Threat Intelligence Sharing: Communities and Frameworks – Blogs Christian Sajere Cybersecurity and IT Infrastructure

In today’s increasingly interconnected digital landscape, cybersecurity threats are evolving at an unprecedented pace. Organizations worldwide are recognizing that combating these sophisticated threats requires more than individual defense strategies. It demands collaborative approaches through threat intelligence sharing communities and standardized frameworks. This comprehensive analysis examines the current state of threat intelligence sharing, explores key frameworks and communities, and provides insights into how organizations can leverage these collaborative efforts to enhance their cybersecurity posture.

Threat intelligence sharing represents a paradigm shift from traditional, siloed cybersecurity approaches to collaborative defense strategies. As cyber adversaries become more sophisticated and organized, the cybersecurity community has responded by developing platforms, frameworks, and communities that enable organizations to share threat indicators, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) in real-time. This collective intelligence approach amplifies individual organizational capabilities and creates a more resilient global cybersecurity ecosystem.

The Australian cybersecurity landscape exemplifies this collaborative approach. The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has established comprehensive threat intelligence sharing mechanisms through its Cyber Security Partnership Program and the Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing platform to support Australian organisations in combating state-based cyber threats. These initiatives demonstrate how national cybersecurity agencies are facilitating information sharing to protect critical infrastructure and private sector organizations.

The Current Threat Landscape

Recent threat intelligence reports paint a concerning picture of the global cybersecurity environment. IBM’s X-Force 2025 Threat Intelligence Index¹ reveals alarming trends in cyber attacks, with Asia and North America collectively accounting for nearly 60% of all attacks that IBM X-Force responded to globally, with Asia experiencing 34% and North America 24% of incidents. This geographic distribution highlights the global nature of cyber threats and the need for international cooperation in threat intelligence sharing.

The manufacturing sector has emerged as a primary target, experiencing the brunt of ransomware attacks for the fourth consecutive year. This sector-specific targeting demonstrates how threat actors are becoming more strategic in their approach, focusing on industries that are critical to economic stability and have significant operational dependencies on digital infrastructure.

One of the most concerning trends identified in recent threat intelligence is the dramatic increase in credential theft. Infostealers fueled the staying power of identity-based attacks, increasing by 84% on a weekly average, according to IBM’s X-Force 2025 Threat Intelligence Index² data. This statistic underscores the evolution of threat actor tactics and the importance of sharing intelligence about credential-based attack methods across organizations.

Critical infrastructure faces particular vulnerabilities, with 26% of attacks against critical infrastructure in 2024 exploiting known vulnerabilities in internet-accessible applications. This exploitation pattern often occurs because critical infrastructure organizations lag in deploying patches or rely on outdated technology stacks. The challenge is compounded by the fact that over 300,000 unique Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) have been identified, making it difficult for organizations to prioritize patching efforts without comprehensive threat intelligence.

Major Threat Intelligence Sharing Communities

IBM X-Force Exchange

IBM X-Force Exchange represents one of the most comprehensive threat intelligence sharing platforms in the cybersecurity industry. The platform enables research on security threats, aggregation of intelligence, and collaboration with peers across various sectors. IBM’s approach to threat intelligence sharing is grounded in extensive data collection, monitoring over 150 billion security events per day across more than 130 countries according to IBM’s X-Force 2025 Threat Intelligence Index³.

The platform’s strength lies in its ability to provide contextualized threat intelligence that helps organizations understand not just what threats exist, but how they operate and impact similar organizations. This contextual approach is crucial for effective threat intelligence sharing, as it allows organizations to apply shared intelligence to their specific operational contexts.

Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing

The Australian Signals Directorate has established a sophisticated threat intelligence sharing ecosystem through its Cyber Security Partnership Program. This initiative supports Australian organizations in combating state-based cyber threats through collaborative intelligence sharing mechanisms. The ASD’s approach is particularly notable for its focus on national security implications and its integration with broader defense strategies.

The ASD’s Annual Cyber Threat Report 2023-2024⁴ provides comprehensive insights into the cyber threats affecting Australian businesses, organizations, and individuals. These reports demonstrate the continued exploitation of Australian networks and highlight the importance of collaborative defense approaches. The ASD’s commitment to making Australia the most secure place to connect online is supported by comprehensive threat understanding and proactive advice sharing with government, businesses, and the community.

Microsoft Security Intelligence Community

Microsoft has emerged as a significant player in threat intelligence sharing through its Digital Defense Report series and various security intelligence initiatives. The Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2024⁵ addresses cyber threats and AI, offering insights and guidance to help enhance security and stay ahead of risks. Microsoft’s approach is particularly notable for its integration of artificial intelligence capabilities into threat intelligence sharing.

Recent initiatives include Microsoft’s European Security Program, which, according to “Microsoft launches new European Security Program,”⁶ was launched to help governments across Europe respond to cyber threats through expanded AI-powered intelligence sharing, cross-border collaboration, and long-term digital resilience. This program demonstrates how major technology companies are facilitating government-to-government threat intelligence sharing.

Microsoft’s collaboration with other industry leaders, such as their strategic partnership with CrowdStrike to create alignment across threat actor taxonomies, according to its release “Announcing a new strategic collaboration to bring clarity to threat actor naming,”⁷ shows the evolution toward standardized threat intelligence sharing. This collaboration aims to help security professionals connect insights faster by providing consistent threat actor naming conventions and attribution frameworks.

Key Frameworks and Standards

MISP (Malware Information Sharing Platform)

MISP represents one of the most widely adopted open-source threat intelligence platforms. The platform operates on the principles of sharing, storing, correlating, and analyzing threat intelligence data. MISP’s open standards for threat information sharing have made it a cornerstone of collaborative cybersecurity efforts across various sectors, including targeted attack response, financial fraud prevention, and counter-terrorism operations.

The platform’s strength lies in its flexibility and extensibility, allowing organizations to customize their threat intelligence sharing based on specific operational requirements. MISP’s taxonomy system enables standardized categorization of threats, making it easier for organizations to share and consume threat intelligence effectively.

STIX/TAXII Framework

The Structured Threat Information eXpression (STIX) and Trusted Automated eXchange of Indicator Information (TAXII) frameworks provide standardized approaches to threat intelligence sharing, as can be seen in “Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS) Trusted Automated Exchange of Intelligence Information (TAXIITM) Server Connection Guide.”⁸ These frameworks enable automated sharing of cyber threat information in a structured format, facilitating machine-to-machine communication and reducing the time between threat identification and defensive action.

The adoption of STIX/TAXII standards has been crucial in enabling interoperability between different threat intelligence platforms and tools. This standardization ensures that threat intelligence shared through one platform can be consumed and acted upon by systems using different technologies and approaches.

Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Framework

Modern threat intelligence sharing relies on robust integration frameworks that ingest and normalize diverse data sources, open feeds, commercial vendors, internal logs, and apply AI-powered correlation engines to link indicators of compromise (IOCs), tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), and alerts across domains. The resulting threat intelligence is output in standardized formats like STIX, JSON, or syslog, allowing seamless integration into Security Operations Center (SOC) workflows including SIEM, SOAR, firewalls, and ticketing systems, as can be seen in Google Cloud’s “Unveiling Mandiant’s Cyber Threat Intelligence Program Maturity Assessment”⁹ and Microsoft’s “Key layers for developing a Smarter SOC with CyberProof-managed Microsoft Azure security services.”¹⁰ These frameworks are designed for flexibility across hybrid, multicloud, and on-premise environments, ensuring broad adoption and operational impact.

Benefits of Collaborative Threat Intelligence Sharing

Enhanced Threat Detection Capabilities

Collaborative threat intelligence sharing significantly enhances organizational threat detection capabilities by providing access to indicators of compromise (IOCs) and attack patterns that may not be visible within individual organizational environments. This expanded visibility enables proactive threat hunting and early warning systems that can identify threats before they cause significant damage.

The network effect of collaborative sharing means that each organization’s threat intelligence contributions multiply the defensive capabilities of all participants. This collective intelligence approach is particularly effective against advanced persistent threats (APTs) that may target multiple organizations using similar tactics and techniques.

Improved Attribution and Context

Threat intelligence sharing communities provide valuable context about threat actors, their motivations, and their typical targets. This attribution information helps organizations understand whether they are likely targets for specific threat groups and enables more focused defensive strategies. The contextual information also assists in prioritizing security investments and resource allocation.

Microsoft’s research in “Staying ahead of threat actors in the age of AI”¹¹ on emerging AI threats, focusing on threat actors like Forest Blizzard, Emerald Sleet, and Crimson Sandstorm, demonstrates how collaborative intelligence sharing can provide detailed insights into specific threat actor behaviors and capabilities. This level of detail enables organizations to develop targeted countermeasures and defensive strategies.

Accelerated Response Times

Automated threat intelligence sharing platforms enable near real-time dissemination of threat indicators and defensive measures. This rapid sharing capability is crucial in containing threats before they spread across multiple organizations or sectors. The automation aspects of modern threat intelligence sharing platforms ensure that defensive actions can be implemented quickly without waiting for manual analysis and distribution processes.

Cost-Effective Security Enhancement

Participating in threat intelligence sharing communities provides organizations with access to sophisticated threat intelligence capabilities without the need to develop these capabilities independently. This shared approach to threat intelligence represents a cost-effective method for enhancing organizational cybersecurity posture, particularly for smaller organizations that may lack the resources to maintain comprehensive threat intelligence programs.

Challenges in Threat Intelligence Sharing

Privacy and Confidentiality Concerns

Organizations often hesitate to share threat intelligence due to concerns about revealing sensitive information about their operations, vulnerabilities, or incident response capabilities. These privacy concerns can limit the quantity and quality of shared intelligence, reducing the overall effectiveness of collaborative efforts.

Addressing privacy concerns requires sophisticated anonymization techniques and clear governance frameworks that protect organizational identities while enabling meaningful threat intelligence sharing. Legal frameworks and industry standards play crucial roles in establishing trust and encouraging participation in sharing communities.

Data Quality and Standardization Issues

The effectiveness of threat intelligence sharing depends heavily on the quality and standardization of shared data. Inconsistent data formats, varying levels of detail, and different classification schemes can reduce the utility of shared intelligence. Organizations must invest in data normalization and quality assurance processes to ensure that shared intelligence is actionable and accurate.

The challenge of data standardization is particularly acute in international threat intelligence sharing, where different countries and regions may have varying standards, legal requirements, and operational procedures. Developing global standards while accommodating local requirements remains an ongoing challenge for the threat intelligence sharing community.

Trust and Reciprocity

Successful threat intelligence sharing communities require high levels of trust between participants and mechanisms to ensure reciprocal sharing. Organizations that primarily consume threat intelligence without contributing their own insights can create imbalances that undermine the collaborative nature of these communities.

Building trust requires transparent governance structures, clear sharing agreements, and mechanisms for verifying the quality and reliability of shared intelligence. Industry associations and government agencies often play important roles in facilitating trust-building activities and establishing shared norms and standards.

Emerging Trends and Future Directions

AI-Powered Threat Intelligence

The integration of artificial intelligence capabilities into threat intelligence sharing platforms represents a significant evolution in collaborative cybersecurity. AI systems can automatically analyze vast amounts of threat data, identify patterns and correlations that might be missed by human analysts, and generate predictive insights about emerging threats.

Microsoft’s research on AI-powered threat intelligence demonstrates how machine learning algorithms can enhance threat detection capabilities and accelerate the identification of new attack patterns. These AI capabilities are particularly valuable in processing the massive volumes of threat data generated by modern threat intelligence sharing communities.

Automated Defense Integration

Future threat intelligence sharing platforms will likely feature deeper integration with automated defense systems, enabling immediate implementation of defensive measures based on shared threat intelligence. This automation will reduce the time between threat identification and defensive action, creating more resilient cybersecurity ecosystems.

The development of automated defense integration requires careful consideration of false positive rates, system reliability, and failsafe mechanisms to prevent automated systems from disrupting legitimate business operations. Standards and frameworks for automated threat response will be crucial for widespread adoption of these capabilities.

Sector-Specific Sharing Communities

The trend toward sector-specific threat intelligence sharing communities reflects the recognition that different industries face unique threat landscapes and have specific operational requirements. These specialized communities can provide more targeted and relevant threat intelligence while addressing sector-specific privacy and regulatory concerns.

The success of sector-specific sharing communities depends on achieving critical mass of participants and developing governance structures that address the unique needs and constraints of each sector. Industry associations and regulatory bodies often play important roles in facilitating these specialized communities.

Best Practices for Organizations

Developing a Threat Intelligence Sharing Strategy

Organizations should develop comprehensive strategies for participating in threat intelligence sharing communities. These strategies should address data classification and handling procedures, privacy protection measures, and criteria for determining what information to share and with whom.

Effective threat intelligence sharing strategies require clear policies and procedures that enable rapid sharing while protecting sensitive organizational information. Training programs for security personnel are essential to ensure consistent implementation of sharing policies and procedures.

Implementing Technical Infrastructure

Successful participation in threat intelligence sharing communities requires appropriate technical infrastructure, including secure communication channels, data normalization capabilities, and integration with existing security tools and processes. Organizations should invest in platforms and tools that support standardized threat intelligence formats and protocols.

The technical infrastructure should be designed to accommodate future growth and evolution of threat intelligence sharing capabilities. Scalability and flexibility are important considerations for organizations planning long-term participation in sharing communities.

Building Internal Capabilities

Organizations should develop internal capabilities for consuming, analyzing, and acting upon shared threat intelligence. This includes training security analysts to interpret and apply threat intelligence, developing processes for integrating shared intelligence into security operations, and establishing metrics for measuring the effectiveness of threat intelligence sharing activities.

Building internal capabilities requires ongoing investment in personnel development, technology upgrades, and process improvement. Organizations should view threat intelligence sharing as a core competency that requires dedicated resources and attention.

Conclusion

Threat intelligence sharing represents a fundamental shift in cybersecurity strategy, moving from individual organizational defense to collaborative ecosystem protection. The evidence from major threat intelligence providers, including IBM X-Force, Microsoft, and the Australian Signals Directorate, demonstrates that collaborative approaches are essential for addressing the scale and sophistication of modern cyber threats.

The success of threat intelligence sharing communities depends on overcoming challenges related to privacy, data quality, and trust while leveraging emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and automation. Organizations that effectively participate in these communities gain significant advantages in threat detection, attribution, and response capabilities.

As cyber threats continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, the importance of collaborative threat intelligence sharing will only increase. Organizations that invest in developing robust threat intelligence sharing capabilities today will be better positioned to defend against tomorrow’s threats and contribute to the overall resilience of the global cybersecurity ecosystem.

The future of cybersecurity lies in collaboration, standardization, and automated sharing of threat intelligence. By embracing these principles and investing in the necessary infrastructure and capabilities, organizations can enhance their security posture while contributing to the collective defense of the digital ecosystem.

References

IBM, “IBM X-Force 2025 Threat Intelligence Index”, 2025 https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/2025-threat-intelligence-index ↩︎
IBM, “IBM X-Force 2025 Threat Intelligence Index”, 2025 https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/2025-threat-intelligence-index ↩︎
IBM, “IBM X-Force 2025 Threat Intelligence Index”, 2025 https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/2025-threat-intelligence-index ↩︎
Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), “Annual Cyber Threat Report 2023-2024”, 2024 https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/view-all-content/reports-and-statistics/annual-cyber-threat-report-2023-2024 ↩︎
Microsoft, “Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2024”, 2024 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/security-insider/intelligence-reports/microsoft-digital-defense-report-2024 ↩︎
Microsoft, “Microsoft launches new European Security Program”, 2025 https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2025/06/04/microsoft-launches-new-european-security-program/ ↩︎
Microsoft, “Announcing a new strategic collaboration to bring clarity to threat actor naming”, 2025 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/06/02/announcing-a-new-strategic-collaboration-to-bring-clarity-to-threat-actor-naming/ ↩︎
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, “Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS) Trusted Automated Exchange of Intelligence Information (TAXIITM) Server Connection Guide”, 2021 https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/TAXII%2520Server%2520Connection%2520Guide%2520V2.0_508.pdf ↩︎
Google Cloud, “Unveiling Mandiant’s Cyber Threat Intelligence Program Maturity Assessment”, 2024 https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/identity-security/cti-program-maturity-assessment/ ↩︎
Microsoft, “Key layers for developing a Smarter SOC with CyberProof-managed Microsoft Azure security services”, 2020 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2020/11/17/key-layers-for-developing-a-smarter-soc-with-cyberproof-managed-microsoft-azure-security-services/ ↩︎
Microsoft, “Staying ahead of threat actors in the age of AI”, 2024 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2024/02/14/staying-ahead-of-threat-actors-in-the-age-of-ai/ ↩︎

At Christian Sajere Cybersecurity and IT Infrastructure, we understand that effective threat intelligence sharing is crucial for staying ahead of evolving cyber threats. Our expert team helps organizations develop comprehensive threat intelligence strategies, implement collaborative sharing frameworks, and build the technical capabilities needed to participate effectively in threat intelligence communities. Partner with us to transform your cybersecurity approach from reactive to proactive, leveraging the power of collaborative intelligence to protect your organization and contribute to the broader cybersecurity ecosystem.

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