and opportunities in real-time. It automates the collection, aggregation, accurate analysis and dissemination of data from open and dark web sources in a single platform, so intelligence teams can produce high-quality, actionable reports.
Silobreaker automates the intelligence cycle in a single platform, from collection and aggregation to analysis and dissemination supported by AI resulting in faster more accurate production of intelligence. Silobreaker’s platform consolidates unstructured, dark web and premium data sources into actionable intelligence that can be delivered using bespoke dashboards, reports and alerts in real-time. By integrating with existing security tools, Silobreaker enables organisations to streamline threat detection, correlate indicators of compromise (IoCs) and customise alerts. With advanced visualisation and automated reporting, Silobreaker helps transform raw data into actionable intelligence.
Find out more about how Silobreaker can be used as a threat intelligence feed and empower your organisation to identify emerging threats and make intelligence-led decisions here.