What is Threat Intelligence

Threat intelligence serves as your early warning system for vendor-related cyber risks. While traditional vendor assessments capture point-in-time security postures, threat intelligence provides continuous visibility into emerging risks across your third-party ecosystem.

For compliance teams managing hundreds of vendors, threat intelligence answers critical questions: Which vendors are being targeted by active campaigns? Have any suppliers appeared in dark web marketplaces? What zero-day vulnerabilities affect your critical vendors' technology stacks?

Modern regulatory frameworks recognize threat intelligence as essential for third-party risk management. ISO 27001:2022 mandates "threat intelligence relating to information security" (Control 5.7), while NIST SP 800-161 requires organizations to "monitor suppliers throughout the SDLC using threat intelligence."

The distinction between threat data and threat intelligence matters for audit purposes. Raw security feeds produce noise. Threat intelligence produces vendor-specific risk indicators that drive control decisions and remediation priorities.

Core Components of Threat Intelligence

Threat intelligence operates across three distinct layers, each serving specific third-party risk management objectives:

Strategic Intelligence identifies threat actors targeting your industry vertical and their typical attack patterns against supply chains. This intelligence shapes vendor security requirements and informs control selection during procurement.

Tactical Intelligence reveals specific tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used against organizations in your sector. Compliance teams use tactical intelligence to validate whether vendor controls address actual threat vectors.

Operational Intelligence provides real-time indicators of compromise (IoCs) and vulnerability disclosures affecting vendor infrastructure. This layer triggers immediate vendor outreach and remediation tracking.

Regulatory Requirements for Third-Party Threat Intelligence

SOC 2 Type II Requirements

SOC 2 Common Criteria CC7.2 requires organizations to "monitor system components and the network for anomalies and indicators of compromise." For third-party relationships, this translates to continuous monitoring of vendor security incidents and breach notifications.

Auditors specifically examine:

• Documentation of threat intelligence sources used for vendor monitoring
• Evidence of action taken based on threat intelligence findings
• Integration between threat intelligence and vendor risk scoring

ISO 27001:2022 Control Framework

Control 5.7 explicitly mandates threat intelligence capabilities. Implementation guidance requires organizations to establish:

• Threat intelligence collection procedures covering supply chain risks
• Analysis processes that translate raw intelligence into vendor risk indicators
• Communication protocols for sharing relevant intelligence with vendors

Control A.15.1.1 (Information security in supplier relationships) requires applying threat intelligence to supplier security assessments. Auditors expect evidence of threat-informed vendor questionnaires and security requirements.

GDPR Article 32 Implications

GDPR requires "appropriate technical and organizational measures" considering "the state of the art." Supervisory authorities interpret this as requiring threat intelligence for high-risk processors. The EDPB's Guidelines 07/2020 note that controllers must monitor processor security incidents through "appropriate threat intelligence sources."

Practical Application in Vendor Risk Management

Building Threat-Informed Vendor Profiles

Effective threat intelligence starts with vendor technology mapping. Document each critical vendor's:

• Primary technology stack (operating systems, databases, frameworks)
• Industry vertical and geographic presence
• Data types processed on your behalf
• Network interconnections with other suppliers

Map these attributes against threat intelligence feeds. A healthcare SaaS vendor requires monitoring of healthcare-specific threat actors and medical device vulnerabilities. A European data processor demands tracking of groups targeting GDPR-regulated entities.

Operationalizing Threat Intelligence

Transform raw threat data into vendor risk signals through defined workflows:

1. Automated Matching: Configure threat intelligence platforms to flag when vendor domains, IP addresses, or technologies appear in threat reports.

2. Risk Scoring Integration: Feed threat indicators into vendor risk scoring algorithms. A vendor appearing in ransomware victim lists should trigger automatic risk score elevation.

3. Remediation Triggers: Establish clear escalation criteria. Critical vulnerability disclosure in vendor infrastructure initiates 24-hour notification requirements.

4. Evidence Collection: Document all threat intelligence activities for audit trails. Include timestamp, source, finding, action taken, and remediation verification.

Real-World Implementation Examples

Financial Services Case Study: A regional bank integrated threat intelligence feeds with their vendor management platform. When the Cl0p ransomware group began targeting MOVEit Transfer users, automated alerts identified 12 vendors using the affected software. The bank initiated emergency patching verification within 4 hours of the initial disclosure, preventing potential compromise.

Healthcare Network Example: A hospital system monitors medical device manufacturers through specialized threat intelligence covering ICS/SCADA vulnerabilities. When researchers disclosed insulin pump vulnerabilities, threat intelligence automation identified affected vendors and triggered clinical engineering reviews before public disclosure.

Common Misconceptions About Threat Intelligence

"More Feeds Equal Better Intelligence"

Threat intelligence quality trumps quantity. Ten properly tuned feeds with low false-positive rates provide more value than 100 generic sources. Focus on feeds specific to:

• Your vendors' technology stacks
• Industry-specific threat actors
• Geographic regions where vendors operate

"Threat Intelligence Replaces Vendor Assessments"

Threat intelligence complements, not replaces, traditional vendor due diligence. Annual assessments establish baseline security postures. Threat intelligence monitors control effectiveness between assessments.

"All Threats Require Immediate Action"

Effective programs distinguish between noise and actionable intelligence. Not every vulnerability affects your vendors. Not every affected vendor poses material risk. Establish clear criteria for action thresholds based on:

• Vendor criticality tiers
• Data sensitivity levels
• Exploitability scores
• Compensating controls

Industry-Specific Threat Intelligence Considerations

Financial Services

Focus threat intelligence on:

• Banking trojans targeting vendor payment systems
• ATM malware affecting service providers
• SWIFT network threats for correspondent banks
• Cryptocurrency theft targeting fintech vendors

Healthcare and Life Sciences

Prioritize intelligence covering:

• Medical device vulnerabilities in vendor equipment
• Ransomware groups targeting healthcare
• FDA cybersecurity alerts for connected devices
• Clinical trial data theft campaigns

Critical Infrastructure

Essential threat intelligence includes:

• ICS/SCADA vulnerabilities in vendor control systems
• Nation-state actors targeting infrastructure
• Supply chain interdependency mapping
• Physical security convergence threats

Integration with GRC Platforms

Modern GRC platforms must support threat intelligence workflows:

API Integration: Direct feeds from threat intelligence providers into vendor risk scoring engines. REST APIs enable real-time updates without manual intervention.

Control Mapping: Link threat indicators to specific control failures. If threat intelligence reveals SQL injection attempts, map findings to database security controls in vendor assessments.

Audit Trail Generation: Maintain immutable logs of threat intelligence findings and remediation actions. Include source attribution, confidence scores, and verification timestamps.

Reporting Dashboards: Visualize threat intelligence metrics for board reporting:

• Vendors affected by active threats
• Mean time to threat detection
• Remediation completion rates
• False positive ratios by intelligence source

Frequently Asked Questions

How does threat intelligence differ from vulnerability scanning in vendor management?

Vulnerability scanning identifies technical weaknesses in systems you can directly assess. Threat intelligence provides broader context about active exploitation, threat actor interest, and attacks against similar organizations—critical for understanding risks in vendors you cannot scan directly.

What threat intelligence sources should we prioritize for third-party risk?

Start with CISA alerts, vendor-specific security advisories, and industry-specific ISACs. Add commercial feeds focusing on your vendors' technology stacks and geographic regions. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) provides valuable context but requires more analysis effort.

How do we measure threat intelligence effectiveness for vendor risk management?

Track metrics including: percentage of critical vendors covered by threat monitoring, mean time from threat disclosure to vendor notification, false positive rates by source, and correlation between threat intelligence alerts and actual vendor incidents.

Should we share threat intelligence with our vendors?

Yes, but selectively. Share specific, actionable intelligence relevant to each vendor's environment. Include clear remediation expectations and timelines. Document sharing activities for demonstrating proactive risk management to auditors.

How do we handle threat intelligence about vendors during procurement?

Integrate threat intelligence into vendor selection criteria. Search for prospective vendors in breach databases, ransomware victim lists, and vulnerability disclosures. Document findings in procurement risk assessments but verify current remediation status before disqualification.

What's the minimum threat intelligence capability needed for SOC 2 compliance?

SOC 2 requires monitoring "anomalies and indicators of compromise" affecting vendor relationships. At minimum: subscribe to relevant security advisories, monitor vendor security pages, and document your response process for threat notifications.

How often should threat intelligence trigger vendor reassessments?

Define triggers based on threat severity and vendor criticality. Critical vulnerabilities in Tier 1 vendors warrant immediate reassessment. Lower-severity issues might aggregate until scheduled reviews. Document your threshold criteria for auditor review.