Overview
Threat intelligence only has value when it leads to action. A well-structured intelligence report translates raw threat data into decisions: which detection rules to deploy, which vulnerabilities to prioritize, which attack scenarios to prepare for. This template helps you produce consistent, actionable threat intelligence reports that your SOC, leadership, and partner teams can actually use, not just read and file away.
Report Sections
- Executive summary: key findings and recommended actions in plain language
- Threat actor profile: attribution, motivation, known campaigns, and target sectors
- Tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs): MITRE ATT&CK mapping
- Indicators of compromise: IPs, domains, hashes, URLs, email addresses
- Attack chain analysis: step-by-step reconstruction of the threat activity
- Detection and mitigation recommendations: specific controls and rules
- Intelligence gaps: what we do not know and what we need to investigate further
- Confidence assessment: reliability of sources and analytical confidence level
Intelligence Classification
| Level | Audience | Content focus | Update frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic | CISO, Board, Executives | Threat landscape trends, risk to business objectives, industry targeting | Quarterly |
| Operational | SOC Manager, IR Lead | Campaign details, threat actor profiles, attack patterns | Monthly or per campaign |
| Tactical | SOC Analysts, Detection Engineers | IOCs, detection rules, hunt queries, signatures | Weekly or real-time |
| Technical | Malware Analysts, Forensics | Malware samples, exploit code, infrastructure analysis | Per investigation |
Writing for Different Audiences
The same threat information needs to be packaged differently depending on who is reading it. The CISO wants to know how this threat affects business risk and what investment is needed. The SOC manager wants to know which detection gaps to close and whether the team needs additional resources. The analyst wants IOCs they can load into their tools in the next five minutes. Write each section for its audience. Lead the executive summary with business impact, not technical details. Include IOCs in a machine-readable format alongside the narrative.
Confidence and Source Assessment
Rate the confidence of each finding using a standard framework like the Admiralty system or a simple High/Medium/Low scale. A high-confidence finding is based on multiple independent, reliable sources. A low-confidence finding may be based on a single unverified report or speculative analysis. Document your sources without compromising sensitive collection methods. Be transparent about what you know versus what you assess. Intelligence consumers make better decisions when they understand the reliability of the information they are acting on.
Operationalizing Intelligence
- Convert IOCs into SIEM detection rules and EDR watchlists within hours of report publication
- Map TTPs to MITRE ATT&CK and identify gaps in your defensive coverage
- Brief the SOC team during shift handovers on active threats from the latest reports
- Feed intelligence into threat hunting hypotheses for proactive investigation
- Share anonymized findings with your ISAC and trusted peers for collective defense
- Track whether intelligence-driven actions prevented or detected actual threats
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should threat intelligence reports be produced?
Strategic reports quarterly, operational reports monthly or per significant campaign, and tactical IOC feeds in real-time. The cadence depends on your organization size and threat landscape. Consistency matters more than frequency.
What makes a good threat intelligence report?
Actionability. Every report should answer the question "so what do we do about this?" If a reader finishes the report without a clear action item, the report failed. Include specific detection rules, hunt queries, or mitigation steps.
Should we buy commercial threat intelligence or build our own?
Most organizations need both. Commercial feeds provide broad coverage and timely IOCs. Internal intelligence provides context about threats specific to your industry, assets, and adversaries. Start with commercial feeds and build organic capability over time.
How do we share intelligence without revealing sensitive information?
Use the Traffic Light Protocol (TLP) to classify what can be shared and with whom. Strip victim-specific information and sensitive collection methods. Share IOCs and TTPs rather than raw investigation details. Use STIX/TAXII for automated, structured sharing.
How do we measure the value of threat intelligence?
Track intelligence-driven detections, hunts, and blocked attacks. Measure how often intelligence leads to proactive control improvements. Survey consumers on whether reports are useful and actionable. A single prevented breach can justify the entire intelligence investment.
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