Threat Intelligence Analyst: Unmasking Cyber Threats Before They Strike

Cyber threats are always there and are always a big problem for both companies and people. Cybercrime is very expensive. A study says that by 2025, the world will have lost an amazing $10.5 trillion. This scary trend shows how important Threat Intelligence Analysts are.

Cybersecurity professionals are like digital detectives; they work nonstop to find, study, and understand cyber risks before they do damage to an organization. They search the deepest parts of the internet for clues about why and how hackers do the hacking.

The job of a Threat Intelligence Analyst is broken down into many parts. These people use many different tools and methods to find and study information about threats. Some of these are threat feeds, security information and event management (SIEM) systems, and dark web tracking. A report from [ISC] called the [ISC] Cybersecurity Workforce Report 2023] says that by 2023, there will be a 3.4 million-person cybersecurity job gap. This is proof of the need for even more skilled Threat Intelligence Analysts to sort through this huge amount of data and come up with useful ideas.

Threat Intelligence Analysts look at past attacks, malware fingerprints, and attacker habits, which are often called Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), to guess which attacks will happen next and think of ways to stop them. Their job is to take this complicated data and make it easy to understand. This helps security teams rank risks, build better defenses, and make smart decisions about how to keep important data and systems safe.

It's almost like having a Threat Intelligence Analyst on the front lines of the war against hackers. When it comes to cybersecurity, their understanding helps businesses move from being reactive to being proactive. This makes it much less likely that they will be hit by a deadly cyberattack.

Getting the Raw Data Threat intelligence experts get raw data from the networks they are looking at. It is important to keep track of data records because they are an important part of assessing and evaluating data. When analysts collect raw data, they also get historical information that helps them find internal network paths, keep track of activity logs, and look into past events.

Analysts also keep an eye on network ties that lead to the open web, the dark web, or other technical sources. Most of the time, threat info gets across the network through emails, messages, and apps that have external links.

How to Sort and Filter Data?

Intelligence analysts put the data in order, sort it, and filter it after they have gathered it. A single threat can shut down the whole system because the network stores and sends a lot of information. So, it's important to sort and screen all network data so that malware and other high-risk data can't get into the system.

Looking into Threats

Analysts find the source of the problem after sorting and filtering out noise. They find out where it came from and how it began. Their job is to watch how the company's network moves and look for places where security could be a concern. This review builds a strong wall to protect against possible data breaches and almost perfect steps to take to stop similar problems from happening again.

Looking at how networks work

Threat intelligence specialists need to be good at using data to make decisions. They look at how networks are being used now to guess how hacking will change in the future. By looking at the strategies, tactics, and procedures (TTPs) of different threat actors, they gather useful information about present and future threats. These findings make responding to incidents and doing digital forensics easier.

Getting Threat Hunting Going

Threat intelligence analysts do routine tasks like making hypotheses to help with threat hunting in addition to finding threats and getting information. They want to know things like when an attack might have happened, what the attacker wants, and which system they are trying to invade. To mitigate these threats and find out more about them, these questions help you understand how the attacker thinks. While threat-hunting, analysts use advanced machine learning tools for statistical analysis to find new and rising threats.

Putting cyber defenses first

Threat intelligence experts need to know how different political and current events can raise security risks for a business. They should know everything there is to know about different kinds of risks, such as advanced persistent threats (APTs) and how they work. This helps set priorities for cyber defenses and make a plan for how to respond to certain threats.

Reports on intelligence

Analysts look at threats and write intelligence reports for the security operations center (SOC) staff, leaders, management, and other important people in the company. This means telling other experts and subordinates about the results through meetings, calls, and briefings.

Threat Research

Analysts regularly look into threats to learn more about their background and impact. This helps people understand what they know about a threat, why it's important, and what makes it special. Three main tasks come with the job: technical research, intelligence research, and having the right power to talk about the results of the research.

• Helping with the Response: Choose whether to monitor the breaches or mitigate them.
• Investigating: Helps with incident reaction and keeping the breach under control.
• Learning and Adapting: This helps the company change so that it can dodge the same attack vector in the future.
• Using Adversary Tactics: Adds new threats and info about threats to security tools.

In this way, threat intelligence analysts help a company deal with possible weaknesses before they happen.

The Information Security Analyst's Outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the need for cybersecurity jobs is growing and will continue to do so for another 31% of the decade. With this rise in demand comes a good pay deal.

Skills You Need to Do Well in 2024

People who want to work in hacking must be willing to learn. A technical degree is helpful, but it's not the only thing you need to get a job in cybersecurity. People who know how to be professional, love the field, and are eager to learn how technology changes can do well in this area.

Threat intelligence research is more than just hacking or writing code. It means knowing how people act and what makes them unique. For these workers, being able to understand how technology is changing is a bonus.

Let's look at the skills that a threat intelligence expert must have.

A college degree in a related field

Most of the time, you need a bachelor's degree to work in cybersecurity. It's best to have degree in computer science, computer engineering, information systems, or other areas that help with research, communication, and critical thinking. You can also get into cybersecurity by getting a degree in political science, economics, law, journalism, military intelligence, or foreign relations.

Have fun!

Most employers want to hire people who have three to five years of experience making reports and analyzing threats. It's helpful to have experience with IT, security, data analysis, crisis response, vulnerability management, penetration testing, and "ethical hacking." Some companies also look for strategy, research, and writing experience, as well as good presentation skills that can help you share dangerous information with a wide range of people.

Certifications in IT

Getting relevant certifications can make you more employable and get the attention of companies. Some useful IT certifications for people who want to become threat intelligence experts are:

• CISSP stands for Certified Information Systems Security Professional.
• GIAC Certified Officer for Handling Incidents.
• Cyber Threat Intelligence from GIAC.
• Certified Incident Handler Engineer (CIHE) and Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP) are three terms used by GIAC to describe malware.

Threat Intelligence Analysts have vital role in today's world of protection. These experts are the first line of defense against computer threats. They find them before they happen and protect companies from attacks that could be threatful. This make sure that security measures are proactive instead of reactive by monitoring data, finding trends, and guessing what attacks might happen. Because they are experts in finding and mitigating threats, they are vital for keeping secret information safe and private.

The role of this analysts will only become more important as online threats change and get smarter. Their knowledge and skills are very helpful for keeping ahead of cybercriminals. To keep their cybersecurity strong, companies need to pay for these pros and their ongoing training. Threat Intelligence Analysts protect the online world and the systems we use every day. They are the hidden heroes who keep us safe.

Think about working with SafeAeon if you want cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions and to make sure your business is safe from new risks. Our team of experts is committed to keeping your business safe by giving you the best danger intelligence services.

1. What kind of information does a Threat Intelligence Analyst use?

They look at a lot of different types of data, such as security reports, malware samples, sites on the dark web, social media chatter, and reports from threat actors. Putting all of this information together gives them a full picture of possible threats.

2. How does Threat Intelligence help different parts of the government?

Threat intelligence is useful for the whole company. It lets security teams know about new risks, helps IT decide which holes to fix first, and helps business leaders decide where to put their security investments.

3. What kinds of tools do Threat Intelligence Analysts go with?

They use many high-tech tools, such as threat intelligence platforms (TIPs) to collect and analyze data, malware analysis tools to learn how attackers work, and data visualization tools to clearly explain complicated results.

4. Can I work as a Threat Intelligence Analyst even if I don't have a degree in cybersecurity?

A degree can be helpful, but experience and training in cybersecurity are also good options. To have a successful career in Threat Intelligence, you need to love the area, be good at analysis, and be hungry for more information.