You Must Have Cyber threat intelligence tools that allow you to collect and analyze threat information from various sources in order to protect your company from potential vulnerabilities.
Cyber threat intelligence is a mature market with almost half of all enterprises having a dedicated team to perform this function. According to the 2021 SANS Cyber Threat Intelligence Survey (CTI), 44.4% of enterprises have a dedicated, formal team and 13.8% have one dedicated cyber threat intelligence professional. Many cyber threat intelligence tools are also used by enterprises, such as community information sharing and external news feeds.
You need to consider five key features when choosing a cyber threat intelligence tool. You should ensure that your cyber threat intelligence tools are ready for use in 2022 if you plan to do so.
1. Data-driven
Cyber threat intelligence is built upon a foundation of data and analysis. To create a reliable repository for threat-related information, the tool must gather data from multiple sources, including public, private, and third-party. A cyber threat indicator is a digital fingerprint that is left behind by malicious entities when they launch an attack. To be able to provide proactive and predictive defense, a cyber threat intelligence tool must collect data from all over the globe on cyber threat indicators.
2. Flexible
You must choose a tool that is flexible enough to accommodate different use cases. It should be able to connect to branch offices or distributed locations for central visibility. You may also want to integrate it into the internal security information management (SIEM), in order to check for anomalies. Your cyber threat intelligence tool should work with all major IT environments and infrastructures.
3. External-focused
Cyber threat intelligence tools are different from other types of vulnerability software because it is solely focused on external threats. Although it may be integrated with internal systems for threat detection and response, its primary purpose is to scan external data sources, repositories, and sources in order to document emerging threats. This protects you against unknown and zero-day threats.
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4. Comprehensive
Your cyber threat intelligence tool should provide total protection for all devices, on-premise and cloud services, as well as network ports. It must also scan large volumes of external feeds to find out about threats from all over the globe. This includes the dark web if required by your company. Open source cyber threat intelligence feeds allow for public access, while commercial tools facilitate widespread discovery and deeper analysis.
5. Extensible
It is important that the cyber threat intelligence tool can be easily extended so that it can be connected with other cybersecurity tools. Some tools are focused on API services, which allow you to embed a strong threat intelligence feed in your own security app. Some tools may be available in an integrated marketplace. It must also be compatible with other environments, logging, compliance tools, and hardware variants in order to provide dynamically compatible intelligence, protection, and protection.
10 Best Cyber Threat Intelligence Tools and software
1. Cisco Umbrella
Cisco ranks among the top global providers of security and networking solutions. Cisco Umbrella, a cloud-based security solution, leverages threat intelligence to protect endpoints, remote users, and office locations.
Features: These are the main features of this cyber threat Intelligence tool:
- Data-driven: This extracts security data across products from the Cisco infrastructure as well as third-party sources.
- Flexible: This product is available in multiple packages and plans that are focused on cloud access, web security, and data loss prevention.
- External-focused: This technique uses both internal and external monitoring to identify and isolate threats.
Comprehensive It offers complete visibility and protection against phishing, malware, and ransomware attacks. - Extensible: You have the option to use a selection of APIs or native connectors.
USP: Cisco umbrella is built on SecureX, a consolidated platform that provides threat intelligence, detection, and analysis as well as response. This allows for greater scale through a single cloud-native platform.
Pricing: Cisco umbrella is available in multiple packages starting from $2.25 per month.
Editorial Comments: Cisco Umbrella was designed for large distributed organizations that have potential security blind spots. This solution can be used to protect your network from attacks.
2. DeCYFIR
The cyber threat intelligence tool CYFIRMA, a Singapore-based cybersecurity firm, is DeCYFIR. It allows hackers to decode and discover threats from their locations.
Features: The key features of this cyber threat Intelligence tool are:
- Data-driven: This can detect signals, perform threat analysis and remove the noise to provide reliable data.
- Flexible: It provides a variety of analytics capabilities to suit different use cases such as brand impersonation.
- External-focused: It can detect external indicators and correlate them with vulnerabilities.
- Comprehensive: It offers a complete solution to cyber threats through education and training.
- Extensible: It can be integrated with existing infrastructure upon request.
USP: DeCYFIR allows you to have situational awareness, predict the impact of threats, and anticipate new attacks. This includes information on cyber laws, regulations, and policies across the globe.
Pricing: Pricing is determined by the environment and needs. For example, the all-in-one AWS implementation will cost $20,000 per month.
Editorial Comments: DeCYFIR offers threat intelligence according to six distinct pillars — attack surfaces discovery, vulnerability, brand intelligence, digital risk discovery and prevention, situational awareness, and cyber intelligence. It is a better fit than smaller and mid-sized businesses.
3. Echosec
Echosec, a Canadian company that specializes in open-source intelligence tools (OSINT), is Echosec. The company’s flagship platform uses social media and dark internet data to protect your business.
Features: These are the key features of this cyber threat Intelligence tool:
- Data-driven: Echosec can uncover urgent and current risk information, and even extract data from deep and dark internet.
- Flexible: Echosec can be used for a variety of activities, including internal threat monitoring and ad-hoc search on the dark web.
- External-focused: It connects to numerous data sources, such as dark web marketplaces and illicit forums, and global security feeds.
- Comprehensive: This system offers complete protection and monitoring 24 hours a day through a pre-built data search filter.
- Extended: This tool can be used in conjunction with other security tools to feed information directly to them.
USP: Echosec provides quick and actionable results. It claims to speed up the generation of threat intelligence insights by 28%.
Pricing: Pricing is not disclosed for Echosec.
Editorial comments: Echosec can be used by both large and small businesses. It also has a standalone API that can be used to enhance existing InfoSec systems.
4. GreyNoise
GreyNoise, a U.S. cybersecurity startup, helps to reduce false positives in the analysis of threat intelligence information. It collects noise-related information that may be missed by security analysts.
Features: The key features of this cyber threat Intelligence tool are:
- Data-driven: It gathers IP label data in order to identify instances where security tools have become noisy.
- Flexible: GreyNoise insights can be obtained through APIs and visualizers which can be used in multiple situations.
- External-focused: The tool does not look at public servers or internet-based data to identify instances of security breaches in enterprise networks.
- Comprehensive: GreyNoise is able to identify emerging threats, provide context information and find actionable alarms by scanning hundreds, if not thousands, of IPs.
- Extensible: It can be connected to virtually any IT system via APIs and integrations.
USP: GreyNoise’s unique Rule It Out (RIOT) capability correlates user activity, business apps, and Server Data to provide context for alerts.
Pricing: Pricing starts from $25,000 per annum, with a free Community Edition.
Editorial Comments: GreyNoise has a dynamically-updated threat intelligence database you can use to monitor various types of attacks around the world. Independent users can find this database useful.
Also read: 10 Ways of Encryption Key Management and Data Security
5. IntSights ETP Suite for External Threat Protection
IntSights is a 360-degree cybersecurity tool developed by Rapid7, a NASDAQ-traded cybersecurity firm. You will get rich, actionable insights within 24 hours.
Features: These are the key features of this cyber threat Intelligence tool:
- Data-driven: This collects data from the clear, dark, and deep webs, as well as external threat feeds and custom research, to uncover trends and power analysis.
- Flexible: It is very flexible and can adapt to different use cases, such as phishing protection, brand safety, and Frau detection.
- External-focused: It focuses on external channels such as black markets, social media, and custom research.
- Comprehensive: It’s a comprehensive tool that protects against cyber risks of all types.
- Extensible: It can be integrated into enterprise systems using use-case-specific solutions, APIs.
USP: IntSights HTMLTP Suite is a global platform that supports all major languages such as French, Portuguese, Japanese. This greatly reduces the learning curve of IT teams located in non-English-speaking regions.
Pricing: Pricing is not available for IntSights’ External Threat Protection (ETP). However, you can get a free threat intelligence report.
Editorial Comments: IntSights is available as an end-to-end suite or separately for threat investigation, vulnerability analysis, and third-party analysis. Your specific enterprise requirements will determine the deployment method.
6. Cognyte Luminar
Cognyte was once part of Verint Systems. Luminar, Cognyte’s cyber threat intelligence tool, makes it possible for proactive, research-backed cybersecurity strategies to be implemented.
Features: These are the key features of this cyber threat Intelligence tool:
- Data-driven: It monitors every corner of the web and provides continuous live updates as well as automated data harvesting.
- Flexible: You have the ability to customize Luminar’s dashboards and set up automated processes.
- External-focused: It transforms external data about potential threats into actionable information.
- Comprehensive: This tool can be used to generate insights in more than 20 languages and covers many domains, such as financial crime and cyber-terrorism.
- Extended: It integrates with your security ecosystem to send alerts and deliver updates.
USP: Luminar also offers cutting-edge investigative analysis expertise. The solution can be used to perform AI-based web investigations or blockchain security analytics.
Pricing: Pricing is not disclosed for Luminar.
Editorial Comments: Luminar is used primarily by public sector organizations and public utilities sectors such as telecom due to its expertise in cyber terrorism and financial crime. To deliver the best results, it compares external threat data with your internal requirements.
7. Recorded Future
Recorded Future, a U.S.-based cybersecurity firm that provides predictive cyber threat intelligence, is Recorded Future. This includes information about the brand, SecOps, and vulnerability as well as geopolitical threats.
Features: These are the key features of this cyber threat Intelligence tool:
- Data-driven: It is built on the Intelligence Graph. This reference data set has been curated for over 10+ years, and it is continuously updated.
- Flexible: This tool assesses risk indicators for different risks your company may face. Advanced filters can be used to narrow your search.
- External-focused: It considers multiple threat signals from the outside to identify any risk that you may face in the future.
- Comprehensive: This tool provides a complete and comprehensive view of the threat lifecycle, from the attacker to the midpoint to the target.
- Extensible: It can connect with your SIEM or security orchestration automation and response (SOAR), and has an expanding integration marketplace.
USP: Recorded Future aligns insights according to specific job roles and risk areas. This is useful for brand integrity management or third-party vendor assessments. This reduces noise and provides relevant threat intelligence results to the right stakeholders.
Pricing: Prices vary depending on the environment. AWS pricing starts at $10,000.
Editorial comments: Recorded Future accumulated a large collection of technical resources over the past 10 years. The Recorded Future mobile application is also a great resource.
Also read: Best 10 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Software Solutions
8. Threat Intelligence APIs
Threat Intelligence is a collection of cyber threat intelligence integrations that are available at threatintelligence.com, an American cybersecurity company. It is part of the Whois API Inc.
Features: These are the main features of this cyber threat Intelligence tool:
- Data-driven: It connects to a large group of mail, web, and nameservers in order to benchmark and analyze your organization.
- Flexible: This cyber threat intelligence tool has an API-based architecture that makes it inherently flexible.
- External-focused: It scans multiple threat data repositories as well as the company’s rich database collection, which has been built over many years.
- Comprehensive: It covers a broad range of use cases. It helps with the analysis of domain infrastructures, SSL certificates and configurations, domain reputation, and malware.
- Extensible: The API architecture is extensible and can be extended infinitely. You also have the benefit of documentation and code samples.
USP: Threat Intelligence APIs use 120+ parameters and a vast amount of information including proprietary research to produce in-depth analysis in seconds. It is one of the few cyber threat intelligence tools that can operate as an API-only tool.
Pricing: Pricing starts from $15 per month and includes a limited-time free plan.
Editorial Comments: Small to mid-sized companies, independent developers, and startups have the ability to choose and use the APIs that they require in order to solve specific security issues. Large enterprises may not find it ideal if they are looking for one tool.
9. ThreatFusion
ThreatFusion is a cyber threat intelligence tool developed by SOCRadar (a U.S-based cybersecurity firm). It utilizes big data and Artificial Intelligence to aid in threat investigation.
Features: The key features of this cyber threat Intelligence tool are:
- Data-driven It has a big-data-powered module that can discover real-time indicators to form precise correlations.
- Flexible: It is extremely flexible and agile, so you can get accurate results from the dark web, third-party research, and other sources.
- External-focused: ThreatFusion also includes the ThreatShare module. This module collects external data from hacker chatter via social media channels.
- Comprehensive: Not only does it include a large body of threat knowledge but also auto-aggregates insights taken from weekly news.
- Extensions: You can extend the platform with API-ready feeds or connectors.
USP: It protects against credential stuffing campaigns which are a common threat tactic within the eCommerce sector. It is also very attentive to persistent threat (APT), groups.
Pricing: ThreatFusion comes in Standard, Professional, and Enterprise editions. All editions can be customized priced.
Editorial Comments: ThreatFusion provides detailed information in a simple-to-use snapshot format, making it ideal for small teams. ThreatFusion is used by larger organizations alongside SOCRadar’s other offerings, such as RiskPrime or AttackMapper.
Also read: 15 Ways to Secure Platform as a Service (PaaS) environment
10. ZeroFox
ZeroFox, a U.S.-based security company, offers security intelligence to stop phishing and impersonations. Recently, it announced plans to be a publicly-traded company.
Features: The key features of this cyber threat Intelligence tool are:
- Data-driven: It monitors the dark internet for ransomware, data leakage chatter, and expert intelligence feed.
- Flexible: It combines artificial intelligence with human intelligence to provide flexibility in analyzing every threat.
- External-focused: ZeroFox was created solely to protect your brand and senior executives against malicious attacks.
- Comprehensive: It provides complete protection by helping to eliminate hackers through Adversary Disruption and Takedown-as-a-Service.
- Extensible: ZeroFox offers an impressive integration library that covers all the most popular IT tools.
USP: ZeroFox has the unique ability to stop attackers by dismantling an organization’s infrastructure through its vast partner network. It will locate and remove malicious content from your organization’s profile and work on your behalf to automate it.
Pricing: Pricing is not disclosed for ZeroFox.
Editorial Comments: ZeroFox has one of the largest app libraries on the market. This tool is ideal for companies that need a fast deployment process with pre-built connectors.
Conclusion
Cyber threat intelligence will play a major role in 2022. According to the SANS survey of 2021, the greatest barrier to cyber threat intelligence usage was the inability to develop the skills within the company. This article provides actionable insights that can be used by InfoSec teams. They don’t require any training or complicated configuration. These next-generation cyber threat intelligence tools are crucial to increase enterprise resilience and protect against both internal and external attacks.
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