Threat Intelligence Sources and Feeds
Discover open-source and commercial threat intelligence sources (ISACs, CVE, dark web monitoring) and how analysts consume them.
Threat Intelligence Sources and Feeds is a free Cloud & IT Cert Prep lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Cloud & IT Cert Prep learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
What Is Threat Intelligence?
Threat intelligence is processed, contextual info about threats. Raw data becomes intel once it answers who's targeting you and what to watch for — so you act early.
Types of Threat Intelligence
Intel comes in four levels: strategic trends for executives, operational campaigns for managers, tactical TTPs for architects, and technical IoCs for SOC analysts.
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
OSINT is free threat info from public sources — the CVE database, VirusTotal, Shodan, and vendor blogs. It's usually where security teams start.
# Query VirusTotal API for a file hash (OSINT)
curl 'https://www.virustotal.com/api/v3/files/275a021bbfb6489e54d471899f7db9d1663fc695ec2fe2a2c4538aabf651fd0f' \
-H 'x-apikey: YOUR_API_KEY'
# Returns detection results from 70+ antivirus enginesInformation Sharing: ISACs and ISAOs
An ISAC is an industry group where members share threats hitting their sector — like FS-ISAC for finance. You learn from peers facing the same attackers.
Commercial Threat Intelligence Feeds
Commercial feeds from vendors like CrowdStrike or Mandiant offer curated, low-noise intel with dark-web coverage that plugs straight into your SIEM. 💰
MITRE ATT&CK Framework
The MITRE ATT&CK framework catalogs the real tactics and techniques attackers use at every stage. Teams use it to map activity and find detection gaps.
Dark Web Monitoring
Dark web monitoring scans criminal marketplaces for your name or leaked credentials. Spotting stolen logins for sale can warn you of a breach before you'd know.
Threat Intelligence Sharing Formats
Two standards make sharing automatic: STIX defines how to describe threat data, and TAXII transports it. Together they let tools ingest intel with no manual work.
# Example STIX 2.1 Indicator object (JSON)
{
'type': 'indicator',
'id': 'indicator--8e2e2d2b-17d4-4cbf-938f-98d0f1b71a0a',
'pattern': "[ipv4-addr:value = '198.51.100.0']",
'pattern_type': 'stix',
'valid_from': '2026-06-01T12:00:00Z',
'indicator_types': ['malicious-activity']
}Government Threat Intelligence Sources
Governments publish free, trusted intel too. CISA advisories and its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, plus FBI and NIST feeds, are a baseline to subscribe to.
Consuming and Acting on Intelligence
Intel only matters if it drives action. The intelligence lifecycle runs from direction to collection, analysis, sharing, and feedback — then SOC teams act on it.
Intelligence Quality: Timeliness and Relevance
Good intel is timely, relevant, accurate, and actionable. A three-year-old indicator or floods of false positives just waste analyst time — retire noisy feeds.
Quick Check
Test your understanding of CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) concepts from this lesson.
Lesson Recap
Quick recap: intel runs strategic to technical, key sources are OSINT, ISACs, and CISA, MITRE ATT&CK maps TTPs, and STIX/TAXII automate sharing. Next: indicators of compromise.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Threat Intelligence Sources and Feeds” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Threat Intelligence Sources and Feeds” is free to read here on the web, and the Cloud & IT Cert Prep course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Cloud & IT Cert Prep course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Threat Intelligence Sources and Feeds”?
Discover open-source and commercial threat intelligence sources (ISACs, CVE, dark web monitoring) and how analysts consume them. You practise Cloud & IT Cert Prep with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Cloud & IT Cert Prep?
No prior experience is required. Cloud & IT Cert Prep on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Threat Intelligence Sources and Feeds” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Cloud & IT Cert Prep lesson?
Yes. Every Cloud & IT Cert Prep lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Types of Threat Actors
- Attack Vectors and Attack Surfaces
- Threat Intelligence Sources and Feeds
- Indicators of Compromise (IoC)