Speaker 1: All right, so today we're diving into something pretty hefty.
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, the Threat Intelligence Handbook second edition, second edition. Wow,
Speaker 1: to unpack you know, how organizations are using threat intelligence, okay,
Speaker 1: to kind of move beyond just reacting to cyber attacks.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 1: It's kind of like the difference between knowing that someone
Speaker 1: might break into your house, yeah, versus understanding exactly who
Speaker 1: they are, why they target you, and how they do it.
Speaker 2: Yeah. That's a great analogy.
Speaker 1: So that's what we're going to dig into today. I
Speaker 1: like it, and you know this, this handbook really dives
Speaker 1: into how to turn raw data into actionable insights. Yeah,
Speaker 1: that recipe for predicting and preventing cyber attacks.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. And what I found so fascinating about this book
Speaker 2: is how much it emphasizes the human element.
Speaker 1: Oh. Interesting.
Speaker 2: You can have all the data in the world, right,
Speaker 2: but without skill analysts to connect the dots, it's just noise.
Speaker 1: It's like having a million puzzle pieces exactly, but no
Speaker 1: picture on the box to guide.
Speaker 2: You a million puzzle pieces.
Speaker 1: Speaking of putting those pieces together, the handbook differentiates between
Speaker 1: two types of threat intelligence m HM, operational and strategic. Yeah,
Speaker 1: I'm curious, how do these two actually play out in
Speaker 1: a real world scenario.
Speaker 2: Okay, So let's imagine a company discovers that there's a
Speaker 2: vulnerability being exploited in their industry. Operational threat intelligence is
Speaker 2: what tells them, Hey, this vulnerability exists in your systems too,
Speaker 2: and right now someone is actively trying to exploit it.
Speaker 2: Oh wow, So it's very immediate.
Speaker 1: So it's like that on the ground, on the ground,
Speaker 1: real time, real time intel.
Speaker 2: Its security teams need to act fast.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's almost like having a security camera right that
Speaker 1: highlights the exact spot a burglar is trying to pry open.
Speaker 2: That's a good way to put it.
Speaker 1: Intense. So then strategic thread intelligence would be.
Speaker 2: Strategic thread intelligence is more of the zoom out view.
Speaker 2: It might reveal that the attackers are a group known
Speaker 2: for targeting financial institutions and motive is to steal customer
Speaker 2: data to sell on the dark web.
Speaker 1: Got it?
Speaker 2: And so this helps security leaders make long term decisions
Speaker 2: like investing in better data encryption or partnering with law enforcement.
Speaker 1: Okay, I see the difference. Yeah, so operational is like
Speaker 1: you said, fighting the fire. Strategic is preventing the fire in.
Speaker 2: The first place, exactly.
Speaker 1: And the handbook lays out this process in something called
Speaker 1: the threat intelligence life cycle.
Speaker 2: It does.
Speaker 1: What surprised me was the focus on automation in certain phases.
Speaker 1: Is this new trend?
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's becoming more and more essential because think about it,
Speaker 2: with the sheer volume of data that's generated every second,
Speaker 2: no human team could possibly keep up. So automating things
Speaker 2: like data collection and processing really frees up analysts, Yeah,
Speaker 2: to do what machines can't do, which is interpret the data,
Speaker 2: make judgments, and connect those seemingly unrelated events.
Speaker 1: So it's like having a robotic assistance sifting through all
Speaker 1: those puzzle pieces.
Speaker 2: I like that analogy, so the human.
Speaker 1: Analysts can focus on finding the key pieces that fit together. Yeah,
Speaker 1: that makes sense. But how does all of this actually
Speaker 1: help specific teams within an organization? So what's say the
Speaker 1: security operations team. They're the ones dealing with those constant alerts,
Speaker 1: right exactly, like all day, every day exactly.
Speaker 2: Imagine a security operations center. Alarms are going off constantly,
Speaker 2: but a huge percentage of those are false positives. Oh wow,
Speaker 2: and threat intelligence can add context to those alerts. Okay,
Speaker 2: it might say, hey, this alite matches the behavior of
Speaker 2: a known hacking group that's targeting your industry, got it,
Speaker 2: which immediately raises its priority. Instead of chasing every shadow,
Speaker 2: they can focus on the real threats.
Speaker 1: That's like having a special alarm that only goes off
Speaker 1: if the burglar is using the right key to try
Speaker 1: and unlock your door.
Speaker 2: I like that.
Speaker 1: What I found impactful was this statistic that forty four
Speaker 1: percent of security alerts go uninvestigating.
Speaker 2: Oh, it's a huge problem.
Speaker 1: That's a scary thought, it is.
Speaker 2: And it really highlights why integrating threat intelligence with internal
Speaker 2: network data is so critical. Yeah, let's say an alert
Speaker 2: pops up about suspicious activity on a server. By combining
Speaker 2: that with external threat intel, the team might discover wait
Speaker 2: a minute, this server contains our most sensitive financial data
Speaker 2: and the activity matches a group that's known for stealing
Speaker 2: financial records. Oh wow, Suddenly what might have been ignored
Speaker 2: becomes top priority.
Speaker 1: That's a powerful example of how combining those different pieces
Speaker 1: of the puzzles can reveal a much bigger picture. And
Speaker 1: what about incident response teams. Okay, they're the ones who
Speaker 1: have to jump in when an attack is happening, right.
Speaker 2: Right, They're the ones on the front lines.
Speaker 1: It must be under pressure.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, every second counts. Yeah, but imagine this. A company
Speaker 2: is hit with ransomware, their incident response team, thanks to
Speaker 2: threat intelligence, already knows this particular ransomware strain. Oh wow,
Speaker 2: it's typical attack patterns and even potential weaknesses.
Speaker 1: Okay, so instead of starting from scratch, right, they already
Speaker 1: have a head start.
Speaker 2: So it's almost like having a playbook exactly or how
Speaker 2: to fight that specific kind of fire.
Speaker 1: I like that.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that could save precious time, you really can.
Speaker 1: And the handbook really highlights that time element. You know,
Speaker 1: statistics show that the time to detect and contain incidents
Speaker 1: is increasing. Oh really, and threat intelligence can help flip
Speaker 1: that trend by enabling teams to react faster and more effectively.
Speaker 2: That's reassuring, And it seems like thread intelligence isn't just
Speaker 2: about reacting to attacks, no, but proactively managing vulnerabilities too.
Speaker 2: Is that right?
Speaker 1: You hit the nail on the head. The handbook uses
Speaker 1: this great analogy of think of vulnerabilities like cracks in
Speaker 1: your house's foundation. Okay, you could try to patch every
Speaker 1: tiny crack you find, right, but that's a never ending
Speaker 1: task and some might be more critical than others. Sure,
Speaker 1: Threat intelligence helps prioritize those cracks based on real world risk.
Speaker 2: Okay, so instead of patching every tiny.
Speaker 1: Crack, you're focusing on the ones that a burglar might
Speaker 1: actually use to break in exactly. I like that. The
Speaker 1: hambook also talks about how threat intelligence is becoming essential
Speaker 1: for security leaders, right, like CISOs. Why is that?
Speaker 2: Well, imagine being a CISO. You're responsible for protecting your
Speaker 2: entire organization from cyber threats. But the landscape is incredibly complex.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, there are thousands of vendors out there, each
Speaker 2: claiming to have the best solution. Yeah, threat intelligence can
Speaker 2: help cut through that noise and make strategic decisions.
Speaker 1: It's like having a map that highlights the most dangerous
Speaker 1: areas of the cybersecurity jungle.
Speaker 2: I like that.
Speaker 1: So the CISO can deploy their resources strategically.
Speaker 2: That's a good way to put.
Speaker 1: It makes sense. But how does threat intelligence help CISOs
Speaker 1: communicate risk to say a CEO or board of directors. Yeah,
Speaker 1: who might not be as tech savvy.
Speaker 2: That's a great question. So think about it this way.
Speaker 2: A CEO doesn't need to know the technical details of
Speaker 2: a vulnerability, but they do need to understand the potential
Speaker 2: impact on the business. Threat intelligence can translate those technical
Speaker 2: details into business terms. So, for example, it might say
Speaker 2: this vulnerability could allow attackers to steal our customer data,
Speaker 2: leading to lawsuits, regulatory fines, and reputational damage.
Speaker 1: So it's about connecting cybersecurity to real world business consequences. Suddenly,
Speaker 1: it's not just a tech issue. It's a boardroom issue.
Speaker 1: It is speaking of understanding complex concepts. The handbook talks
Speaker 1: about threat intelligence frameworks.
Speaker 2: It does.
Speaker 1: I admit this is where I get a bit lost.
Speaker 1: Can you break it down for us?
Speaker 2: Absolutely? So think of frameworks like different lenses you can
Speaker 2: use to examine a cyber attack. One popular framework is
Speaker 2: the cyber kill chain, which breaks down an attack into
Speaker 2: seven stages, from reconnaissance to achieving the.
Speaker 1: Attackers of So, it's like watching a security camera recording
Speaker 1: of a break in and labeling each step the burglar
Speaker 1: takes from casing the joint to escaping with the.
Speaker 2: Loot precisely, and by understanding each stage, you can develop
Speaker 2: countermeasures at every step. Okay, But as the handbook points out,
Speaker 2: real world attacks aren't always so linear. It's not a
Speaker 2: perfect model, more like a guide.
Speaker 1: Okay, So it's a useful tool, but not a fool
Speaker 1: proof system. What other lenses lenses Zoo does the handbook
Speaker 1: offer for looking at cyber attacks?
Speaker 2: Another valuable framework is the Diamond model. Okay, and instead
Speaker 2: of focusing on the steps of an attack, it focuses
Speaker 2: on the relationship between four key elements adversary, capability, infrastructure,
Speaker 2: and victim.
Speaker 1: So it's less about how they break in and more
Speaker 1: about who they are, exactly, what tools they use, and
Speaker 1: who they're.
Speaker 2: Targeting precisely, got it? And this helps you understand the
Speaker 2: motivations and patterns of specific attack groups.
Speaker 1: Got it.
Speaker 2: So let's say a company is hit with a campaign.
Speaker 2: The Diamond model might help them connect this to a
Speaker 2: specific group known for targeting that industry, using similar tactics
Speaker 2: and exploiting certain infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Speaker 1: So it's like building a profile on a criminal rather
Speaker 1: than just analyzing a single crime exactly. That's fascinating. Now,
Speaker 1: the handbook also delves into miter at ANDZK. Yes, which
Speaker 1: I know is popular but can be a little overwhelming.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it can be a bit daunting.
Speaker 1: How does it approach framing cyber attacks?
Speaker 2: So think of miter at and CK like a massive
Speaker 2: encyclopedia of attacker tactics and techniques. Okay, And it's based
Speaker 2: on real world observations, not theoretical models, got it. So
Speaker 2: you can see exactly how attackers are exploiting specific software,
Speaker 2: what techniques they use to move within a network, how
Speaker 2: they try to cover their tracks.
Speaker 1: That sounds incredibly valuable. It is, but also incredibly detailed.
Speaker 1: Is it really practical for every organization?
Speaker 2: That's a good question.
Speaker 1: To die into that level of detail.
Speaker 2: It can be daunting, but the handbook offers some good guidance.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: It suggests focusing on the tactics and techniques that are
Speaker 2: most relevant to your industry, got it, and the types
Speaker 2: of systems you use.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: So it's about finding the signal and the noise.
Speaker 1: So it's like having a customized guide, yeah, to the
Speaker 1: most likely attack paths exactly that could target your specific organization.
Speaker 2: That's a great way to think about it.
Speaker 1: That's a lot more manageable, yeah, than trying to learn
Speaker 1: everything it is. But I'm curious, even with all this intelligence,
Speaker 1: the handbook emphasizes starting simple. Yes, when building a threat
Speaker 1: intelligence program. Why is that?
Speaker 2: That's a great question. So imagine diving headfirst into a
Speaker 2: bunch of threat data feeds. Okay, without a clear plan
Speaker 2: in place, you'll be drowning in data. But will you
Speaker 2: actually gain useful insights?
Speaker 1: Yeah?
Speaker 2: Probably not right, So the handbook stress is starting with
Speaker 2: clear goals okay, and building from there.
Speaker 1: So it's like having a recipe but no idea what
Speaker 1: you're actually trying.
Speaker 2: To cook exactly.
Speaker 1: You might end up with a random assortment of ingredients,
Speaker 1: but not a delicious meal.
Speaker 2: Yeah, you don't want that makes sense?
Speaker 1: What are some of the essential ingredients ingredients for a
Speaker 1: good threat intelligence program?
Speaker 2: Well, first, you need to identify your most critical assets Okay,
Speaker 2: what data systems are processes? If compromised, would really hurt
Speaker 2: your organization?
Speaker 1: Got it?
Speaker 2: Then consider your biggest threats Okay, who might be interested
Speaker 2: in targeting those assets? Is it Nation States? Activists, cyber criminals?
Speaker 1: Right?
Speaker 2: Knowing this helps you focus your intelligence gathering.
Speaker 1: So it's about figuring out what you need to protect
Speaker 1: and from whom exactly before you go out and buy
Speaker 1: every security gadget on the market. It's right, that's a
Speaker 1: good reminder to be strategic. Yeah, but what about the
Speaker 1: people involved? Who are the key players on a threat
Speaker 1: intelligence team.
Speaker 2: So the handbook talks about the need for a core team,
Speaker 2: even if it starts small. You need anlysts who can
Speaker 2: sift through data and connect the dots, someone to manage
Speaker 2: the program, and security engineers who can integrate that threat
Speaker 2: intel into your systems.
Speaker 1: It's like having a team of detectives, a forensic specialist,
Speaker 1: and a tech expert all working together to solve the
Speaker 1: cyber crime puzzle. I like that, But how do you
Speaker 1: make sure all this intelligence actually gets used?
Speaker 2: That's where communication comes in. Okay, the team needs to
Speaker 2: create reports that are tailored to different audiences. A CISO
Speaker 2: needs to know the potential business impact, while security analysts
Speaker 2: need those technical details to take action.
Speaker 1: So it's about translating the intelligence into something that everyone
Speaker 1: can understand and act on. That makes sense. But with
Speaker 1: all this focus on data and technology, I wonder does
Speaker 1: the human element ever get lost in threat intelligence.
Speaker 2: That's a great question, and it's one the handbook addresses.
Speaker 2: It really stresses the importance of analysts who can think, critically,
Speaker 2: connect those seemingly unrelated dots, and even anticipate the attackers'
Speaker 2: next moves.
Speaker 1: Oh wow, So it's.
Speaker 2: About combining human intuition with machine power.
Speaker 1: That's reassuring. It's not just about algorithms and automation. It's
Speaker 1: about people using their expertise and judgment. But I'm also curious,
Speaker 1: with all this talk about cyber criminals and nation state actors,
Speaker 1: how does threat intelligence help with something like fraud prevention.
Speaker 2: That's a great question. Fraud prevention is all about understanding
Speaker 2: the tactics and motivations of those who would deceive and steal,
Speaker 2: and threat intelligence can really help shine a light on
Speaker 2: these activities.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: So imagine a bank wants to protect its customers from
Speaker 2: phishing scams. Okay, threat intelligence might reveal that a certain
Speaker 2: group is targeting customers with fake emails, impersonating the bank
Speaker 2: using specific lures and techniques. Oh wow, so they can
Speaker 2: be prepared.
Speaker 1: So it's like knowing the con artist's playbook before they
Speaker 1: even approach their mark exactly. That's incredibly valuable, it is,
Speaker 1: But how do you actually get that kind of intel?
Speaker 2: Okay?
Speaker 1: Is it all top secret stuff?
Speaker 2: Not necessarily?
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: The handbook talks about open source intelligence, right, things you
Speaker 2: can find publicly, So, for example, monitoring social media for
Speaker 2: mentions of your brand, searching for leaked data, on pace
Speaker 2: sites can reveal early signs of an attack or a
Speaker 2: fraud campaign.
Speaker 1: So it's like keeping your ear to the ground and
Speaker 1: the digital world listening for whispers and rumors. Yeah, that
Speaker 1: could signal trouble.
Speaker 2: I like that analogy.
Speaker 1: And what about the dark web?
Speaker 2: Ah, the dark web isn't that where a.
Speaker 1: Lot of criminal activity takes place?
Speaker 2: You think of the dark web as a hidden marketplace, okay,
Speaker 2: where criminals buy and sell stolen data, hacking tools, even
Speaker 2: fraud services. Monitoring these forums can reveal what kind of
Speaker 2: data is in demand, what new attack methods are being developed,
Speaker 2: who the key player are.
Speaker 1: So it's like going undercover in the digital underworld. It
Speaker 1: is a little bit to see what the criminals are
Speaker 1: up to. Yeah, that's both fascinating and a little scary.
Speaker 2: It can be both.
Speaker 1: But how do you even access the dark web safely?
Speaker 2: Well that's a great question.
Speaker 1: I mean, isn't it full of malware and other dangers?
Speaker 2: It definitely is, and the handbook stresses the need for
Speaker 2: caution and the right tools. You wouldn't walk into a
Speaker 2: dangerous neighborhood without taking precautions, right, and the same applies
Speaker 2: to the dark web.
Speaker 1: Makes sense?
Speaker 2: There are specialized browsers and security measures that allow researchers
Speaker 2: to access these areas while minimizing risk.
Speaker 1: Okay, so it's not for the fate of heart no,
Speaker 1: but I can see how valuable that kind of intelligence
Speaker 1: would be for understanding the tactics and motivations of cyber criminals. Absolutely,
Speaker 1: and I imagine it's also useful for tracking data breaches right.
Speaker 2: Oh. Absolutely. After a breach, stolen data often ends up
Speaker 2: for sale on the dark web. Oh wow, So monitoring
Speaker 2: these marketplaces can alert organizations that their data has been compromised, right,
Speaker 2: even if they weren't aware of the breach initially.
Speaker 1: That's crucial for damage control. Yeah. Knowing your data is
Speaker 1: out there means you can take steps to protect your
Speaker 1: customers and your reputation.
Speaker 2: Absolutely.
Speaker 1: But what about the risks that come from outside your
Speaker 1: own organization?
Speaker 2: Okay?
Speaker 1: The handbook also touches on third party risk, right right.
Speaker 2: Think about all the vendors and partners your organization relies on.
Speaker 2: They might have access to your systems, your data, even
Speaker 2: your customer's information.
Speaker 1: Right.
Speaker 2: A weakness in their security is a weakness in yours.
Speaker 1: So it's like having a security system in your house. Yeah,
Speaker 1: but leaving the back door unlocked because the gardener has
Speaker 1: a key exactly. That's a worrying thought, it is. How
Speaker 1: does threaaten intelligence help with managing that risk?
Speaker 2: Think of it like due diligence, Uh, before you do
Speaker 2: business with someone? Okay, threat intelligence can help you assess
Speaker 2: a vendor's security posture, got it? Have they been breached before?
Speaker 2: Are they known for having weak security practices? Are they
Speaker 2: men connection with any suspicious activity on the dark web?
Speaker 1: So it's like doing a background check for your business
Speaker 1: partners to make sure they're trustworthy and reliable. Precisely, that
Speaker 1: makes a lot of sense. But it's not just a
Speaker 1: one time check, is it.
Speaker 2: No, not at all. Because the threat landscape is constantly changing,
Speaker 2: you need to continuously monitor your third parties for signs
Speaker 2: of compromise. So this might include monitoring for leaked credentials
Speaker 2: associated with their domain, got it, tracking mentions of their
Speaker 2: company on dark web forums, or even looking for changes
Speaker 2: in their network traffic that could indicate an attack.
Speaker 1: So it's like having a security camera pointed not just
Speaker 1: at your own property, yeah, but also at your neighbors'
Speaker 1: houses to make sure nothing suspicious is happening Over there.
Speaker 2: I like that analogy.
Speaker 1: It could affect you.
Speaker 2: It's a good one, and this is especially important when
Speaker 2: you think about the supply chain. If one link in
Speaker 2: the chain is weak, the entire chain is vulnerable, and
Speaker 2: threat intelligence can help identify those weak links and encourage
Speaker 2: better security practices throughout that ecosystem.
Speaker 1: That's a powerful reminder that security is a shared responsibility.
Speaker 2: It is.
Speaker 1: It's not just about protecting your own castle. It's about
Speaker 1: working together to make sure the entire kingdom is safe. Absolutely,
Speaker 1: But I'm also curious, how does threat intelligence help with
Speaker 1: something like protecting your online reputation?
Speaker 2: Okay, so think about all the ways that your brand
Speaker 2: exists online. Okay, your website, your social media accounts, even
Speaker 2: mentions of your company, and news articles or blog posts.
Speaker 2: Thread intelligence can help you monitor for things like fake
Speaker 2: websites impersonating your brand, phishing scams using your logo, got it,
Speaker 2: even negative publicity campaigns that are spreading misinformation.
Speaker 1: So it's like having a digital bodyguard for your brand, exactly,
Speaker 1: scanning the Internet for any threats to your reputation.
Speaker 2: That's a great way to think about it.
Speaker 1: That's pretty impressive. But with all this talk about monitoring
Speaker 1: and reacting. Okay, is there a way to use threat
Speaker 1: intelligence proactively to actually prevent attacks before they happen?
Speaker 2: Absolutely. One example is using threat intelligence to inform your
Speaker 2: security awareness training. Okay, so instead of giving generic advice,
Speaker 2: you can tailor that training to the specific threats that
Speaker 2: are targeting your industry or even your organization. So let's
Speaker 2: say a threat intelligence report reveals that there's a new
Speaker 2: phishing campaign that uses fake invoices to trick employees into
Speaker 2: clicking malicious links. Yeah, you can incorporate that real world
Speaker 2: example into your training, making it much more relevant and impactful.
Speaker 1: That's brilliant. Yeah, so like giving your employees a cheat
Speaker 1: sheet on how to spot the latest scams and avoid
Speaker 1: falling victim to them.
Speaker 2: Exactly.
Speaker 1: But with all this emphasis on the tactical side of
Speaker 1: threat intelligence, okay, I'm curious, how has it changed the
Speaker 1: role of the CISO and other security leaders.
Speaker 2: So threat intelligence has really elevated the role of the
Speaker 2: CISO from a technical exp to a strategic advisor. Interesting,
Speaker 2: so they're no longer just focused on firewalls and anti
Speaker 2: virus software. They're using threat intelligence to understand the risks
Speaker 2: facing the business. Okay, make informed decisions about security investments
Speaker 2: and communicate those risks to the board of directors.
Speaker 1: So they're like the cybersecurity generals.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: I like that, using intelligence to strategize and make decisions
Speaker 1: that protect the entire organization. Yeah, that's a pretty powerful
Speaker 1: position to be in. It is. But with all this
Speaker 1: talk about the value of threat intelligence, I'm curious, what
Speaker 1: are some of the biggest challenges organizations face when trying
Speaker 1: to implement a program.
Speaker 2: One of the biggest challenges is simply knowing where to start. Right,
Speaker 2: the world of threat intelligence can feel overwhelming, Yeah, I can't.
Speaker 2: The handbook offers some practical advice, okay, like starting with
Speaker 2: a clear understanding of your organization's needs and goals, identifying
Speaker 2: your most critical assets, yeah, and focusing on the threats
Speaker 2: that are most relevant to your business.
Speaker 1: So it's about taking a step back, exactly and figuring
Speaker 1: out what you're trying to achieve before you dive into
Speaker 1: the deep end of threat intelligence. Makes sense, it does.
Speaker 1: But what about the cost? Okay, I imagine building a
Speaker 1: robust threat intelligence program can be expensive, especially for smaller organizations.
Speaker 2: It can be, but it doesn't have to be. The
Speaker 2: handbook emphasizes that there are plenty of free and low
Speaker 2: cost resources available, like what things like open source intelligence
Speaker 2: and threat intelligence sharing communities.
Speaker 1: So it's like having a Potleck dinner. Yeah, instead of
Speaker 1: a five star restaurant meal. You can still get a
Speaker 1: delicious and nutritious meal exactly, even if you're on a budget.
Speaker 1: That's good to know. But what about the skills gap?
Speaker 1: We hear so much about the shortage of cybersecurity professionals.
Speaker 1: Does that affect threat intelligence programs?
Speaker 2: Oh? Absolutely, Finding and retaining skilled threat threat intelligence analysts
Speaker 2: is a major challenge.
Speaker 1: Oh wow.
Speaker 2: The handbooks just looking for people with strong analytical skills,
Speaker 2: a curious mindset, and a passion for cybersecurity.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: It also emphasizes the importance of ongoing training and development
Speaker 2: to keep those skills sharp.
Speaker 1: So it's not just about finding the right people, it's
Speaker 1: about investing in them and helping them.
Speaker 2: Grow and helping them grow exactly.
Speaker 1: It makes a lot of sense. But with all this
Speaker 1: talk about technology and tools, does the human element ever
Speaker 1: get lost in threatn intelligence?
Speaker 2: That's a valid concern, and the handbook emphasizes that technology
Speaker 2: should augment, not replace, human expertise.
Speaker 1: Got it.
Speaker 2: It stresses the importance of analysts who can think, critically,
Speaker 2: connect seemingly unrelated dots, and even anticipate attackers next moves.
Speaker 1: So it's not just about algorithms and automation. It's about
Speaker 1: people using their expertise in judgments to make sense of
Speaker 1: the data and make informed decisions. That's reassuring. But with
Speaker 1: all the focus on preventing attacks, what happens when a
Speaker 1: breach does occur? How can threat intelligence help with incident response?
Speaker 2: Threat intelligence can be invaluable in incident response. OK, So
Speaker 2: imagine a scenario where your organization is hit with ransomware.
Speaker 2: Having pre existing intelligence about that specific ransomware strain, its
Speaker 2: typical attack vectors, and even potential weaknesses can significantly speed
Speaker 2: up that response and recovery process.
Speaker 1: So it's like having a fire extinguisher readily available exactly,
Speaker 1: instead of scrambling to find one while the house is
Speaker 1: burning down. I like that. It's a powerful example of
Speaker 1: how threat intelligence can turn a reactive response into a proactive.
Speaker 2: One exactly, and it highlights how threat intelligence can be
Speaker 2: integrated into all aspects of cybersecurity wow, from vulnerability management
Speaker 2: to incident response to security awareness training.
Speaker 1: It's a holistic approach. It is to protecting your organization
Speaker 1: from today's complex and ever evolving threats.
Speaker 2: That's right, And that brings us to a key section
Speaker 2: in the handbook, which is building a threat intelligence program.
Speaker 1: This is where the rubber meets the road. It is
Speaker 1: we've talked about the what and the why, but now
Speaker 1: how do we actually do threat intelligence?
Speaker 2: Okay? So the handbook emphasizes that there's no one size
Speaker 2: fits all approach.
Speaker 1: Right.
Speaker 2: The best program for a small startup is going to
Speaker 2: look different from what a multinational corporation needs.
Speaker 1: So where do you even begin?
Speaker 2: The handbook recommends starting with a clear understanding of your
Speaker 2: organization's unique needs.
Speaker 1: Got it?
Speaker 2: What are the crown jewels that you absolutely need to protect?
Speaker 2: What are the most likely threats to those assets? Given
Speaker 2: your industry and your online presence.
Speaker 1: It's like figuring out what kind of security system you
Speaker 1: need exactly. A jewelry store needs different protection than a bakery.
Speaker 2: Right, A great way to put it.
Speaker 1: And once you understand your specific risks, okay, you can
Speaker 1: start thinking about the data sources that will be most valuable.
Speaker 1: A open source intelligence feeds that cover your industry. Do
Speaker 1: you need access to a commercial threat intelligence platform exactly.
Speaker 1: So it's about choosing the right ingredients for your threat
Speaker 1: intelligence recipe. I like that based on your organization's taste
Speaker 1: and dietary needs.
Speaker 2: That's a good analogy.
Speaker 1: But once you have all this data, how do you
Speaker 1: make sense of it? Well?
Speaker 2: The handbook dives into the importance of threat intelligence tools
Speaker 2: and technologies. These range from simple, open source utilities to
Speaker 2: sophisticated platforms that can automate data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Speaker 1: It's like having a kitchen full of gadgets. Yeah, a
Speaker 1: simple knife might be enough for some tasks, but a
Speaker 1: high power blender is essential for others. That's right, And
Speaker 1: just like with any tool, it's crucial to choose the
Speaker 1: ones that meet your specific needs. Yeah, and budget and mudget.
Speaker 1: The handbook provides guidance on evaluating different tools and understanding
Speaker 1: their strengths and weaknesses.
Speaker 2: It does.
Speaker 1: That's helpful because the cybersecurity market it can feel like
Speaker 1: a jungle sometimes with vendors all claiming to have the
Speaker 1: best solution.
Speaker 2: It can be a bit overwhelming.
Speaker 1: But even with the best tools, you still need the
Speaker 1: right people to operate them right.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. The handbook talks about building a strong threat intelligence
Speaker 2: team okay, even if it starts small. You need skilled
Speaker 2: analysts who can make sense of the data, someone to
Speaker 2: manage the program, and security engineers who can integrate that
Speaker 2: threat intelligence into your existing systems.
Speaker 1: It's like having a team of chefs, each with their
Speaker 1: own expertise. I like that you need someone who's great
Speaker 1: at analyzing flavors, someone to manage the kitchen, and someone
Speaker 1: who can operate the specialized equipment.
Speaker 2: That's a great analogy, and.
Speaker 1: The handbook emphasizes that communication is key. It is the
Speaker 1: team needs to be able to translate yeah, complex technical
Speaker 1: information into actionable insights for different audiences. It's right, so
Speaker 1: the head chef needs to be able to explain the
Speaker 1: dish to the diners in a way they can understand
Speaker 1: and appreciate, even if they don't know all the intricate details.
Speaker 2: Of how it is prepared exactly. A c IO needs
Speaker 2: to understand the potential business impact of a threat right,
Speaker 2: while a security analyst needs the technical details to take action,
Speaker 2: and the handbook provides guidance on creating clear and concise
Speaker 2: reports that meet the needs of different stakeholders.
Speaker 1: That's crucial for making sure the intelligence actually gets used.
Speaker 1: Is and doesn't just sit on a shelf gathering dust.
Speaker 1: That's right, But how do you know if your threat
Speaker 1: intelligence program is actually effective?
Speaker 2: Okay?
Speaker 1: Is there a way to measure success?
Speaker 2: So the handbook stresses the importance of metrics and measurement. Okay,
Speaker 2: you need to track things like the number of threats detected, Okay,
Speaker 2: the time it takes to detect and respond to threats,
Speaker 2: and even the reduction and security incidents.
Speaker 1: So it's like tracking the number of dishes you've successfully served, Yeah,
Speaker 1: the time it takes to prepare each dish, and how
Speaker 1: many complaints you get from diners.
Speaker 2: I like that.
Speaker 1: You need those metrics to know if your restaurant is
Speaker 1: running efficiently exactly if your customers are satisfied.
Speaker 2: That's a great way to put it, and.
Speaker 1: Those metrics are crucial for demonstrating the value of your
Speaker 1: threat intelligence program. They are to the organization. It's about
Speaker 1: showing that the investment is paying off and that the
Speaker 1: team is making a real difference in protecting the organization.
Speaker 1: But with all this focus on building a program and
Speaker 1: gathering intelligence, does the human element ever get lost?
Speaker 2: That's a valid concern, but the handbook emphasizes that technology
Speaker 2: should augment not replace human expertise, got it. It stresses
Speaker 2: the importance of analysts who can think, critically, connect seemingly
Speaker 2: unrelated dots right, and even anticipate attackers next moves.
Speaker 1: So it's not just about algorithms and automation. It's about
Speaker 1: people using their intuition, experience, and judgment and judgment to
Speaker 1: make sense of the data and make informed decisions. Precisely,
Speaker 1: that brings us to one of the key takeaways from
Speaker 1: the handbook. Threat intelligence is not just for large enterprises
Speaker 1: with massive security, but I agree organizations of all sizes
Speaker 1: can benefit from threat intelligence.
Speaker 2: That's right.
Speaker 1: That's encouraging because I think sometimes people assume that thread
Speaker 1: intelligence is only for the big players, right, that it's
Speaker 1: too complex or too expensive for smaller businesses.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a misconception. The handbook addresses head on. There
Speaker 2: are plenty of free and low cost resources available, like
Speaker 2: open source intelligence feeds and thread intelligence sharing communities yea,
Speaker 2: and even a small team can make a big impact
Speaker 2: if they have the right skills and the right approach.
Speaker 1: So it's not about the size of your budget, it's
Speaker 1: about the size of your commitment to cybersecurity. I like
Speaker 1: that and it sounds like the Thread Intelligence Handbook provides
Speaker 1: a roadmap. It does for organizations of all sizes to
Speaker 1: start that shock.
Speaker 2: It's a great starting point.
Speaker 1: Absolutely, It's an invaluable resource for anyone involved in cybersecurity,
Speaker 1: from security analysts to CISOs to even business leaders yes,
Speaker 1: who want to understand the threat LANDSCA and how to
Speaker 1: protect your organizations.
Speaker 2: It's right.
Speaker 1: And that wraps up our deep dive into the Threat
Speaker 1: Intelligence Handbook second.
Speaker 2: Edition, second edition.
Speaker 1: Wow, we've covered a lot of ground today. We have
Speaker 1: from the fundamentals of Thread Intelligence yeah, to the practical
Speaker 1: steps involved and building a program. We hope you found
Speaker 1: this exploration informative and empowering. I hope, so we encourage
Speaker 1: you to dive into the handbook yourself, yeah, and explore
Speaker 1: this fascinating and ever evolving field.
Speaker 2: It is a fascinating feel.
Speaker 1: Remember, in the world of cybersecurity, knowledge is power. Absolutely,
Speaker 1: the more you understand about the threats you face, the
Speaker 1: better equipped you'll be to protect yourself and your organization.
Speaker 2: Couldn't agree more.
Speaker 1: And that's a wrap on today's deep dive. Until next time,
Speaker 1: Stay curious, stay informed, and stay secure. Well said, but
Speaker 1: a high powered Blender is essential for others right, and
Speaker 1: just like with any tool, it's crucial to choose the
Speaker 1: ones that meet your specific needs and budget. The handbook
Speaker 1: provides guidance on evaluating different tools and understanding their strengths
Speaker 1: and weaknesses. It does. That's helpful because the cybersecurity market
Speaker 1: can feel like a jungle. Sometimes it can, with vendors
Speaker 1: all claiming to have the best solution. Yeah, for sure,
Speaker 1: but even with the best tools, you still need the
Speaker 1: right people to operate them.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. The handbook talks about building a strong threat intelligence team,
Speaker 2: even if it starts small. You need skilled analysts who
Speaker 2: can make sense of the data, someone to manage the program,
Speaker 2: and security engineers who can integrate that threat intelligence into
Speaker 2: your existing systems.
Speaker 1: It's like having a team of chefs, okay, each with
Speaker 1: their own expertise. I like it. You need someone who's
Speaker 1: great at analyzing flavors, someone to manage the kitchen, and
Speaker 1: someone who can operate the specialized equipment. That's a great analogy,
Speaker 1: and the handbook emphasizes that communication is key. It is
Speaker 1: the team needs to be able to translate complex technical
Speaker 1: information into actionable insights for different audiences. They do so
Speaker 1: the head chef needs to be able to explain the
Speaker 1: dish to the diners in a way they can underst
Speaker 1: stand and appreciate, even if they don't know all the
Speaker 1: intricate details of how it.
Speaker 2: Is prepared exactly. A CISO needs to understand the potential
Speaker 2: business impact of a threat, while a security analyst needs
Speaker 2: the technical details to take action right. The handbook provides
Speaker 2: guidance on creating clear and concise reports that meet the
Speaker 2: needs of different stakeholders.
Speaker 1: That's crucial for making sure the intelligence actually gets used
Speaker 1: and doesn't just sit on a shelf gathering dust. But
Speaker 1: how do you know if your threat intelligence program is
Speaker 1: actually effective? Is there a way to measure success?
Speaker 2: So the handbook stresses the importance of metrics and measurement.
Speaker 2: You need to track things like the number of threats detected,
Speaker 2: the time it takes to detect and respond to threats,
Speaker 2: and even the reduction and security incidents over time.
Speaker 1: So it's like tracking the number of dishes you've successfully served, Yeah,
Speaker 1: the time it takes to prepare each dish, and how
Speaker 1: many complaints you get from diners.
Speaker 2: I like that analogy.
Speaker 1: You need those metrics to know if your restaurant is
Speaker 1: running efficiently and if your customers are satisfied.
Speaker 2: Exactly, And those metrics are crucial for demonstrating the value
Speaker 2: of your threat intelligence program to the organization.
Speaker 1: It's about showing that the investment is paying off and
Speaker 1: that the team is making a real difference in protecting
Speaker 1: the organization.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 1: But with all this focus on building a program and
Speaker 1: gathering intelligence, does the human element ever get lost?
Speaker 2: That's a valid concern, but the handbook emphasizes that technology
Speaker 2: should augment, not replace, human expertise. It stresses the importance
Speaker 2: of analysts who can think, critically, connect seemingly unrelated dots,
Speaker 2: and even anticipate attackers' next moves.
Speaker 1: So it's not just about algorithms and automation. It's about
Speaker 1: people using their intuition, experience, and judgment to make sense
Speaker 1: of the data and make informed decisions exactly. That brings
Speaker 1: us to one of the key takeaways from the handbook.
Speaker 1: Threat intelligence is not just for large enterprises with massive
Speaker 1: security budgets. I agree, organizations of all sizes can benefit
Speaker 1: from threat intelligence.
Speaker 2: Absolutely.
Speaker 1: That's encouraging because I think sometimes people assume that thread
Speaker 1: intelligence is only for the big players. It's too complex
Speaker 1: or too expensive, for smaller businesses.
Speaker 2: Right, And that's a misconception that the handbook addresses head on.
Speaker 2: There are plenty of free and low cost resources available,
Speaker 2: like open source intelligence feeds and threat intelligence sharing communities, right,
Speaker 2: and even a small team can make a big impact
Speaker 2: if they have the right skills and the right approach.
Speaker 1: So it's not about the size of your budget, It's
Speaker 1: about the size of your commitment to cybersecurity. And it
Speaker 1: sounds like the Thread Intelligence Handbook provides a roadmap for
Speaker 1: organizations of all sizes to start that journey.
Speaker 2: It does. It's a great starting point.
Speaker 1: Absolutely, It's an invaluable resource for anyone involved in cybersecurity,
Speaker 1: from security analysts to sisos to even business leaders who
Speaker 1: want to understand the threat landscape and how to protect
Speaker 1: their organizations.
Speaker 2: I completely agree.
Speaker 1: And that wraps up our deep dive into the Thread
Speaker 1: Intelligence Handbook second edition, Second edition. Wow, we've covered a
Speaker 1: lot of ground today, from the fundamentals of Thread Intelligence
Speaker 1: to the practical steps involved in building a program. We
Speaker 1: hope you found this exploration informative and empowering me too.
Speaker 1: We encourage you to dive into the handbook yourself and
Speaker 1: explore this fascinating and ever evolving field. Remember, in the
Speaker 1: world of cybersecurity, knowledge is power. The more you understand
Speaker 1: about the threats you face, the better equipped you'll be
Speaker 1: to protect yourself and your organization.
Speaker 2: Couldn't have set it better myself.
Speaker 1: And that's a wrap on today's deep dive. Until next time,
Speaker 1: stay curious, stay informed, and stay secure.
Speaker 2: Well said,