A guide to effectively leveraging threat intelligence

Posted on Friday May 16, 2025

Organizations that invest in threat intelligence platforms (TIPs) often struggle to use them effectively. TIPs are designed to collect, analyze, and share threat data, but they can become overwhelming or underutilized without the right approach. Our guide helps you choose a platform that aligns perfectly with your team’s skills and existing infrastructure, empowering you to respond to potential threats more efficiently and effectively.

Align threat intelligence to your environment

One of the biggest mistakes organizations make with threat intelligence is prioritizing volume over relevance. Having access to dozens of threat feeds may seem useful, but if that data doesn't apply to your specific business risks, it quickly becomes irrelevant.

Instead, focus on intelligence directly tied to your assets and vulnerabilities. For example, if your organization doesn’t use legacy Windows systems, a feed heavy with Windows XP exploits will be of very little help and can even distract your team.

Look for nonnegotiable features

Not all threat intelligence feeds offer the same value. A TIP’s strength lies in how well it consolidates, enriches, and normalizes data into actionable intelligence.

When evaluating TIPs, look for one that supports protocols such as Structured Threat Information Expression and Trusted Automated Exchange of Intelligence Information. Together, they provide context-rich insights that explain who is behind the threat, what, when, and how it happened, plus suggested responses.

Also important is the TIP’s ability to filter out false positives and eliminate redundant data. Some TIPs use artificial intelligence (AI) to perform these tasks efficiently. However, if not properly configured, AI can be a double-edged sword; while it reduces manual effort, it could also misclassify data. That’s why it’s important not to blindly trust AI. It should assist, not replace, a security analyst’s judgment.

Spot patterns with visual intelligence

Visual threat dashboards can transform raw data into intuitive insights. Anomalies, such as sudden spikes in failed logins or unusual traffic to suspicious IP addresses, become easier to detect and investigate when laid out visually.

These visualizations help analysts spot emerging patterns that might otherwise be lost in vast data streams, turning your TIP from a reactive tool into a proactive one and helping you anticipate threats before they escalate.

Make threat intelligence actionable

Effective threat intelligence goes beyond dashboards; it drives action. Your TIP should trigger specific responses, such as:

• Automatically updating firewall rules
• Initiating timely vulnerability patches
• Isolating suspicious endpoints

Essentially, your TIP should help you react faster, not just accumulate more data. However, achieving this level of automation requires seamless integration. Your TIP must seamlessly connect with existing security tools such as security information and event management systems to facilitate rapid data flow and minimize response time.

Adopt a multilevel intelligence strategy

A robust TIP empowers organizations by delivering insights across three critical levels:

• Strategic – high-level insights into trends and risks to inform executive decisions
• Tactical – detailed technical information on specific threats, such as IP addresses, domains, and malware signatures
• Operational – real-time intelligence to support swift and effective incident response

The real challenge, however, lies in breaking down team silos. To unlock the full potential of threat intelligence, teams across vulnerability management, network operations, and incident response must collaborate closely. Without coordinated action following alerts, even the most critical intelligence loses its value. But with the right approach, threat intelligence becomes more than a simple data stream, turning into a fundamental part of your cybersecurity defense.

For tailored advice on strengthening your security posture, connect with our IT specialists today.