Modern cyber security relies heavily on advanced technologies capable of sniffing out threats and stopping them before they do extensive damage. A threat intelligence platform is one such technology. But like any other technology, no such platform is perfect. Every platform has its weaknesses.
Finding a Threat Intelligence Platform
The challenge for organizations looking to invest in a threat intelligence platform is to find one that is reliable and effective. But what should organizations look for? DarkOwl, a leading threat intelligence provider, says that there are three things that can make or break a platform.
1. Data Gathering and Aggregation
Threat intelligence is built on a foundation of data. Therefore, the first thing to look at is a platform’s data gathering and aggregation capabilities. From where does a platform gather its data? Possibilities include:
- Security alerts
- Network logs
- External feeds
- Open-source intelligence
- Darknet data
Gathering intelligence data from the right sources positions a platform to properly aggregate that data so that it can be turned into actionable insights. The opposite is also true. Gathering data from poor or irrelevant sources does not help a platform keep an organization any more secure.
2. Threat Analysis
Data gathering and aggregation is followed by threat analysis. The threat intelligence platform employs advanced techniques to analyze data from every angle. Not only that, but data is also contextualized for a better understanding.
A good threat intelligence platform:
- Identifies anomalies and suspicious activity via machine learning and AI.
- Identifies patterns and trends by correlating data from multiple sources.
- Anticipates potential new threats by way of predictive analytics.
Protecting organizations against emerging threats relies on keeping up with threat actors. Today’s threat actors are more sophisticated than ever before. So keeping up with them requires a higher level of sophistication. Thus, threat intelligence platforms make heavy use of things like machine learning and AI. Predictive analytics is a product of both.
3. Threat Scoring
Everything about threat intelligence is not positive. One of the negatives is the overwhelming amount of data platforms can gather and analyze. It is easy for security teams to find themselves so obsessed with data that they are not prioritizing threats properly. But a well-designed threat intelligence platform can change things.
A good platform has the ability to score threats based on known standards. The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is one such standard. Scoring threats gives security teams a basis on which to prioritize those threats. This further allows security teams to focus their efforts on the most critical issues first.
Platform Integration and Response
Finding a threat intelligence platform that ticks all the boxes in data gathering, threat analysis, and scoring puts an organization in a good position. But there is one more thing to consider: a platform’s integration and response capabilities. Most platforms integrate fairly well with existing security infrastructure. But most doesn’t equal all.
Integration is essential to maximizing a platform’s benefits. Likewise, how a platform responds within the framework of existing infrastructure matters. Does the platform offer:
- Seamless connections with other security solutions.
- Automated threat responses.
- Firewall updating capabilities.
A threat intelligence platform is only as good as the capabilities it brings to the table. Some platforms are better than others. Unfortunately, no platform is perfect. Platforms need to be utilized alongside other security strategies to keep networks safe.
A threat intelligence platform is a useful tool for identifying emerging threats before they become serious problems. Given the fact that ransomware attacks, data breaches, etc. can cause so much damage, it doesn’t make sense to invest in cybersecurity while ignoring threat intelligence.
