Introduction

Threat intelligence is a growing domain as it allows organizations to face increasingly sophisticated and persistent threats from cybercriminals, state-sponsored hackers, and other malicious actors there are some aspects to keep into consideration for building competent informed-defense countermeasures. To effectively defend against these threats, organizations need to build contextualization into their threat intelligence platforms. In this post, we’ll explore four key elements to consider with regards to contextualization and why it is critical, as well as the factors organizations should consider when building contextualization into their threat intelligence platforms.

Contextualization enables better threat detection and response

Contextualization allows organizations to better understand the nature and severity of a given threat. By gathering information about the specific tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by threat actors, organizations can develop more effective detection and response strategies. For example, contextual information might include details about the tools and techniques used by an attacker, the targeted assets or systems, and the attacker’s motives and goals.

With this contextual information, organizations can more effectively prioritize and respond to threats. They can allocate resources based on the level of risk posed by a given threat and take appropriate steps to prevent or mitigate damage.

Contextualization helps organizations stay ahead of evolving threats

The threat landscape is constantly evolving, with emerging APTs taking attack techniques to a higher level. By building contextualization into their threat intelligence platforms, organizations can stay ahead of these threats and adapt their security strategies accordingly. They can monitor and analyze new threats as they emerge and incorporate this information into their detection and response plans.

Contextualization also enables organizations to identify patterns and trends in the threat landscape. By tracking the behavior and TTPs of threat actors over time, organizations can identify new attack techniques and anticipate future threats. This proactive approach is critical for staying ahead of sophisticated and persistent adversaries.

Contextualization improves collaboration and information sharing

Effective threat intelligence requires collaboration and information sharing across different teams and departments within an organization. By building contextualization into their threat intelligence platforms, organizations can facilitate this collaboration and ensure that all stakeholders have access to the information they need to make informed decisions.

Contextualization enables teams to share information about specific threats and incidents in a way that is meaningful and actionable. For example, a security analyst might provide technical details about a specific attack, while a business leader might provide insights into the potential impact on the organization’s operations or reputation. By bringing together these different perspectives, organizations can develop more holistic and effective strategies for detecting and responding to threats.

Contextualization improves the quality and relevance of threat intelligence

Threat intelligence is only valuable if it is relevant and actionable. By building contextualization into their threat intelligence platforms, organizations can ensure that the intelligence they receive is tailored to their specific needs and priorities.

Contextualization allows organizations to filter and prioritize threat intelligence based on factors such as the assets or systems being targeted, the severity of the threat, and the organization’s overall risk profile. This enables organizations to focus their resources on the threats that are most relevant and impactful, rather than being overwhelmed by a flood of irrelevant or low-priority alerts.

Factors to consider when building contextualization into threat intelligence platforms

To effectively build contextualization into their threat intelligence platforms, organizations should consider a number of key factors, including:

• Data sources: Where will the organization gather threat intelligence data from? Will it rely on internal data sources, external feeds, or a combination of both? A good start to help you with, would be ENISA Threat Landscape Methodology which provides a framework to build reliable data sources.
• Data quality: How will the organization ensure that the threat intelligence data it receives is accurate, timely, and relevant? What quality control measures will be put in place to prevent false positives and false negatives? Whether it is raw data or narrative reporting, MITRE ATT&CK could help towards maintaining data quality through it’s Cyber Threat Intelligence, or Threat Hunting courses.
• Integration: How will the threat intelligence platform integrate with other security tools and systems within the organization? Will it be able to communicate with endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools?

Closing remarks

Organizations are destined to implement an informed-defence strategy as they are able to lower their overall risk of cyberattacks and strengthen their IR capabilities by contextualizing threat intelligence and using it to guide security decisions. Threat intelligence gathering, the implementation of security controls, monitoring, and continuous improvement are all steps where organizations may create a more focused and robust cybersecurity posture that is adapted to particular threats.

Image by: Jack Moreh