Summary

  • The F3EAD intelligence loop is a cyber threat intelligence (CTI) model that turns raw data into actionable intelligence, and was originally developed for military operations.
  • The F3EAD loop stands for Find, Fix, Finish, Exploit, Analyze, and Disseminate, and operates as a cycle of continuously repeating processes.
  • The model is broken down into several key stages: triggering events are identified and relevant data is found to understand the threat; the data is then fixed to identify the who, what, where, when and how; next, the enemy is finished through analytical completion; following this, the data is exploited through specialist skills; finally, the intelligence is disseminated to the appropriate stakeholders.
  • The role of the F3EAD loop is to fuse intelligence analysis with ongoing operations, which in the context of CTI involves a focused approach on targeting high-value individuals in the cybersphere.

By Adam Goss

Original Article