Open Source Threat Intelligence (OSINT) is the umbrella term for all information and data derived from publicly available sources. These sources include Internet search engines, print and online news media, blogs, social media channels, academic studies, research reports, and even the dark web.
OSINT has been critical to the security industry and security operations for decades – with early origins being traced back to military settings. It continues to be relevant to both digital and physical security today, most specifically impacting the decisions by security and organizational leaders. OSINT enables security teams to obtain threat intelligence data from around the world; empowering them to anticipate and respond to emerging threats in real time.
Experts Make Information Impactful
Information is the foundation to a solid security posture. Organizations that want to establish a sound physical security strategy need to have partners in place to assist with the monitoring, sorting, and analysis of OSINT. It is simply too intensive for any team to tackle alone. Additionally, OSINT professionals and threat analysts are trained to spot patterns and hone in on critical pieces of intelligence that may have been overlooked due to the sheer volume of collected data.
One such expert is Seerist. Seerist was founded to assist organizations with both their cybersecurity and physical security needs – saving leaders from alert fatigue and information overload, and arming them with key information and expert analysis to make the right decisions at the right time to best protect their people, assets, operations, and reputation.
Seerist leverages OSINT for physical security by leveraging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), to collect and analyze millions of datasets. These solutions filter out irrelevant information and highlight the collected data – specifically the threats and vulnerabilities – most likely to impact an organization. This process is automated and is able to work faster than human analysis alone. But, Seerist doesn’t rely solely on the machines. Expert security analysts weigh in on the collected threat data to verify and validate events and incidents, as well as offer context and nuance to scenarios. This is a powerful layer of information and it is often instrumental in actionable threat intelligence and effective decision-making.
Benefits of OSINT for Physical Security
By definition, OSINT is often free or low-cost – from web searches to online news channels to social media platforms, most sites have no charge or require nominal fees. The same applies to print sources as well. This makes it very easy to gain access to information. While organizations do not struggle to access OSINT, they struggle to monitor all of it. But if done well, OSINT can help organizations stay ahead of security threats as information is being updated and shared constantly. It is the sheer volume of it that can derail a security team that attempts to monitor information without the support of a partner.
But, when an OSINT expert is partnered with an internal team, the organization immediately benefits from real-time insights, community-driven experts, and threat intelligence feeds. The ability to be proactive in mitigating threats before they escalate is essential. With the right information, leaders can create alternative plans, whether that be redirecting shipping routes, the decision to work with a supply chain partner in a different country, or the option to keep executives at headquarters versus sending them to a meeting in a different location. Simply put, OSINT has changed the way organizations manage physical security.
The Power of OSINT: What Data Sources Are Used?
OSINT data comes from a wide range of sources, including:
- Social media: an excellent source for public opinion and sentiment. It can often reveal discussions and chatter centered around protests, threats, and misinformation campaigns.
- News: Encompassing digital, print, and on-air channels, the news typically offers crisis tracking and reporting of geopolitical risks. Today’s news cycle is constant, offering new OSINT on a continuous basis.
- Public records and government reports: From crime statistics to regulatory changes, most data in this category can be obtained publicly both online and via physical sources.
- Dark Web: Security experts are well versed in the dark web and view this as an essential resource to obtain threat actor discussions and insight on illicit activities.
The amount of OSINT available is overwhelming, but leveraging technology to automate the monitoring of these sources, an expert like Seerist is able to extract pertinent details from an infinite amount of information in order to detect early warning signs of potential threats.
For example, Seerist may identify plans to riot or disrupt an event during its monitoring of social media chatter. Next, Seerist offers rapid threat assessment and customized alerts that allow for faster and more effective incident response. Then, Seerist experts weigh in on the possible incident and offer insights that apply to that specific event. These experts also ensure the validity of OSINT information to prevent misinformation. Along with many benefits, advanced technologies such as AI often bring less savory side-effects, such as the ability to create false news. Having experts on hand to differentiate between fact and fiction is essential.
Integrating OSINT into Physical Security Strategies
While it can be exceedingly difficult to successfully monitor for all events and disruptions relevant to an organization, OSINT can not be overlooked. When leveraged properly there are many benefits, such as:
- Risk Assessment and Threat Monitoring: Use OSINT to identify vulnerabilities before incidents occur.
- Security Planning and Resource Allocation: Use OSINT to gather intelligence that allows leaders to best deploy security resources and create the most effective plans and strategies.
- Real-Time Threat Alerts: Use OSINT to create real-time alerts that enhance situational awareness during unfolding events.
- Incident Response and Investigations: Use OSINT to effectively gather intelligence for post-incident analysis.
- Event Security and Crowd Management: Use OSINT to monitor threats at large-scale gatherings.
The benefits that OSINT brings to the table are undeniable. But it takes more than a few Google alerts. Skilled analysts are needed to interpret and offer insight on how to most effectively leverage OSINT as part of a broader threat intelligence strategy.
Throughout the use of OSINT, it is important for organizations to adhere to ethical considerations and ensure the information they are collecting follows legal and ethical guidelines. Teams need to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulations.
OSINT is Paramount to Physical Security Success
As the speed of information and content creation increases, the amount of OSINT increases as well. After all, anyone with access to a digital device is now a content creator and can easily disseminate information into the world – whether it be factual or fraudulent. Today’s OSINT experts are required to become even more efficient and adept at identifying and analyzing information.
Due to the immense amount of OSINT intelligence available, partnering with an outside vendor such as Seerist is an effective way to ensure the right information is delivered to security teams at the right times. Seerist employs both technology and expert validation to ensure its clients have sound and actionable insights to share with leaders. The company is also committed to the constant upgrade of its offerings – ensuring the platform is truly effective in delivering early warnings to keep organizations ahead of geopolitical related events that could impact their people, operations, or mission.
By integrating with existing security tools, Seerist provides organizations with a holistic view of potential dangers. It enhances threat intelligence capabilities and gives organizations the ability to better process threat intelligence at scale.
If your organization isn’t leveraging OSINT to its fullest potential, then you are falling short when it comes to the protection of your people and brand. Want to learn how Seerist’s physical and cyber threat intelligence platform can help? Schedule a demo today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Open Source Threat Intelligence
What are emerging cyber threats, and how can organizations defend against them?
Emerging cyber threats are evolving risks that jeopardize systems, data, and operations. Organizations can respond effectively by leveraging threat intel, integrating existing security tools, and staying informed through threat intel feeds. These resources help strengthen security infrastructure and support faster threat response.
Who are threat actors, and how are they identified and monitored?
Threat actors (individuals or groups behind cyber or physical attacks) are tracked through collaborative efforts. Security researchers and security professionals work together using data collection, malware analysis, and threat analysis to uncover threat tactics and prevent malicious activity.
What role do government agencies and monitoring tools play in threat detection?
An infrastructure security agency provides national guidance on protecting critical assets from potential threats. Simultaneously, security monitoring tools and cyber security indicators help detect risks early, while sharing cyber security indicators promotes collective defense against known and unknown threats.
Why are IP addresses and data points important in the threat landscape?
IP addresses, including known malicious IP addresses, are key data points in detecting suspicious activity. Monitoring these helps build a broader picture of the threat landscape and informs decisions to standardize shared insights.
How do organizations handle vulnerabilities and manage threat intelligence information?
To address potential security vulnerabilities and other security threats, teams rely on actionable threat intelligence information and continuous analysis. Sharing intelligence and refining strategies ensures a proactive stance against cyber threat information and evolving risks.
