Who this page is for
Security leaders, SOC managers, incident response, risk and executive functions that use or buy threat intelligence.
Data, information, intelligence
Data is raw input such as IPs, hashes or observations.
Information is data with context.
Intelligence is actionable knowledge derived from it - with source, confidence and recommendation.
Tactical, operational, strategic
Tactical: IOCs, technical indicators, detection hints.
Operational: TTPs, campaigns, actor behaviour.
Strategic: trends, sector risks, leadership input.
Everyday value
In the SOC it supports detection and triage. In incident response it provides context on actor behaviour. In risk management it supports investment decisions. For TIBER-EU it is core to realistic scenarios.
Common mistakes
IOC lists without context, no source assessment, no link to own assets, no integration into use cases, tools privileged over method.
Checklist
- Sources assessed and documented
- Context to own assets and risks established
- Integrated into SOC and IR processes
- Tactical, operational, strategic distinguished
- Reports reach decision makers, not just tools
Frequently asked questions
+Do small companies need threat intelligence?
Usually not as a dedicated function. Curated, situation-appropriate knowledge of current risks still helps.
+Is a feed integration enough?
Rarely. Without assessment, context and use case integration, the value evaporates.
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