The Role of Data Enrichment in a Threat Intelligence Platform
A threat intelligence platform is a highly specialized software solution deployed to fight cybercrime. It is designed to collect, aggregate, analyze, and share intelligence data that can alert security teams to potential threats. Security teams can then make better decisions. They can more effectively address threats and respond more appropriately when attacks do get through.
A big part of modern threat and intelligence is data enrichment. In short, data enrichment is the practice of transforming raw data into actionable intelligence. The problem with raw data is that it is often ambiguous. It can seem completely invaluable without being enriched. But after enrichment, the data suddenly becomes a gold mine of valuable information.
Enrichment Provides Context
DarkOwl’s threat intelligence platform Vision is one of the leading platforms in the industry. It can collect raw data of all sorts, including IP addresses and file hashes. But as DarkOwl explains, that sort of data offers only limited value on its own. Through enrichment, context is provided. Enrichment can add vital details like:
- Geographic location
- Historical activity
- Associations with known threat actors
- Links to specific threats
Adding context makes all the difference in the world. Context provides a big picture view as well as an understanding of what threat actors might be up to.
Enrichment Improves Prioritization
Threats are coming at organizations from every direction. So much so that it is easy for security teams to be overwhelmed. Fortunately, not all threats pose a serious risk. Some can be put off until later while others do not have to be dealt with at all. This allows security teams to prioritize the most serious and pressing threats.
Enrichment provides that avenue. Enriched data makes it easier for security teams to distinguish between high and low-risk threats. Certain markers are utilized:
- Threat actor attribution
- Reputational score
- Exploit details
Identifying high-risk threats is an obvious priority. But beyond identification is prioritizing all the risks an organization faces. Prioritization prevents security teams from being overwhelmed while simultaneously protecting the organization’s systems.
Enrichment Accelerates Responses
Threat intelligence platforms don’t just enrich incoming data. They also enrich alerts. For example, a high priority alert can be further enhanced with details covering everything from techniques and tactics to known vulnerabilities. In a practical sense, enrichment gives emergency response teams extra details that become invaluable in a triage situation.
Quite simply, enrichment accelerates responses. Security teams understand threats more quickly. They are able to quantify details to mount an appropriate response more quickly than if they were forced to hammer out the details on their own.
It is also worth noting that some modern platforms can automate responses to some degree. Enriched data can trigger workflows that automatically send out alerts and begin implementing a step-by-step response even before human security teams have done anything.
Like Writing a Story
Data enrichment is a lot like writing a story. You start with a cast of characters, a general timeline, and a plot overview. But with those three things alone, you don’t have much of a story. You need to weave them all together with additional information you add to the mix. That’s exactly how data enrichment works in a threat intelligence platform. Enrichment is what makes platform capabilities so impressive.
Data enrichment makes sense of raw data that is often ambiguous and lacking in value. It makes sense out of what seems to be little more than a stream of useless information. Best of all, data enrichment is now part and parcel with the modern threat intelligence platform. It gives security teams a leg up in the fight against cybercrime.
