How Can Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Help Businesses?

How would you describe OSINT in your own words?

As we speak, millions of people across the globe express their thoughts and share what they see and hear on social media and other publicly-available platforms. Open Source Intelligence identifies valuable pieces of information within this mass amount of data and transforms them into actionable intelligence and insight to help protect your company and advance your business.

How is OSINT used to gather info on terrorist organisations?

Terrorist organisations make extensive use of publicly-available platforms, especially social media. In recent years, for example, ISIS-affiliated groups used Telegram as their main means of communication and spreading propaganda. Monitoring these platforms gives you first-hand insight into these groups’ ideology, actions and plans.

How can businesses use OSINT?

What do your customers like? What irritates them? What does the public think about your brand? OSINT, and especially social media research, is a good way to find out. A combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis of what people are saying online will give you a good understanding of the experiences customers have with your company and service.

What type of companies should use OSINT?

I personally believe that it could be useful to almost every company. Listening to what people are saying about you in any given moment will give you the information and time you need to detect and defuse risks on the one hand, and to quickly respond to emerging business opportunities on the other.

What makes a good OSINT analyst?

A good intelligence analyst knows and understands what is relevant to the customer and how to turn this sea of publicly-available info into useful insight. He or she should be proficient in the intelligence methodology, workflow and techniques, and of course be experts in the topic or region they are investigating. If I had to choose only one skill, then critical thinking is absolutely key. Of course, tech savviness helps as well. Like in every profession, there is also a constant process of learning.

What tools are usually used for gathering intelligence for businesses?

Any publicly-available source you can think of: Traditional and social media, commercial databases, and government records. But the good news is that you don’t need to be a technologist or pay a lot of money for expensive systems. With the right tools and techniques, you can turn your humble laptop into an OSINT platform.

What sort of intelligence can you gather from a user’s target name, email and phone no?

OSINT analysts often have to work with very partial and ambiguous data. Many investigations start with one piece of information, a user name for example, and end up with the analyst creating a full profile of the subject and a comprehensive map of their social, political and financial connections.

Going back to my earlier question on how businesses can use OSINT

Let’s talk about security. From terrorist attacks and criminal activities to property damage – multinational organizations’ employees and facilities are exposed to a wide range of violent and harmful acts.

OSINT can offer some solutions: Prior to deployment, we access, sift through and analyze multiple data sources to determine current and emerging crime hotspots and security flashpoints. We assess the geopolitical situation and local attitudes towards foreigners. While on the ground, we continue to monitor sources and provide the company with security alerts and expert reporting on the social and political climate in the region.

We can also try to inform the company of trends and changes in public opinion towards their organization and operations, as well as identify social media influencers.