Assessing Threat Intelligence: Key Factors to Evaluate Cybersecurity Threats

Mar 13 / Sardar H

Assessing Threat Intelligence: How to Evaluate and Act on Cybersecurity Threats

In today’s ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, threat intelligence is essential for organizations to stay ahead of potential attacks. However, not all threat intelligence is created equal. To effectively protect your business, you must assess the quality and reliability of the intelligence you receive. In this blog, we'll cover the key factors to consider when assessing threat intelligence and how to apply it for better cybersecurity outcomes.



What is Threat Intelligence?

Threat intelligence involves the collection and analysis of data about potential or ongoing cyber threats. The goal is to provide organizations with actionable insights to defend against attacks. However, simply having access to threat intelligence feeds isn't enough. It’s crucial to assess this information for its timeliness, accuracy, and relevance to make informed decisions.


Key Factors in Assessing Threat Intelligence

1. Timeliness

Timeliness refers to how quickly threat intelligence information is delivered. Real-time or near real-time intelligence can allow your organization to respond before an attack takes place.

Example:

Imagine a threat feed notifying you about an emerging malware campaign targeting specific industries. If this information reaches you days or weeks late, the malware may have already infected your network. A timely feed ensures that you can take preventive measures.

2. Accuracy

Accuracy in threat intelligence is critical. The intelligence you rely on must come from trusted sources and be corroborated by multiple, independent feeds.

Example:

If a threat intelligence report warns about vulnerabilities in a widely-used software application, but the report comes from a single, unverified source, the information may be unreliable. It's important to cross-check with other feeds to ensure its accuracy before taking action.

3. Relevance

Threat intelligence should be relevant to your organization’s infrastructure, software, and operations. Irrelevant intelligence can waste time and resources.

Example:

A threat feed may notify your team about vulnerabilities in a software system, but if your organization doesn’t use that software, the intelligence is irrelevant. Instead, focus on data that applies directly to your network and assets.


The Importance of Confidence Scores

One way to quantify the quality of threat intelligence is through confidence scores. These scores indicate how much trust an organization can place in a piece of information. A higher score suggests that the intelligence is well-researched, verified, and actionable.

Confidence Score Breakdown:

Confidence Score Meaning Example Scenario
High (80-100) Well-validated, multiple sources A vulnerability is confirmed by various trusted threat feeds.
Medium (50-79) Limited but reasonable verification An early warning of malware from some reliable but not all sources.
Low (0-49) Unverified, emerging information A report from a single unverified source about a potential new threat.

Example:

A newly discovered vulnerability with a confidence score of 30 may not be ignored, but you should wait for additional verification before implementing costly mitigation strategies.


Real-World Examples of Threat Intelligence Assessment

Scenario Timeliness Accuracy Relevance Confidence Score
An email alert warns of ransomware targeting your industry, with supporting data from multiple feeds. Timely High Highly relevant 90
A report from a single source suggests a possible zero-day exploit in an outdated browser version. Delayed Low Irrelevant 20
A threat intelligence feed provides details on phishing attempts on cloud-based platforms, which your organization uses. Real-time Medium Relevant 75


How to Apply Threat Intelligence

Once you’ve assessed the threat intelligence information, apply it strategically by:

  1. Prioritizing Response Actions: High-confidence intelligence should prompt immediate action, such as patching vulnerabilities or updating firewall rules.
  2. Integrating with Security Tools: Feed your validated threat intelligence into security tools like SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems for automated monitoring.
  3. Training Staff: Make sure your employees are trained to understand and react to the intelligence, especially for threats like phishing attacks.
  4. Continuous Monitoring: Regularly update your threat feeds to ensure you’re acting on the latest intelligence.


Conclusion

Assessing threat intelligence is essential for maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture. By focusing on key factors like timeliness, accuracy, and relevance—and assigning confidence scores—you can better protect your business from cyber threats.


Call to Action

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Summary Table of Threat Intelligence Assessment

Factor Definition Example
Timeliness How quickly the intelligence is delivered Real-time notifications about an ongoing malware attack
Accuracy How reliable and verified the information is Cross-referencing multiple sources for vulnerabilities
Relevance How applicable the threat intelligence is to your organization Intelligence about attacks targeting specific software you use
Confidence Score A numerical value indicating the reliability of the intelligence A score of 90 for a vulnerability verified by trusted sources