Managed threat intelligence: how to get it right

Managed threat intelligence allows organisations to stay ahead of cyber threats by providing real-time, actionable insights that inform strategic decision-making.

However, getting it right requires more than just outsourcing. It involves selecting the right intelligence services, integrating them seamlessly into your security operations and ensuring that they evolve with your business needs.

Therefore, it needs to be carefully executed to maximise its potential and deliver meaningful insights. This guide provides an in-depth look at how to approach managed threat intelligence, highlighting key considerations and best practices to ensure success.

The importance of managed threat intelligence

Businesses are increasingly targeted by sophisticated cyber-attacks, making managed cyber threat intelligence a vital component of any security strategy. Without a solid intelligence system, organisations are often left reacting to threats after they’ve occurred, resulting in costly damages and potential reputational harm.

Managed threat intelligence equips security teams with real-time data on evolving threats, helping them anticipate attacks and mitigate risks before they escalate. Rather than spreading teams thin by tracking emerging risks themselves, a managed service offers access to an expert, around-the-clock intelligence team, ensuring that threats are continually monitored.

Choosing the right managed threat intelligence service

Selecting the appropriate managed threat intelligence provider is crucial for ensuring the efficacy of your cyber defence. Not all threat intelligence services are created equal, and choosing a service that aligns with your organisational needs can make all the difference.

Here’s what to look for when selecting a provider:

1. Comprehensive threat coverage
   A good provider should offer visibility into a wide range of threats, from nation-state actors to ransomware gangs. This ensures your business is protected against the full spectrum of cyber risks. Look for services that cover the full threat landscape, including external and internal threats, industry-specific risks and emerging technologies.
2. Real-time threat updates
   The speed at which threats evolve means that intelligence must be delivered in real-time. Any delays in obtaining this information can leave your systems exposed. Ensure that your chosen service offers timely, up-to-the-minute threat intelligence that enables swift responses.
3. Contextualised intelligence
   Raw data alone won’t provide you with the insights necessary to act. The best providers offer contextualised intelligence, which translates raw threat data into actionable insights. This includes identifying which threats are most likely to affect your industry, region, or specific IT environment.
4. Customisation and flexibility
   Your business will have unique security requirements, so flexibility is key. Managed threat intelligence services should be customisable, allowing you to prioritise certain types of intelligence over others depending on your business needs. This flexibility should extend to reporting, alerting and response protocols.
5. Integration with existing tools
   Effective intelligence services must integrate smoothly with your existing cybersecurity infrastructure. Ensure that the service you choose can connect with your Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools, firewalls and other security platforms to enable seamless operations.

Key steps for successful cyber threat intelligence management

Even after choosing the right service, how you manage your threat intelligence is critical. Mismanagement can render even the most advanced intelligence systems ineffective.

1. Set clear objectives
   Before integrating managed threat intelligence into your operations, define your goals. Whether it’s mitigating risks, identifying vulnerabilities or preparing for advanced persistent threats, having clear objectives helps shape the way intelligence is utilised.
2. Centralise threat data
   Threat data often comes from multiple sources, including cyber threat intelligence feeds, internal data and third-party vendors. Consolidating these data points into a centralised system ensures that all intelligence is accessible, enabling your security team to make well-informed decisions quickly.
3. Foster cross-team collaboration
   Threat intelligence is not just for your cyber security team. It needs to be shared across departments—from IT to executive leadership—so that everyone is aligned on the latest risks and can contribute to strategic planning. Creating a culture of collaboration ensures that intelligence is acted upon swiftly and appropriately.
4. Regularly update your playbook
   Cyber threats evolve, and so should your threat intelligence playbook. Regularly review your response strategies, update your security protocols and adapt your intelligence-gathering methods based on the latest insights. An outdated strategy could leave your organisation exposed to new threats.

The Role of automation in managed cyber threat intelligence

Automation plays an increasingly important role in enhancing the speed and efficiency of cyber threat intelligence management. By leveraging machine learning and AI, businesses can analyse vast amounts of threat data faster and more accurately than human analysts alone.

1. Automating threat detection
   Managed services often use automation to sift through data and detect anomalies faster than manual processes could. This allows for rapid identification of threats that could otherwise go unnoticed.
2. AI-Powered threat analysis
   AI can enhance the ability to process and analyse complex data sets, predicting future threats based on patterns and past behaviours. This predictive intelligence helps organisations stay one step ahead of attackers, pre-emptively adjusting their security strategies.
3. Streamlining response protocols
   Automation doesn’t just apply to detection; it can also speed up the response process. When a threat is identified, automated workflows can trigger alerts, apply patches and even quarantine affected systems, minimising the impact of an attack.

Integrating managed threat intelligence with incident response

Having threat intelligence is one thing, but ensuring it aligns with your incident response strategy is equally critical. Managed cyber threat intelligence should be directly integrated into your incident response workflows, providing actionable insights that enable faster detection and remediation.

1. Improve threat detection
   Managed intelligence services continually monitor for new and evolving threats, feeding this data directly into your incident response plan. This real-time information means you can detect and respond to incidents much faster than relying on post-incident analysis alone.
2. Informed response decisions
   The intelligence you receive allows your response teams to make more informed decisions about the nature of the threat and how to neutralise it effectively. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, you can tailor your response based on the specific type and severity of the threat.

Measuring the success of managed threat intelligence

To ensure you’re getting the most value out of your managed cyber threat intelligence efforts, it’s essential to measure their effectiveness regularly. Without proper metrics in place, it’s hard to determine whether the service is helping you meet your cybersecurity goals.

1. Key performance indicators (KPIs)
   Some useful KPIs for tracking the success of your threat intelligence include:

   Reduction in Incident Response Time: Are threats being detected and mitigated faster since integrating managed services?

   Threat Relevance: Is the intelligence you’re receiving relevant to your organisation’s specific needs?

   False Positive Rates: Lower false positives indicate more accurate intelligence, saving time for your security team.

   Improved Threat Prevention: Has the frequency of successful attacks or breaches decreased since implementation?

2. Feedback loops
   Regular feedback from your security team on the quality and usefulness of the intelligence they receive is essential. This helps adjust the scope and focus of the service to ensure continuous improvement.

Conclusion: the path to proactive cyber security

Managed threat intelligence, when implemented correctly, is a powerful tool in the fight against cybercrime. It provides businesses with the insights they need to stay ahead of threats, strengthen their security postures and protect their most valuable assets.

As you consider managed cyber threat intelligence solutions, it’s important to choose a provider that offers real-time, relevant and contextualised intelligence tailored to your organisation’s unique needs. This, combined with strong management practices, will help your business remain resilient against evolving threats.

To learn more about integrating managed threat intelligence into your security strategy, visit Ekco’s Security Services, where our team of experts can help you tailor the right solution for your business.