What Skills and Education Do You Need to Work in Threat Intelligence Management?

Terrorist threats require effective detection, prevention, and response. That’s why professionals in the field of threat intelligence management need a solid educational foundation along with sound intuition and finely honed critical thinking skills. Do you have what it takes? There are life and death situations that need the right people with the right skills to step up. Whether your work within the intelligence community or in private industry, the field has numerous opportunities to protect, serve, and grow your career.

Education for Threat Intelligence Management

Most Threat Intelligence Managers have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Intelligence Management, computer science, information technology, or business administration. But you may be able to enter the field with a general studies degree and a certificate in intelligence analysis. And a Master’s degree in Intelligence Management or business analytics will help you develop high level skills that can result in more opportunities for management and leadership roles.

Technical Skills Needed to Work in Intelligence Management

Information Technology

Modern intelligence gathering, surveillance, and data analysis rely on advanced technologies. You need a good working knowledge of information technology and computer science, including computer systems, intra and internets, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics.

Open-Source Intelligence

Open-source intelligence refers to any information that you can find on a website, a social media page, or public information such as real estate purchases or census data. Intelligence analysts use these sources to identify threats and enter the security network of a potential enemy. You need to access a variety of sources and separate relevant information from all the rest.

Database Management and Data Mining

Databases provide mountains of information that contain nuggets of truth, but you need to know how to sort, analyze, and retrieve what’s relevant. Data mining is how you search through at all that information to find patterns, connections, and anomalies that might help you predict what happens next. You need to be thorough, but efficient.

Threat Analysis and Assessment

As an intelligence analyst or counterterrorism professional, you always need to be on the lookout for what could happen. Your data mining capabilities can help you find potential threats and assess their likelihood of becoming an imminent danger. Once the threat is analyzed and assessed, you and your team work to formulate an appropriate defensive action.

Languages

Because threats come from within and outside of our borders, fluency in a foreign language can be a differentiator for your career. Government agencies especially seek out employees who are proficient in Arabic, Russian, and Chinese. Do you speak the language of a potential enemy?

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity skills help you protect critical systems and online data from digital attacks. Accompany basic tech skills with advanced digital forensics abilities and you can identify cybersecurity threats, solve problems, and devise strategies to prevent cyberattacks.

Soft Skills for Threat Intelligence Management

Problem Solving

In many ways threat intelligence is one big puzzle. Whether it’s a glitch in a system, missing pieces of data, or gaps in security, there’s always a problem to solve. Your job will always be to uncover issues or correct mistakes before they escalate into serious threats.

Attention to Detail

To solve problems, you need to be observant and detail oriented. You need a consistent process for keeping records and the ability to separate the unimportant information from the important.

Decision-Making

Especially as you advance in your career, you need to be able to gather all pertinent information and to make quick, data-driven decisions that address issues and provide solutions.

Communication

The ability to communicate across departments and through hierarchies is one of the top skills employers look for in their new hires. Whether you provide research and analysis to upper management or present public presentations, the more effectively you can communicate, the better your chances of producing results and finding success.

Other Helpful Skills and Experience

If you have military experience that involved intelligence gathering or analysis, this will help you to get a job in Threat Intelligence Management. A U.S. security clearance also helps you stand out from the competition for any type of intelligence management job to show that extensive background checks have taken place.

At National American University, we offer degree and certificate programs in Intelligence Management that can provide you with the education you need to work in the field. And our experienced faculty can help you hone your soft skills so you’re ready with the knowledge and skills employers demand. Call 800-209-0182 to speak to a counselor or click learn more.