IPB / IPE for Cyber Threat Intelligence
Before we start it’s useful to understand what IPB/IPE is and how its used. We will then discuss how it has been adapted to fit Cyber Intelligence.
Intelligence Preparation of the Environment (IPE) or Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) is a systematic process used by military organizations to gather and analyze information on the operational environment in which they will be operating. The process involves a series of steps that aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the environment, including the terrain, weather, enemy capabilities, and civilian population, among other factors.
The IPB process involves the following steps:
Define the operational environment: This stage involves defining the physical and human geography of the area, including the terrain, climate, and population.
Describe the environment’s effects: This stage involves identifying how the environment will affect military operations, including factors such as mobility, visibility, and cover and concealment.
Evaluate the threat: In this stage, the enemy’s capabilities and intentions are assessed, including their organizational structure, tactics, and weapons.
Determine the enemy’s most likely course of action: Based on the information gathered in the previous step, this stage involves identifying the enemy’s most likely course of action.
Determine the enemy’s most dangerous course of action: This stage involves identifying the enemy’s most dangerous course of action, which is the course of action that poses the greatest risk to friendly forces.
Evaluate the friendly forces: This stage involves assessing the capabilities and limitations of friendly forces, including their strengths and weaknesses.
Develop intelligence products: In this stage, the information gathered in the previous steps is analyzed and synthesized to produce intelligence products, such as maps, briefings, and reports, which provide commanders with a comprehensive understanding of the operational environment.
Overall, the IPB process provides military commanders with the intelligence they need to plan and execute operations effectively, minimizing risk to friendly forces and maximizing the chances of success.
How its been adapted for the use within Cyber Threat Intelligence
Intelligence Preparation of the Environment (IPE) or Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) is a concept that has been adapted for use in cyber intelligence. In this context, the process involves the systematic gathering and analysis of information related to the cyber environment, including networks, systems, and infrastructure, in order to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities.
The process of IPE for cyber intelligence involves several steps:
Define the operational environment: This stage involves defining the scope of the cyber environment that will be assessed, including the networks, systems, and infrastructure that are relevant to the organization.
Describe the environment’s effects: This stage involves identifying how the cyber environment may affect the organization’s operations, including factors such as network traffic, bandwidth, and latency.
Evaluate the threat: In this stage, potential threats to the cyber environment are identified and assessed, including cybercriminals, hacktivists, state-sponsored actors, and insider threats.
Determine the most likely attack scenarios: Based on the information gathered in the previous step, this stage involves identifying the most likely attack scenarios that could be used against the organization.
Determine the most dangerous attack scenarios: This stage involves identifying the attack scenarios that pose the greatest risk to the organization in terms of potential impact on operations, reputation, or financial loss.
Evaluate the organization’s cybersecurity posture: This stage involves assessing the organization’s current cybersecurity posture, including strengths and weaknesses in areas such as network security, access controls, and incident response.
Develop intelligence products: In this stage, the information gathered in the previous steps is analyzed and synthesized to produce intelligence products, such as threat assessments, risk analyses, and cybersecurity recommendations.
Overall, the use of IPE in cyber intelligence provides organizations with a structured approach to gathering and analyzing information about the cyber environment, enabling them to identify and mitigate potential threats and vulnerabilities in a proactive manner.