What Are Threat Intelligence Feeds?

Threat intelligence feeds are streams of up-to-date information about potential cyber threats pulled from public and private sources. When these feeds contain indicators of compromise (IoCs), such as malicious IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or recognized attack patterns, they provide the necessary context that security teams need to prioritize and respond to threats more effectively.

Think of it like a live sports scoreboard that constantly updates with new scores, fouls, and player stats as the game unfolds. A threat intelligence feed works similarly for defenders, displaying a steady stream of fresh indicators like new command-and-control (C2) IPs, malware hashes, phishing domains, Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) under active exploitation, and Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) shifts, often with metadata such as first-seen time and confidence scores.

To be effective, these feeds deliver several distinct types of actionable intelligence. The most critical components include:

  • Indicators of Compromise (IOCs): IOCs are technical clues that indicate an attack, such as malicious IP addresses, domains, or file hashes.
  • Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs): TTPs refer to the specific methods attackers employ.
  • Contextual Intelligence: Information on who the attackers are, their motives, and their campaigns.
  • Real-time Updates: A continuous flow of new threat data, with premium feeds updated in under a minute.

Types of Threat Feeds

Threat feeds can be categorized by their functional purpose, data sources, and data types, each serving distinct roles in an organization’s cybersecurity strategy. Understanding these classifications helps align feeds with specific security needs, from strategic planning to real-time defense and response.

Classification by Functional Purpose

Threat intelligence feeds are classified into three types: Strategic, Tactical, and Operational. Each type supports an organization’s overall cybersecurity strategy, which spans from strategic planning to real-time defense.

Type Purpose & Audience Example & Use Case Key Trade-Offs
Strategic High-level threat trends for executives (e.g., CISOs, CEOs). Report on the rising incidence of ransomware in the finance sector, informing budgeting and compliance. Contextual but not immediately actionable.
Tactical Technical TTP details for analysts and threat hunters. Phishing TTPs mapped to MITRE ATT&CK; update firewall or email filters. Targeted but may become outdated quickly.
Operational Real-time threat data for SOC teams and incident responders. CISA feeds with botnet IOCs; blocks malicious IPs during an attack. Actionable, but high-volume data may require filtering.

Classification by Data Sources

This classification is about the origin of the threat data.

  • Commercial Feeds

These are paid services offered by security companies. They provide professionally curated data with expert analysis and dedicated support, resulting in low false positives and faster updates.

  • Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Feeds

OSINT feeds are free, community-driven feeds that offer basic threat data. While valuable, they may have higher false positive rates and slower updates compared to commercial options.

  • Government and Industry Feeds

This is official intelligence from government agencies, such as CISA, or industry groups known as ISACs. The information is often specific to a particular sector and can include classified data for trusted organizations.

  • Specialized Feeds

These feeds focus on specific threat categories such as phishing campaigns, ransomware operations, or industry-targeted attacks. They offer in-depth expertise of a particular threat vector.

Common Feeds by Data Type

Feeds are also defined by the specific type of tactical data they deliver to your security tools. Common types include:

  • IP and Domain Feeds: These feeds provide lists of malicious IP addresses, domains, and URLs that are known to be involved in attacks. They are used to block traffic to and from harmful sites.
  • Malware and File Hash Feeds: These feeds deliver file hashes and malware signatures associated with known viruses, trojans, and other malicious software. They help endpoint security tools identify and block malicious files.
  • Vulnerability Feeds: These feeds provide data on known software vulnerabilities and the exploits that target them, often sourced from automated web crawlers. They help security teams prioritize patching.

Learn more about modern attack methodologies in Group-IB’s guide to phishing kits.

How Threat Intelligence Feeds Work

Threat intelligence feeds collect raw threat data, enrich it with context, and deliver it to your security tools as actionable signals. Here’s how the process works:

Stage 1: Data Collection

First, intelligence providers gather data from many different sources at the same time:

  • Automated Sources: Technology such as web crawlers, honeypots, and malware sandboxes is used to find threat data automatically.
  • Human-Verified Sources: Security researchers provide and validate data from cybercriminal communities to add expert context to the feed.
  • Technical Sources: Data is gathered directly from technical infrastructure, like network traffic and millions of endpoint devices worldwide.

Stage 2: Processing the Data

Next, the raw data is refined in a four-phase pipeline:

  1. Ingestion: The system processes billions of data points daily from sources such as dark web forums and underground marketplaces.
  2. Normalization: The data is cleaned and prepared for analysis. Duplicates are removed, information is verified, and it’s converted into standard formats (like STIX/TAXII).
  3. Analysis: A mix of machine learning and human experts search for patterns, identify the attackers (attribution), and assign risk scores to the data.
  4. Distribution: The finished, verified intelligence is disseminated through the feed, often utilizing real-time APIs or scheduled updates.

Stage 3: Integration into Your Tools

Finally, the processed intelligence is sent to your security tools to be used for defense:

  • API Integration: The feed connects to your security tools via an API, a standard method for software to communicate with each other.
  • SIEM/SOAR Integration: It can connect directly to security platforms, such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) or Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR), to automatically add new threat data, enrich alerts, or trigger a response.
  • Automated Workflows: The feed’s data allows your system to automatically block threats, create new detection rules, and run security playbooks.

Benefits of Using Threat Intelligence Feeds

The primary benefits of utilizing threat intelligence feeds are that they enable security programs to transition from a reactive to a proactive approach. These feeds empower security teams to automate their defenses, respond to threats more quickly, and operate with significantly greater efficiency.

Faster Response Times

For threats that require investigation, feeds accelerate the entire incident response lifecycle. They automatically enrich security alerts with crucial context, which reduces manual investigation time and enables security teams to validate and contain threats more quickly. This focus on post-detection speed allows organizations to contain breaches an average of 80 days sooner.

Better Threat Detection

Feeds provide the data for more effective internal threat detection, resulting in direct financial benefits. Breaches identified internally cost an average of USD 4.18 million, significantly less than the USD 5.08 million cost when an attacker discloses to the violation.

Proactive Defense and Cost Savings

Threat feeds are essential for proactive defense, enabling security tools such as firewalls and endpoint platforms to block threats without human intervention automatically.

By providing a continuous stream of structured data, feeds enable a preventative approach that stops attacks at the perimeter. Statistics show that organizations with proactive security reduce their average data breach costs by $1.9 million compared to those with no automation.

Better Use of Resources

High-quality threat feeds cut through the noise by providing accurate data with fewer false alarms. This means security teams can stop wasting time on dead ends and can focus their energy on stopping real threats.

For teams that are often overworked and understaffed, this improved efficiency enables them to make a greater impact without requiring a larger headcount.

Easier to Scale

The sheer volume of global threat data makes manual analysis impossible. Threat feeds solve this by delivering data in machine-readable formats, such as STIX/TAXII, that security tools can process automatically. This enables your security operations to manage vast amounts of threat information, ensuring your defenses scale effectively without overwhelming your team.

Shared Knowledge

No single organization has visibility into the entire global threat landscape. Threat feeds solve this by tapping into the collective knowledge of the worldwide security community, including vendors, independent researchers, and open-source projects. This allows you to leverage threat data discovered by others, effectively letting you block an attack that was first seen targeting a different organization.

Help with Compliance

Integrating threat intelligence feeds provides tangible proof of due diligence for auditors and regulators. Many frameworks, from NIST to PCI DSS, require organizations to manage cyber risks actively. By utilizing feeds to block known threats and proactively prioritize vulnerabilities, you can demonstrate that your security program is informed by real-world data, thereby satisfying compliance requirements for continuous monitoring and risk management.

Group-IB’s Threat Intelligence platform strengthens your security posture with advanced threat actor attribution and real-time correlation.

Choosing the Best Threat Intelligence Feeds

Choosing the best threat intelligence feeds means matching the feed’s data quality, relevance, and technical compatibility with your organization’s specific security needs.

Here are key factors to consider:

  • Data Quality and Accuracy

Look for feeds with a proven low false-positive rate. Many high-quality commercial feeds often claim to have false-positive rates of below 5%. Check for a high update frequency, with premium feeds updating every 5-15 minutes, and ensure the provider uses multi-source validation to verify their data.

  • Relevance and Scope

The feed must cover threats that are relevant to your industry and geographic location. Ensure it includes diverse data sources (like OSINT, dark web, and technical intelligence) and that its data is structured to be easily mapped within frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK.

  • Integration and Compatibility

The feed must be able to connect with your existing security tools. Look for support for industry standards, such as STIX/TAXII, well-documented APIs, and pre-built connectors for major platforms like SIEMs and SOARs, to ensure smooth integration and scalability.

  • Vendor Credibility and Support

Evaluate the provider’s track record and look for positive customer testimonials and recognition from independent research firms. Ensure they provide strong technical documentation, integration assistance, and ongoing support for your team.

  • Customization and Filtering

The ability to filter the feed by threat type, severity, or industry is crucial for reducing noise and ensuring the data is actionable for your specific needs.

  • Pilot Testing

Before committing, run a small-scale trial to measure the feed’s accuracy, ease of integration, and real-world impact on your security operations.

  • Cost-Benefit Analysis

Finally, compare the subscription cost against the expected security improvements and operational savings (such as reduced incident response times) to ensure a positive return on investment.

Where to Start: Popular Open-Source Feeds

For organizations starting their threat intelligence journey or seeking to supplement existing sources, open-source feeds offer significant value.

Here are a few well-regarded examples:

  • URLhaus: A project focused on sharing URLs associated with malware distribution.
  • Spamhaus Project: Tracks IP addresses and domains involved in spam, phishing, and malware activity.
  • FBI InfraGard: A government-private sector partnership for protecting U.S. critical infrastructure.
  • SANS Internet Storm Center (ISC): A free service that analyzes data from millions of log files to detect emerging threats.

Evaluating Commercial Threat Intelligence Platforms

For organizations requiring higher fidelity data, dedicated support, and advanced analytics, commercial threat intelligence platforms are one possible solution.

Commercial threat platforms offer deeper, predictive insights and expert analysis of threat actors, and integrate with security tools such as SIEM and SOAR. This market includes well-regarded solutions from vendors such as Recorded Future, Mandiant, and CrowdStrike.

However, the mark of a truly elite solution is its ability to go beyond delivering threat data and instead provide a complete, unified intelligence ecosystem. The most advanced providers offer a comprehensive platform approach, integrating diverse sources from the dark web to expert human intelligence.

This model delivers not just isolated indicators but a complete understanding of the threat landscape, which is crucial for establishing a truly proactive security posture.

Group-IB’s Threat Intelligence Feed Capabilities

Group-IB Threat Intelligence is a unified solution that equips organizations with strategic, operational, and tactical insights to prevent adversaries from attacking.

The platform offers a comprehensive range of intelligence, from high-level reports for executives to high-fidelity tactical feeds for your security tools.

  • Powered by Comprehensive Intelligence: Our Unified Risk Platform provides strategic insights into threat trends for executives and operational details on attacker behaviors for security teams. This deep knowledge, sourced from the dark web, malware analysis, and human intelligence, ensures the data is rich with context.
  • Delivering High-Fidelity Tactical Feeds: This strategic and operational knowledge is distilled into tactical threat intelligence, enabling security teams to identify cyberattacks faster. The platform provides a database of indicators of compromise tailored to your specific threat landscape, which helps eliminate false-positive alerts.
  • Designed for Seamless Automation: The tactical intelligence is delivered through out-of-the-box API integrations that support STIX and TAXII formats. This enables organizations to enhance their SIEM, SOAR, EDR, and vulnerability management platforms, automating workflows and boosting team efficiency.
  • Proven Value and Recognition: This platform approach is validated by industry experts. A Forrester Consulting study calculated a 339% return on investment (ROI) for customers using Group-IB’s solution.

Get in touch with our experts today to discover how Group-IB’s comprehensive threat intelligence platform can enhance your organization’s security posture through advanced attribution capabilities and real-time threat detection.