CTI (Cyber Threat Intelligence)
- busrabeslekoglu7
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) is a method that transforms the reactive approach to cybersecurity into a proactive one by collecting and analyzing data related to cyber threats, enabling organizations to identify which threats pose the greatest risk. By examining the tactics, techniques, and procedures of attackers, it provides the necessary context for organizations to predict, prevent, and effectively respond to cyberattacks.
According to the 2025 SANS CTI Survey, 93% of organizations now have their own CTI capability, including those operated by just a single individual. Organizations without a CTI infrastructure experience an average delay of more than 200 days in detecting threats, and the cost of a breach can reach millions of dollars. In contrast, with CTI, organizations can detect attacks much earlier, preventing both financial and reputational losses.
Some common sources of cyber threat intelligence include:
Open-source intelligence (such as news sites, blogs, and cybersecurity reports)
Human intelligence (industry connections, insider information)
Social media intelligence (X, Reddit, Telegram, forums)
Technical intelligence (malware analyses, vulnerability databases, exploit kits, lists of attackers' tactics, techniques, and procedures, and indicators of compromise)
Forensic analysis data (disk, memory, and network dumps obtained after incident response)
Device log files (logs collected from firewalls, IDS/IPS, EDR, and servers)
Network and internet traffic records (DNS queries, proxy logs, NetFlow data)
Data from the dark web and deep web (underground forums, data leak sites)
Incident response reports from past cyberattack cases
The Emergence of CTI
1980–2000 (and earlier): Only reactive security existed. Responses to attacks were carried out using tools such as antivirus software and firewalls, but there was no intelligence component.
2000–2010 (emergence): Attacks became more sophisticated, leading to the first threat information sharing initiatives and “threat feed” systems (raw, context-independent threat data). The concept of CTI began to take root during this period.
2010–2020: CTI became integrated into SOC and incident response teams and was institutionalized through standards such as STIX/TAXII and MITRE ATT&CK.
2020–Present: With artificial intelligence, big data, and automation, real-time threat intelligence has become possible; CTI has evolved into an integral part of strategic risk management.
Types of CTI
Tactical CTI: Indicators of compromise (IOCs) such as IP addresses, domain names, and file hashes are collected, and the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by cybercriminals are analyzed in depth. The gathered data enables security teams to anticipate potential attacks and detect and block them at the earliest possible stage.
Operational CTI: Operational CTI is the most technical level of intelligence, providing concrete information about threat actors’ campaigns, motivations, and capabilities. It is typically gathered by experts from closed sources and helps security teams proactively prepare for potential attacks.
Strategic CTI: Strategic threat intelligence focuses on the bigger picture rather than technical details. By analyzing global threat trends and sector-specific risks, it helps executives guide long-term security investments and policies. Instead of asking “Who is attacking us now?”, it focuses on “Which threats might target us in the future?”. This enables organizations to develop proactive and sustainable security strategies.
CTI Lifecycle
Requirements Definition: Defines which types of threat information the organization needs.
Data Collection: Gathers raw threat data from various sources according to the identified objectives.
Data Processing: Cleans and categorizes the collected data to make it ready for analysis.
Analysis: Derives insights from the processed data, revealing attackers’ tactics, techniques, and campaigns.
Dissemination and Sharing: Shares the findings with relevant teams in a clear and actionable manner.
Feedback and Improvement: Refines the process based on input and feedback from the involved teams.
Benefits
CTI shortens incident response time by detecting threats before they materialize and enables security teams to take proactive measures against emerging security incidents.
It enhances organizations’ understanding of the evolving threat landscape and increases situational awareness an essential factor for strong cybersecurity management.
It also provides concrete decision support to management for security investments, allowing risks to be prioritized and resources to be allocated more effectively.
In conclusion, CTI is a fundamental component of advanced security strategies that strengthen organizations’ defenses against complex and organized cyberattacks. CTI not only addresses today’s threats but also enables the anticipation of tomorrow’s risks, turning security from a burden into a strategic advantage.
