312-85 Exam Dumps - Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst (CTIA)

The correct sequence for scheduling a threat intelligence program involves starting with the foundational steps of defining the project scope and objectives, followed by detailed planning and scheduling of tasks. The sequence starts with reviewing the project charter (1) to understand the project's scope, objectives, and constraints. Next, building a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) (9) helps in organizing the team's work into manageable sections. Identifying all deliverables (2) clarifies the project's outcomes. Defining all activities (8) involves listing the tasks required to produce the deliverables. Identifying the sequence of activities (3) and estimating resources (7) and task dependencies (4) sets the groundwork for scheduling. Estimating the duration of each activity (6) is critical before developing the final schedule (5), which combines all these elements into a comprehensive plan. This approach ensures a structured and methodical progression from project initiation to execution.References:

• "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)," Project Management Institute
• "Cyber Intelligence-Driven Risk," by Intel471

Daniel's activities align with those typically associated with organized hackers. Organized hackers or cybercriminals work in groups with the primary goal of financial gain through illegal activities such as stealing and selling data. These groups often target large amounts of data, including personal and financial information, which they can monetize by selling on the black market or dark web. Unlike industrial spies who focuson corporate espionage or state-sponsored hackers who are backed by nation-states for political or military objectives, organized hackers are motivated by profit. Insider threats, on the other hand, come from within the organization and might not always be motivated by financial gain. The actions described in the scenario—targeting personal and financial information for sale—best fit the modus operandi of organized cybercriminal groups.References:

• ENISA (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity) Threat Landscape Report
• Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report

Incorporating a data management requirement in the threat knowledge repository is essential to provide the ability to modify or delete past or irrelevant threat data. Effective data management practices ensure that the repository remains accurate, relevant, and up-to-date by allowing for the adjustment and curation of stored information. This includes removing outdated intelligence, correcting inaccuracies, and updating information as new insights become available. A well-managed repository supports the ongoing relevance and utility of the threat intelligence, aiding in informed decision-making and threat mitigation strategies.References:

• "Building and Maintaining a Threat Intelligence Library," by Recorded Future
• "Best Practices for Creating a Threat Intelligence Policy, and How to Use It," by SANS Institute

For Alice to perform qualitative data analysis, techniques such as brainstorming, interviewing, SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis, and the Delphi technique are suitable. Unlike quantitative analysis, which involves numerical calculations and statistical modeling, qualitative analysis focuses on understanding patterns, themes, and narratives within the data. These techniques enable the analyst to explore the data's deeper meanings and insights, which are essential for strategic decision-making and developing a nuanced understanding of cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.References:

• "Qualitative Research Methods in Cybersecurity," SANS Institute Reading Room
• "The Delphi Method for Cybersecurity Risk Assessment," by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

The network administrator collected log files generated by a traffic monitoring system, which falls under the category of low-level data. This type of data might not appear useful at first glance but can reveal significant insights about network activity and potential threats upon thorough analysis. Low-level data includes raw logs, packet captures, and other granular details that, when analyzed properly, can help detect anomalous behaviors or indicators of compromise within the network. This type of information is essential for detection and response efforts, allowing security teams to identify and mitigate threats in real-time.References:

• "Network Forensics: Tracking Hackers through Cyberspace," by Sherri Davidoff and Jonathan Ham, Prentice Hall
• "Real-Time Detection of Anomalous Activity in Dynamic, Heterogeneous Information Systems," IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security

A gateway in a network functions as a node that routes traffic between different networks, such as from a local network to the internet. In the context of cyber threats, a gateway can be utilized to monitor and control the data flow to and from the network, helping in the identification and analysis of malware communications, including traffic to external command and control (C2) servers. This makes it an essential component in detecting installed malware within a network by observing anomalies or unauthorized communications at the network's boundary. Unlike repeaters, hubs, or network interface cards (NICs) that primarily facilitate network connectivity without analyzing the traffic, gateways can enforce security policies and detect suspicious activities.References:

• "Network Security Basics," Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals
• "Malware Command and Control Channels: A Journey," SANS Institute InfoSec Reading Room

Internal intelligence feeds are derived from data and information collected within an organization's own networks and systems. Jian's activities, such as real-time assessment of system activities and acquiring feeds from honeynets, P2P monitoring, infrastructure, and application logs, fall under the collection of internal intelligence feeds. These feeds are crucial for identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities within the organization and form a fundamental part of a comprehensive threat intelligence program. They contrast with external intelligence feeds, which are sourced from outside the organization and include information on broader cyber threats, trends, and TTPs of threat actors.References:

• "Building an Intelligence-Led Security Program" by Allan Liska
• "Threat Intelligence: Collecting, Analysing, Evaluating" by M-K. Lee, L. Healey, and P. A. Porras

True attribution in the context of cyber threats involves identifying the actual individual, group, or nation-state behind an attack or intrusion. This type of attribution goes beyond associating an attack with certain tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) or a known group and aims to pinpoint the real-world entity responsible. True attribution ischallenging due to the anonymity of the internet and the use of obfuscation techniques by attackers, but it is crucial for understanding the motive behind an attack and for forming appropriate responses at diplomatic, law enforcement, or cybersecurity levels.References:

• "Attribution of Cyber Attacks: A Framework for an Evidence-Based Analysis" by Jason Healey
• "The Challenges of Attribution in Cyberspace" in the Journal of Cyber Policy

To retrieve historical information about a company's website, including content that may have been removed or altered, Alison should use the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, accessible athttps://archive.org . The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web and other information on the Internet, providing free access to snapshots of websites at various points in time. This tool is invaluable for researchers and analysts looking to understand the evolution of a website or recover lost information.References:

• "Using the Wayback Machine for Cybersecurity Research," Internet Archive Blogs
• "Digital Forensics with the Archive's Wayback Machine," by Jeff Kaplan, Internet Archive

In the Analysis of Competing Hypotheses (ACH) process, the stage where Mr. Bob is applying analysis to reject hypotheses and select the most likely one based on listed evidence, followed by preparing a matrix with screened hypotheses and evidence, is known as the 'Refinement' stage. This stage involves refining the list of hypotheses by systematically evaluating the evidence against each hypothesis, leading to the rejection of inconsistent hypotheses and the strengthening of the most plausible ones. The preparation of a matrix helps visualize the relationship between each hypothesis and the available evidence, facilitating a more objective and structured analysis.References:

• "Psychology of Intelligence Analysis" by Richards J. Heuer, Jr., for the CIA's Center for the Study of Intelligence
• "A Tradecraft Primer: Structured Analytic Techniques for Improving Intelligence Analysis" by the CIA

The phase where threat intelligence analysts convert raw data into useful information by applying various techniques, such as machine learning or statistical methods, is known as 'Processing and Exploitation'. During this phase, collected data is processed, standardized, and analyzed to extract relevant information. This is a critical step in the threat intelligence lifecycle, transforming raw data into a format that can be further analyzed and turned into actionable intelligence in the subsequent 'Analysis and Production' phase.References:

• "Intelligence Analysis for Problem Solvers" by John E. McLaughlin
• "The Cyber Intelligence Tradecraft Project: The State of Cyber Intelligence Practices in the United States (Unclassified Summary)" by the Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute

A zero-day attack exploits vulnerabilities in software or hardware that are unknown to the vendor or for which a patch has not yet been released. These attacks are particularly dangerous because they take advantage of the window of time between the vulnerability's discovery and the availability of a fix, leaving systems exposed to potential exploitation. Zero-day attacks require a proactive and comprehensive approach to security, including the use of advanced threat detection systems and threat intelligence to identify and mitigate potential threats before they can be exploited.References:

• "Understanding Zero-Day Exploits," by MITRE
• "Zero-Day Threats: What They Are and How to Protect Against Them," by Symantec