July 7, 2016
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Joe Franscella
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How To Get the Most Out Of Your Threat Intelligence Tools

<p>If you are already managing a cybersecurity plan, you are on your way to making good use of all of the different cyber-security solutions available. Protecting your data and your network from malware programs and real live hackers is a great responsibility which falls on the shoulders of anyone with a computer network or website.</p><p>Researching evidence potential threats is a major component of a good security strategy. Threat intelligence tools scan your traffic for previously identified threats. After logging your traffic, these programs can search for suspicious activity. These tools carry an inherent cost to operate. You will need threat research software as well as people to manage it. Threat intelligence tools like a honeypot must be configured to seem like actual assets in order to convince hackers to attempt breach. Alerts and other notifications coming from the software must be acknowledged and acted upon if necessary.</p><p>These costs are worthwhile investments, but it is still prudent to make the most of your investment into threat intelligence tools. Consider our suggestions for getting the best value.</p><p>Diversify the types of tools used. When you combine a variety of intelligence tools, you are able to study different sorts of suspicious traffic. Using a network of different honeypots, you can capture data with <a href="http://www.securityweek.com/what-type-cyber-threat-intelligence-analyst-do-you-need" target="_blank">strategic, operational and tactical value</a>. Tactical intelligence is a straight-forward identification of threats by matching them with an existing profile, such as blocking known bad IP addresses or identifying a virus. Strategic intelligence is the data which informs upper management’s reasoning about possible enemies, their motivations, etc.</p><p>Leverage other data. Identifying known threats is dependent on the system’s ability to communicate your traffic against the collected wealth of identifying traits. Lots of frameworks have their own library of threat identifiers, but some are growing faster than others. The <a href="https://www.anomali.com/blog/mhn-modern-honey-network">Modern Honey Network</a> is a rapidly expanding open-source option for building a well-fortified network. MHN applications all work from a master databank of ways to identify previously identified cyber-criminals and their tools. The more enterprises using MHN, the stronger its intelligence gathering becomes.</p><p>Use cost-effective methods. Open source programs are free to download. The source code is made public and the software is designed to be tweaked to your particular needs. Open source software allows you a <a href="https://www.anomali.com/blog/create-an-army-of-raspberry-pi-honeypots-on-a-budget">cost-effective means</a> to host a comprehensive network of threat intelligence tools.</p><p>Use a framework with reliable alerts. Reliable reports must be both accurate and useful. Lots of different kinds of traffic come over your network, and it is no simple task to identify routine traffic from hacking behavior. The best threat intelligence tools have the ability to discern “noise” from legitimate concerns.</p><p>Create a culture of respect for cyber-security in your organization. Preventing breaches rely on a degree of user awareness that is not inherent; it must be cultivated. Up to <a href="http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2015/04/14/364191.htm" target="_blank">two-thirds of security events</a> result after an employee misjudgment. Reducing insider threats begins with education about the realities of cyber-crime. Cybersecurity training should make everyone knowledgeable about the different tools hackers use as well as signs to look out for. Don’t allow your operations to be crippled because someone under your roof thought they had better click a link to determine if it’s valid or “spammy”.</p><p>Early detection of network intruders is absolutely necessary for preventing large-scale security events. Give yourself the best shot at protecting your work and your privacy from intruders by using threat intelligence tools as part of an ongoing battle against intruders.</p><p>Download the Security Intelligence and Information Sharing Strategy whitepaper and learn more about the new approach to threat intelligence using trusted collaboration.</p><p><span class="hs-cta-wrapper" id="hs-cta-wrapper-79cc3352-61a2-44b7-8b7c-6f25d759918c"><span class="hs-cta-node hs-cta-79cc3352-61a2-44b7-8b7c-6f25d759918c" data-hs-drop="true" id="hs-cta-79cc3352-61a2-44b7-8b7c-6f25d759918c" style="visibility: visible; display: block; text-align: center;"><a class="cta_button" cta_dest_link="{page_3458}" href="https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/ctas/v2/public/cs/c/?cta_guid=4f082f1c-a704-4df4-a627-a030c2f8e351&amp;placement_guid=79cc3352-61a2-44b7-8b7c-6f25d759918c&amp;portal_id=458120&amp;redirect_url=APefjpEO8PmSAWTVuAoJJDUZLZdJIWCuaxODpZh9S-du_-RUHSF1JLXuxy4UhBOt83-iDe_mDHWiA-9BPZjtrIsf-sfnDa0fFjJLW03pEHzc5eZXQePuJ_r_hers_rvgzmjrGLlFvwp-xQ53bw7ofZCkMRAasvIPPFzrL8l4eHH-ZoDY5s6fr2j57SZx7UkCNRQZ8_KznfmAS1GZomoiOK8DPQsLGoGHFltADozLA93WAIUXPJfTtpJsLR7VdRLdbjlU-3ZimNjcZTC92OJJIe43-qVHIqLqtVneuvwe9n_2GXFIM4fQO_2a0gjH6V7ifmMqppAkNHf3hxKQ3G9m2cwFuHRz_8Dkvw&amp;hsutk=2767d93d6471d657e0c9f660e4b58ef8&amp;utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.anomali.com%2Fhow-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-threat-intelligence-tools&amp;canon=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.anomali.com%2Fhow-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-threat-intelligence-tools&amp;pageId=4401062210&amp;__hstc=41179005.2767d93d6471d657e0c9f660e4b58ef8.1456736058655.1478822660171.1478831861868.179&amp;__hssc=41179005.92.1478831861868&amp;__hsfp=1335165674" id="cta_button_458120_4f082f1c-a704-4df4-a627-a030c2f8e351" style="margin: 20px auto;" target="_blank" title="Download Here">Download Here </a> </span> <script charset="utf-8" src="https://js.hscta.net/cta/current.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">hbspt.cta.load(458120, '79cc3352-61a2-44b7-8b7c-6f25d759918c', {});</script> </span></p>

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