Threat Hunting vs Threat Intelligence: What’s the difference?

When it comes to security, it's important to understand the difference between threat hunting and threat intelligence. Threat hunting is actively looking for unknown threats in your network, while threat intelligence focuses on gathering data on known threats to inform your defenses. 

Though distinct, these practices work hand in hand to strengthen your security posture, as shown by the 64% of organizations reporting measurable improvements through threat hunting efforts​. Understanding the nuances of both approaches is vital, especially as the global average cost of a data breach has surged by 10% to USD 4.88 million in 2024, underscoring the growing financial stakes of unaddressed threats.

This article will explore the key differences between threat hunting and threat intelligence, how they complement each other, and why integrating both into your security strategy is essential for safeguarding your organization.

Threat Hunting vs Threat Intelligence: Key Differences

Understanding the difference between threat hunting and threat intelligence is key to a good security strategy. Threat hunting is about looking proactively for hidden cyber threats in your network. Unlike traditional threat detection which reacts to known threats, threat hunting is about finding potential threats early to identify potential threats. This proactive approach means security teams get ahead of the cybercriminals by looking for patterns and anomalies that automated systems miss.

Threat intelligence is about gathering and analyzing data on current and emerging threats, often from past cyber attacks. This gives you insight into the threat landscape so you can understand the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of the threat actors to prepare and defend against specific threats. It's a reactive approach, mitigating risks based on the intelligence gathered. Implementing the right security controls based on this intelligence is key to defense.

Each has its benefits. Threat hunting allows you to detect and neutralize advanced threats, like file-less malware, that might slip past automated systems. Threat intelligence gives you the knowledge to build your defenses. Together they make a robust security framework, improving both proactive and reactive threat detection and response.

Together they can help you build better defenses against cyber threats. Threat hunters can use the intelligence gathered to focus their investigations and threat intelligence can use the findings from threat hunts to improve future analysis and detection.

Building an Effective Defense: Combining Threat Hunting and Threat Intelligence

In security, understanding the difference and overlap between threat hunting and threat intelligence is key to a good defense strategy. Both have their tools and perspectives to fight cyber threats but their strength is in using them together.

At Hunt.io, we've built a platform that seamlessly combines threat hunting and threat intelligence to help you stay ahead of evolving threats. Our HuntSQL™ lets you query vast datasets to uncover malicious patterns and indicators. At the same time, our AttackCapture™ Open Directory Intelligence provides real-time insights into malicious infrastructure, including active Command and Control (C2) servers used by threat actors. These tools empower you to find and neutralize threats before they can escalate.

We've also prioritized integration and efficiency. Our Threat Hunting API connects effortlessly with your existing security stack, streamlining workflows and ensuring faster threat detection and response. With advanced C2 detection capabilities, you'll have the tools to track down and neutralize malicious activity proactively. Our platform is the perfect example of how combining threat hunting with threat intelligence allows you to leverage the best of both worlds for a stronger, more effective security strategy.

Ready to see it in action? Book a demo today and experience how Hunt.io can improve your cyber threat hunting.

What is Threat Hunting?

Cyber threat hunting is a proactive security practice that finds potential cyber threats before they cause harm. Unlike traditional threat detection that reacts to known threats based on automated alerts, threat hunting looks proactively for unknown threats that have evaded these systems. This is necessary for advanced threats that often slip past standard security controls.

Threat hunters use their skills to find and contain advanced threats by looking for patterns and anomalies in the network. Their role as a threat hunter is central to organizational security, uncovering threats that automated systems miss.

Threat Hunter Role

Threat hunters find and neutralize threats that slip past automated defenses. A Security Operations Center (SOC) benefits from threat hunting as it accelerates investigations, and allows analysts to detect and mitigate risks more effectively. They do deep dives, often triggered by unusual activity or insight into emerging threats. By generating internal data and finding indicators of compromise (IOCs) they give you valuable insight into the threat actors.

It's a team sport, they need to work with other security teams to contain the threats they find. The skills and attention of threat hunters are key to a secure network environment as they have to adapt to new and emerging threats.

Tools and Techniques in Threat Hunting

Threat hunters use various tools and techniques to aid their investigations. A Security Operations Center (SOC) benefits from these tools as they accelerate investigations, and allow analysts to detect and mitigate risks more effectively. Intrusion detection systems use machine learning models to boost threat detection. Common threat hunting tools are Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools that give you insight into security alerts and endpoint threats and allow you to analyze large amounts of data to find anomalies.

Threat hunters also use methodologies like hypothesis-based investigations and machine learning to find hidden threats. Manual threat hunting techniques like log analysis, network traffic analysis, and vulnerability scanning are part of threat hunting. By using these tools and techniques threat hunters can find and contain advanced threats.

What is the purpose of Threat Hunting?

The purpose of threat hunting is to detect and contain threats before they cause harm. This is a proactive approach to find risks from advanced threats and deal with them before they hit your network and data.

What is Threat Intelligence?

Threat intelligence gives you the knowledge to prevent or mitigate cyber threats. It's about collecting and analyzing data on current and emerging threats to give you insight into the threat landscape. Understanding the motivations, techniques, and tactics of the threat actors allows you to build a proactive defense.

Good threat intelligence collection is collecting data from multiple sources including past cyber incidents to get a full view of the threats. This intelligence is key to making informed security decisions and preparing for specific threats.

Threat Intelligence Sources

The quality and quantity of the data collected are key to threat intelligence. Platforms gather data from multiple sources including automated feeds and manual research to give you a full view of the threats. Sophisticated algorithms combine data from different sources to give more context and relevance to the insights.

By combining data from multiple sources, threat intelligence platforms give you a better view of the threat landscape so you can find and respond to threats.

Types

Threat intelligence comes in many flavors, each for different decision-making purposes. Strategic intelligence is for high-level decisions and looks at long-term threats, giving you insight into the overall threat landscape. Tactical intelligence is for specific threats and incidents and gives you detailed information on the threat actors and their methods.

Operational intelligence guides the processes and procedures to contain threats and technical intelligence is about the technical aspects of threats, malware analysis, and exploitation techniques.

These types of threat intelligence are key to making informed security decisions and building a full defense.

Threat Intelligence in Security Operations

Including threat intelligence in security operations makes you more secure. Security controls informed by threat intelligence and real-time threat hunting are key to mitigating cyber threats. Advanced threat intelligence tools give you faster analyst response times and stop attacks. Behavioral analysis systems and other common security tools monitor system behavior and detect anomalies.

Big data processing and clustering methods help threat hunters process large log files and machine learning models to find known attack patterns.

Including threat intelligence in the security operations center allows security teams to build a proactive strategy and be more resilient to cyber threats.

Threat Hunting vs Threat Intelligence

While both threat hunting and threat intelligence are part of a good security strategy, they are different in approach and purpose. Threat hunting is proactive, actively looking for hidden threats in the network to find potential threats, so you can find and contain threats before they become attacks.

Threat intelligence is reactive, collecting and analyzing data about potential threats to inform security controls. Understanding the threat landscape and the tactics of the threat actors allows you to prepare and defend against specific threats. Implementing adaptive security based on threat intelligence insights is key to mitigating cyber threats.

Proactive vs Reactive

Threat hunting is proactive, guided by threat indicators. Threat intelligence is reactive, responding to existing alerts and information based on current threat analysis.

The proactive nature of threat hunting allows you to find and contain threats early, and threat intelligence responds to incidents after the fact.

Skills and Expertise

The skills required for threat hunters and threat intelligence analysts are very different. Threat hunters must have deep knowledge of systems, networks, user behavior, and an attacker's mindset to find and contain threats.

On the other hand, threat intelligence requires analytical skills and the ability to process and make sense of large amounts of data to give you insights.

Tools and Methods

Threat hunting tools like SIEM systems, EDR tools, and threat hunting platforms are used for active threat hunting. Threat hunters also use manual methods like log analysis and network traffic analysis to find hidden threats.

Threat intelligence uses gathering and analyzing information from multiple sources to inform security controls and build defense.

How Threat Hunting and Threat Intelligence Work Together

Combining threat hunting and threat intelligence makes you more able to detect and respond to cyber threats. By doing so you can address threats before they become major security incidents.

Threat hunters work with roles like threat analysts and incident responders to enhance investigation and improve security operations, so you can build more resilient defenses against cyber threats.

Adding Threat Intelligence to Threat Hunting

Threat intelligence gives threat hunters context around current and emerging threats. It helps threat hunters understand behavioral patterns and details about the threat actors, so investigations are more focused and effective. Hypothesis-driven investigations often use frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK.

Knowing the adversary helps threat hunters know what they want, which is key to knowing what they will do next. Adding threat intelligence to threat hunting makes it more proactive and reduces initial response times.

Threat Detection with Both

Combining threat intelligence with threat hunting makes threat detection much better and response times faster. By doing so security teams can find and fix vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, and overall defenses are stronger.

Knowing the background and behavior of the threat actors helps you tailor your security controls and predict the attacks. This combined approach means more informed risk mitigation and faster response to emerging threats.

Threat Hunting Methods

Threat hunting uses different methods to find advanced threats within the network. These methods are structured, unstructured, and ad hoc, each addressing different aspects of threat detection.

Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are being used more and more to improve the accuracy of threat identification during hunts. These advanced technologies help threat hunters process large amounts of data and find unusual patterns that may be threats.

Hypothesis Driven Investigations

Hypothesis-driven investigations are a common threat hunting method. Threat hunters start by forming a testable and focused hypothesis based on attacker tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). This guides their investigation and helps them find potential threats.

After forming a hypothesis threat hunters use log analysis and other methods to find evidence to support or disprove their hypothesis. Unusual behavior often triggers these investigations which leads to finding hidden threats in the network.

Indicator-Based Searching

Indicator-based searching involves actively looking for known indicators of attack (IoAs) and indicators of compromise (IoCs). Threat hunters use these indicators to detect malicious activity (like C2 servers) and trigger prevention mechanisms so they can respond faster to security incidents.

Behavioural Analysis and Machine Learning

Behavioral analysis is key to finding deviations from normal user or system behavior, which means potential threats. Machine learning helps threat hunting by automating the finding of unusual patterns in data, making it more efficient and accurate.

Threat Intelligence Collection and Analysis Methods

Threat intelligence collection and analysis involves collecting and evaluating data to get actionable insight. Methods used are data aggregation, correlation, threat actor profiling, and real-time threat intelligence feeds, all of which give a complete view of potential threats.

Indicators of attack (IoAs) and indicators of compromise (IoCs) are key to finding active and past threats respectively. These indicators help security teams detect and respond to cyber threats.

Data Aggregation and Correlation

Threat intelligence platforms aggregate data from multiple sources to give a complete view of security events. These platforms use correlation engines to find patterns across different security events, to find hidden relationships, and to improve threat detection.

Threat Actor Profiling

Profiling threat actors involves looking at their behavior, tactics, and targets to get insight into their motivation. This gives a better understanding of how cybercriminals operate, so organizations can predict what they will do and who they will target.

By knowing the behavior and tactics of threat actors, security teams can develop better defense strategies and predict threats before they happen.

Real-Time Threat Intelligence Feeds

Real-time threat intelligence feeds are key to keeping organizations up to date with the latest emerging threats. These feeds give organizations continuous updates so they can respond quickly and effectively to vulnerabilities, to reduce risk.

Benefits of Threat Hunting and Threat Intelligence

Combining threat hunting and threat intelligence gives you a synergy that makes you more secure. By doing both you can have a more complete defense against evolving threats and fewer breaches.

Threat hunting and threat intelligence together give you better decision-making on risk mitigation and better threat detection and response. This is key to building a secure threat hunting framework.

Faster Threat Detection and Response

The combination of threat hunting and threat intelligence means faster identification and response to threats. By doing both you can reduce the dwell time of attackers in your network and minimize damage.

Threat hunting with threat intelligence means quicker anomaly detection which means faster and more effective security incident response. This is key to a strong security posture.

Stronger Security Posture

Doing both means your organization is more secure against advanced cyber attacks. This combined approach helps security teams build a defense against all types of cyber threats.

Less Chance of Cyber Attacks

Using both threat hunting and threat intelligence proactively reduces the chance of successful cyber attacks. By finding and fixing threats before they can cause harm, organizations can reduce the likelihood of cyber breaches and protect their network and data.

Conclusion

In summary, knowing the differences and benefits of threat hunting and threat intelligence is key to your organization's security. Threat hunting's proactivity and threat intelligence's insight together make you more secure.

By doing both you can improve your threat detection and response, your security posture and reduce the chance of cyber attacks. Do both and you'll be ready for the evolving threat landscape.

Book a demo to see how Hunt.io helps organizations achieve advanced threat hunting powered by actionable threat intelligence data.