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Open Source Intelligence

What is Open Source Intelligence?

The collection and analysis of publicly available information from open sources to support security investigations and threat intelligence activities.

Information Security

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as open source intelligence. The number is how many controls name both.

What the standards actually require on open source intelligence

Requirements naming open source intelligence across 4 standards, quoted from the control text.

FIRST CSIRT Services Framework v2.1 Service Area 4 - Situational Awareness. SCOPE: maintaining + sharing operational + tactical + strategic awareness of the cyber threat landscape relevant to the constituency.

FIRST-CSIRTF-SA4-SituationalAwareness · Service Area 4 - Situational Awareness and Threat Intelligence

Lloyds MS11.7 Threat Detection and Security Monitoring - 24/7/365 Security Operations Centre (SOC) capability internal or via Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) + Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) covering identity + network + endpoint + c...

LLOYDS-MS11-Threat-Detection-Security-Monitoring-Email-Phishing-Defences-MS11-7-12-SOC-EDR-XDR-SIEM · Lloyds MS11 Threat Detection + Security Monitoring + Email + Phishing + MS11.7-12
PTES1 control

Open source intelligence collection must enumerate public information about the target organisation, infrastructure, personnel, and technology stack without direct interaction with target assets.

PTES-INT-1 · Passive Intelligence Gathering

Questions people ask about open source intelligence

What is Open Source Intelligence?
The collection and analysis of publicly available information from open sources to support security investigations and threat intelligence activities.
Why is Open Source Intelligence important for compliance?
Open Source Intelligence is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding open source intelligence helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Open Source Intelligence?
Open Source Intelligence appears in the requirement text of FIRST CSIRT Services Framework and Standards, Lloyd's Minimum Standards - Cyber Security, Monetary Authority of Singapore Technology Risk Management Guidelines, PTES. Across these standards we have identified 4 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Open Source Intelligence?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how open source intelligence applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 686 frameworks.

See how Open Source Intelligence applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.