What are the most effective models for sharing threat intelligence?

Effective models for sharing threat intelligence include trusted communities, government partnerships, ISACs, sector-specific collaborations, and commercial threat intelligence providers. Trusted communities enable secure data and insights exchange among organizations, promoting collaboration. Government partnerships involve sharing with intelligence agencies to leverage their resources. ISACs facilitate sharing of sector-specific threat intelligence within industries. Sector-specific collaborations focus on sharing information within specific industries to address common threats. Commercial threat intelligence providers offer subscriptions for curated and up-to-date information.

Sharing threat intelligence fosters a proactive security posture by providing insights into emerging threats and evolving attack vectors. By staying abreast of the latest tactics and procedures employed by malicious actors, your organization can preemptively adapt security measures, staying one step ahead in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. This proactive stance is pivotal in mitigating potential risks and ensuring a robust defense against sophisticated threats.

Sharing threat intelligence in a collaborative approach not only minimises the impact of cyber threats but also fosters a united front against evolving adversaries. Tt enables early threat detection, allowing organisations to identify emerging risks before they escalate into major security incidents. Proactive defense is another critical advantage, as organisations armed with shared intelligence can implement preventive measures to protect against known threats, reducing likelihood of cyberattacks. Moreover, threat intelligence sharing enhances incident response capabilities, facilitating rapid and more effective responses to security incidents.

Sharing threat intelligence helps organizations stay ahead of cyber threats. By exchanging information about new risks and attack patterns, they create a united front against hackers. This collaboration enhances collective defense, improves incident response, and safeguards against potential breaches. Ultimately, it's a proactive strategy that strengthens overall cybersecurity and protects both individual entities and the broader online community.

Sharing threat intelligence is no longer an optional add-on in today's changing cybersecurity landscape; it's a strategic approach. By fetching knowledge and insights from various sources, organizations can gain a holistic understanding of the ever-evolving threat landscape and proactively prevent sophisticated attacks.

Now days we have threat intelligence sharing platforms, but no sharing - why ? 1/ Lack of Trust Besides closed circles (ISACs, CERTs, etc.) there is no sharing as one cannot know who and how will intelligence will be consumed and used. 2/ Lack of Motivation Even in the most trusted environment less than 10% of participants will be active sources, most will default to consuming as risk is too high compared to reward 3/ Growth in Data Diversity Lately new data types (AI-models, multimedia recordings, Imagery, etc.) have shown limitations in platforms and formats 4/ Data Granularity Most TI is shared in feeds, but what if an organization only need to check one or two IoC/IoA ? Especially small businesses are kept out of CTI information

Sharing threat intelligence faces challenges such as trust issues among organizations, legal and privacy concerns, variations in data formats, and differing classification standards. Additionally, there's the risk of misinformation propagation, as well as the need for efficient mechanisms to handle the volume and speed of shared data. Overcoming these hurdles requires establishing standards, fostering trust, and addressing legal and technical barriers in the cybersecurity community.

Overcoming information silos through standardized formats like STIX/TAXII promotes interoperability. Furthermore, fostering trust and establishing clear governance frameworks among stakeholders aids in overcoming collaboration barriers. Overemphasis on information sharing without considering legal and privacy implications might compromise sensitive data. The healthcare sector faced challenges in sharing COVID-19-related threat intelligence due to privacy concerns. Yet, establishing anonymous reporting mechanisms enabled collaboration, facilitating timely responses to emerging threats.

Sharing cybersecurity threat intelligence benefits all, and care must be taking to prevent divulging confidential information. Understating how the threat intelligence will be distributed may help prevent unintended exposure of confidential information. “If you see something, say something” generally helps, and keep the guardrails on to protect the organization.

Choose threat intelligence sharing wisely: bilateral for trust, multilateral for diversity, hub-and-spoke for consistency, and hybrid for adaptability. Balance customization with broader insights based on your objectives and participants, considering the dynamic cybersecurity landscape.

In navigating the landscape of threat intelligence sharing, consider infusing a layer of agility by exploring a "Community-Powered" model. This approach leverages collective insights from a diverse community of participants, transcending traditional boundaries. By fostering a sense of shared responsibility and collaboration, the community-powered model taps into the collective wisdom of a broad ecosystem. This dynamic interchange allows for rapid adaptation to emerging threats and ensures a continuous influx of real-world experiences, enriching the tapestry of threat intelligence with a wealth of perspectives from varied corners of the cybersecurity landscape.

Effectively sharing threat intelligence is as much about strategy as it is about the chosen model. Beyond the basic frameworks, consider quality, relevance, & timeliness of shared information. Cultivating a culture of trust & reciprocity within your chosen network enhances the value of shared data. The ultimate goal is not just to gather information, but to actively use it to preempt & respond to threats more effectively. Balancing confidentiality with the need for speed & accuracy in sharing is key to a robust cybersecurity posture. Consider your objectives, the nature of the intelligence, & trust levels when choosing. A well-chosen model not only broadens your threat landscape awareness but also enhances collective defense capabilities.

Collaborative models like ISACs and ISAOs foster industry-wide sharing. Additionally, trusted information sharing platforms like CTI League facilitate swift and secure exchange, enhancing collective defense against cyber threats. Relying solely on closed ecosystems or exclusive sharing groups might limit information access, hindering comprehensive threat visibility. CTI League facilitated a global network of cybersecurity professionals sharing threat intelligence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their collective efforts mitigated rising cyber threats targeting healthcare and research organizations, showcasing effective cross-sector threat intelligence sharing.

Effective threat intelligence sharing demands strategic alignment, standardized formats (like STIX and TAXII), timely and contextual information, and a focus on security and compliance. Regular evaluations and feedback loops are crucial for refining processes and maximizing impact in the ever-evolving threat landscape.

Using standardized formats like STIX/TAXII enables seamless data exchange. Collaborative platforms and established protocols foster secure and efficient sharing, enhancing collective defense against cyber threats. Over-reliance on automated sharing might compromise the context and relevance of threat intelligence, leading to potential misinterpretations. The utilization of STIX/TAXII facilitated threat intelligence sharing among government agencies, enabling swift dissemination and coordinated response to cyber threats, showcasing effective collaborative practices.

Always Include contextual information with threat indicators. Providing context helps the receiving party better understand the relevance and potential impact of the threat, enabling more effective mitigation Share threat intelligence that is relevant to the recipients. Tailor the information based on the industry, geography, or specific technologies used by the receiving organization to make it more actionable. When sharing threat intelligence, ensure that any personally identifiable information is anonymized. This protects privacy and helps avoid legal issues.

Diversify threat intel sources: Use CTIPs, ISACs, government initiatives (CISA, NCSC), and online communities. Blend structured frameworks with real-time insights for a robust defense against evolving cyber threats.

Platforms like MISP offer open-source solutions for sharing threat data. Moreover, vendor-provided Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIPs) centralize and streamline threat data, aiding collaboration among security professionals. Overreliance on a single platform might limit access to diverse threat data sources, potentially overlooking crucial threat information. Security professionals utilized MISP's open-source platform to share indicators of compromise (IOCs) globally. This collaborative approach enhanced threat detection and mitigation, demonstrating the value of diverse threat intelligence resources.

Something else to consider is the propagation of threat intel throughout the SOC. You want machine-readable threat intel stored in a proprietary data store, open-source tool like MISP, or a commercial TIP. Your goal should be to overlay threat intel to every aspect of security operations to drive automated actions and provide analysts with as much context as possible so they can make rapid and informed decisions.

ISACs/ISAOs: Industry-specific or information sharing and analysis centers/organizations facilitate threat data exchange among members in sectors like finance, healthcare, or energy. Government Collaborations: Agencies like CERTs share threat data with private entities for broader cybersecurity insights. Vendor Collaboration: Security vendors pool threat data from their customer base, offering collective protection. Example: Financial sector ISACs gather and disseminate threat intelligence among banks, enabling proactive defenses against banking trojans or phishing schemes, collectively fortifying the sector against evolving threats.