Business Leaders Overlook Key Threat Intelligence Insights
▼ Summary
– A new paper warns that business leaders often misunderstand threat intelligence, creating an “intelligence-stakeholder gap” that can leave organizations vulnerable to cyber threats.
– The gap means threat intelligence teams may produce useful insights that go unnoticed or are misinterpreted by decision-makers, hindering resource approvals and expansion.
– To close the gap, intelligence teams must understand their business stakeholders and communicate in ways that match what leaders need to prioritize risk and act.
– Threat intelligence briefings should include clarity on enterprise exposure and a forward-looking risk posture to inform leadership decisions and provide early risk warnings.
– Regular feedback from stakeholders helps refine threat intelligence programs and assures senior leaders that their investments are based on sound frameworks.
A critical disconnect between threat intelligence teams and business leadership is leaving organizations dangerously exposed to cyberattacks, according to new research. Many executives simply do not understand what threat intelligence is or how it can protect their company.
The report, Bridging the Gap Between Threat Intelligence and Business Risk, released by Silobreaker and the SANS Institute at Infosecurity Europe 2026, explores how differing perceptions of security risks between intelligence specialists and other business units create a dangerous blind spot. This “intelligence-stakeholder gap” means that even when a team produces high-quality, relevant threat data, it often goes unnoticed or is misinterpreted by senior leaders.
This lack of visibility has real consequences. Without executive buy-in, threat intelligence teams struggle to secure funding for additional staff, tools, or processes. The result is a stalled security program that leaves the organization more vulnerable to evolving threats.
To bridge this divide, the report argues that intelligence teams must first understand their audience. They need to know who their stakeholders are, how to communicate effectively, and what kind of outputs will prompt a meaningful response. As Geoff Brown, CEO of Silobreaker, put it: “Threat intelligence only delivers value when it changes decisions. Too often, there’s a disconnect between what analysts uncover and what senior leaders need to prioritise risk and act with confidence.”
Building Threat Intelligence for the Boardroom
The key is to tailor briefings and reports to the specific needs of senior leadership and risk management. The research identifies several critical components. First, intelligence must provide clarity on enterprise exposure, clearly outlining the primary cyber risks to the organization’s core mission. Second, it should offer a forward-looking risk posture, giving leaders the insights they need to update the company’s risk profile and adjust business-wide strategies. This creates an effective early warning system.
Speed is also paramount. Intelligence teams must not only react quickly to threats but also explain them succinctly. Senior leaders rarely have time for lengthy technical reports. A practical solution, the report suggests, is to regularly solicit feedback from stakeholders. “Continuous feedback allows for constant refinement of your threat intelligence program,” the report states. “The more you listen to your stakeholders, the stronger every aspect of your program will be.” This process also reassures executives that their investment is built on sound, well-adopted frameworks.
Silobreaker will expand on these strategies at Infosecurity Europe, taking place from June 2 to June 4. “We’ll be sharing practical ways to align intelligence with business risk, so insights reach the right stakeholders in a form they can use and drives clearer priorities and more effective responses,” Brown added. Silobreaker will be at booth #F49, while the SANS Institute will be at booth #F130, also offering on-site workshops for cybersecurity leaders on June 2 and 3.
(Source: Infosecurity Magazine)
