How to Be Threat Intelligence Specialist - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Feb 27, 2022 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

Professional Organizations

FAQ

Links

The increased reliance on technology for day-to-day operations has resulted in the rise of the Threat Intelligence Specialist. With more companies than ever storing sensitive data and intellectual property in digital formats, the need for a role that can identify, assess, and mitigate potential cyber threats has become paramount. A Threat Intelligence Specialist is responsible for researching and analyzing malicious activity on the internet, evaluating its impact on an organization, and creating strategies to protect against future risks.

By monitoring networks, systems, and applications for malicious activity, a Threat Intelligence Specialist can detect and respond to threats before they become a problem. Furthermore, they can provide organizations with the insight needed to develop effective security policies and procedures to safeguard their data.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a Bachelor's Degree. To become a threat intelligence specialist, you will need to have a bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, information technology, or a related field. This degree will provide you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the field.
Gain Job Experience. After obtaining your degree, it is important to gain job experience in the cybersecurity field. This may include working for an IT company, a security consulting firm, or even working as an information security analyst.
Obtain Certifications. It is recommended to obtain certifications that are relevant to the field of threat intelligence. Examples of these certifications include the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
Complete a Threat Intelligence Course. It is important to complete a threat intelligence course to gain the knowledge and skills needed in the field. This course should cover topics such as cybercrime, data analytics, and threat intelligence analysis.
Build Your Network. In order to be successful in the field of threat intelligence, it is important to build a network of professionals who can provide support and advice. This network can include professionals in the field, as well as those who are interested in threat intelligence.
Keep Up with the Latest Developments. As technologies and threats change, it is important to stay up to date on the latest developments in the field of threat intelligence. This can be done through attending conferences, reading industry publications, and participating in online discussions.

Keeping up to date and competent as a Threat Intelligence Specialist requires ongoing research, practice, and training. Researching the latest trends and techniques in the field of cyber-security is an essential part of staying informed and competent. This research can include attending conferences and seminars, reading industry publications and blogs, and utilizing online resources such as webinars and online courses.

Practice is also important for staying competent. This can include hands-on exercises and simulations to hone ones skills and knowledge in the field. Finally, training is essential to keeping up to date and competent.

Training can include certifications, attending classes, or taking courses. All of these activities will help a Threat Intelligence Specialist remain up to date and competent in the field of cyber-security, ensuring they are prepared to face any cyber threats.

You may want to check Counterintelligence Analyst Trainer, Counterintelligence Agent, and Counterintelligence Analyst for alternative.

Job Description

Develop and maintain threat intelligence capabilities to monitor and detect evolving cyber threats.
Design, develop, and implement threat intelligence processes and procedures.
Collect and analyze intelligence information from various sources to identify potential threats.
Analyze existing security systems and suggest improvements as needed.
Create detailed reports on threat intelligence data and present findings to senior management.
Collaborate with other security teams to create a comprehensive threat intelligence strategy.
Monitor trends in the threat landscape and proactively identify new threats.
Conduct research to identify malicious actors and their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
Update threat intelligence databases with new information.
Develop and maintain relationships with external organizations for information sharing.
Create playbooks for responding to cyber threats and incidents.
Educate staff on security best practices and how to identify potential threats.
Provide guidance and support to other security teams in responding to threats.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of security principles and best practices
Experience with threat intelligence tools and platforms
Understanding of network security architecture
Proficiency in using security-related software and applications
Knowledge of cybercrime trends and tactics
Ability to interpret and analyze large amounts of data
Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Knowledge of malware analysis, reverse engineering, and vulnerability exploitation
Ability to develop customized threat intelligence reports
Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Threat intelligence specialists require a range of skills to be successful in their role. The most important skill to have is the ability to analyze data from multiple sources and develop meaningful insights from it. This requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as the capacity to think critically and logically.

threat intelligence specialists must also possess a deep understanding of the cyber security landscape, including the tools and techniques used by attackers, and how organizations can best protect themselves against them. Furthermore, they should have excellent communication skills, as they will be responsible for communicating their findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Finally, a threat intelligence specialist must possess a strong work ethic and dedication to stay up-to-date on the latest threats, trends and developments in the cyber security field.

With these skills in place, a threat intelligence specialist can effectively provide organizations with the information they need to mitigate potential risks and protect their data from malicious actors.

Law Enforcement Intelligence Analyst, Intelligence Officer, and Business Intelligence Systems Manager are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

How do you stay up to date on the latest threats and trends in the threat intelligence space?
What is your experience developing, maintaining, and executing threat intelligence strategies?
How would you go about analyzing and interpreting data to identify potential threats?
How do you ensure the quality and accuracy of your threat intelligence data?
What processes do you use to ensure the timely sharing of threat intelligence with the appropriate stakeholders?
How do you prioritize threats and determine which ones should be addressed first?
What experience do you have creating and communicating reports on threat intelligence findings?
Describe a time when you used threat intelligence to inform decision-making or take action.
What techniques do you use to identify and mitigate false positives in threat intelligence data?
What practices do you have for tracking and evaluating the effectiveness of threat intelligence initiatives?

Common Tools in Industry

Maltego. Maltego is a tool used to provide open source threat intelligence and link analysis. It enables you to aggregate data from multiple sources and visualize the relationships between entities. (Eg: Visualize relationships between IPs, domains, email addresses, etc. )
Splunk. Splunk is a tool used to collect, analyze, and visualize machine-generated data. It provides a platform to identify and investigate security threats, uncover malicious activity, and monitor system performance. (Eg: Analyze log files to detect suspicious activity)
RiskIQ. RiskIQ is a tool used to monitor, detect, and investigate external threats and cyber risks. It provides a platform to track malicious infrastructure, detect phishing attacks and malicious websites, analyze dark web data, and more. (Eg: Identify malicious domains and IPs associated with phishing campaigns)
OpenVAS. OpenVAS is an open-source vulnerability scanning tool used to scan networks for potential vulnerabilities. It provides a platform to detect weaknesses in systems and applications, identify vulnerable software, and analyze suspicious activity. (Eg: Scan for missing security patches and system misconfigurations)
ThreatConnect. ThreatConnect is a threat intelligence platform used to aggregate, analyze, and share security-related data. It enables users to detect and respond to threats quickly by correlating threat intelligence from multiple sources. (Eg: Correlate threat indicators from different sources such as IPs, domains, and files)

Professional Organizations to Know

International Association of Cybersecurity Professionals (IACSP)
Information Security Forum (ISF)
Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)
Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)
Cloud Security Alliance (CSA)
Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)
National Cybersecurity Institute (NCI)
Council on CyberSecurity (CCS)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

We also have Geospatial Intelligence Analyst, Industrial Security Intelligence Officer, and Threat Intelligence Analyst jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Cyber Security. The practice of protecting networks, systems, and programs from digital attacks.
Threat Intelligence. The process of gathering, analyzing, and acting upon information about current and potential threats to an organizations digital assets.
Malware. Computer software designed to damage or disable computers and computer systems.
Phishing. An attempt to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.
Vulnerability Management. The practice of identifying, managing, and preventing vulnerabilities in software and hardware used by an organization.
Incident Response. The process of responding to security incidents, typically involving the identification and containment of threats, and the recovery of affected systems.
Risk Analysis. The process of assessing the risk of potential security threats and vulnerabilities.
Digital Forensics. The process of uncovering and interpreting digital evidence found on computers and other digital devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What qualifications are necessary to become a Threat Intelligence Specialist? A1: To become a Threat Intelligence Specialist, one must typically possess a bachelor's degree in a related field such as computer science, cybersecurity, or information systems, as well as several years of experience in a cybersecurity-related role. Q2: How much does a Threat Intelligence Specialist usually earn? A2: According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a Threat Intelligence Specialist is $104,269 per year in the United States. Q3: What type of work does a Threat Intelligence Specialist do? A3: A Threat Intelligence Specialist is responsible for identifying, monitoring, and analyzing potential threats to an organization's IT infrastructure. This includes researching and evaluating the latest cyber security threats, developing security policies and procedures, and providing training on security best practices. Q4: What skills are required to be a successful Threat Intelligence Specialist? A4: To be successful as a Threat Intelligence Specialist, one must have extensive knowledge of cybersecurity tools and techniques, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and excellent communication skills. Additionally, one must be able to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. Q5: What organizations typically hire Threat Intelligence Specialists? A5: Organizations such as government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and technology companies often hire Threat Intelligence Specialists to protect their networks from cyber threats.

Web Resources

Threat Intelligence and Cybersecurity Analytics - New York em.online.engineering.nyu.edu
Threat Intelligence - Cybersecurity @ BYU cybersecurity.byu.edu
What is Threat Intelligence? Defined, Explained, and Explored - Forcepoint www.forcepoint.com