They don’t:
⛔ Jump on the news cycle and scare their stakeholders unduly
⛔ Talk only about the data and make it look like intelligence
⛔ Say things like “It is obvious to everyone that….”
⛔ Think technology solves all problems (AI anyone??)
They do:
✅ Reflect on the stakeholder’s needs and the organisation as a whole
✅ Consider data, information, AND other intelligence and put that into context and their knowledge about the topic
✅ Clarify their assumptions and weaknesses in their assessments and which steps they took to rectify those issues
✅ Analyse the possible benefits and ethical implications of technology
✅ Use Structured Analytical Techniques (SATs) in their work
Sometimes, we need to take a step back, be the voice of reason, and say things like, “No, sir, that threat isn’t relevant to us, and here’s why…”
Being a good analyst requires many attributes, such as the right attitude, curiosity, and skills, but only one of them can be taught.
Hire the right people and teach them the rest (if they don’t already know it).
Give them the good kind of training, not the easy but insanely expensive one!
Are you interested in learning these skills? Start your journey to becoming a proficient Intelligence Analyst today.
