Data Collection Techniques That Intelligence Analysts Use

Data collection is the bedrock of intelligence work. Intelligence analysts use various types of data collection techniques to transform raw information into actionable insights. Within the intelligence community — which encompasses 18 elements including the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Security Agency (NSA), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) — these insights help guide critical decisions made to protect U.S. citizens and infrastructure.

With the ever-evolving nature of data and its wide range of sources, intelligence gathering efforts continue to grow in scope and complexity. For example, in 2023, the ODNI reported a significant increase in the number of disclosed U.S. identities within foreign intelligence reports, according to the Wall Street Journal. The numbers tell a striking story: over 31,000 identities were revealed, nearly tripling the previous year’s 11,511.

From open source intelligence and the interview method of data collection to the tools and technologies used for social media monitoring and signals intelligence, analysts have many options when it comes to data collection techniques.

Individuals looking to go beyond simply knowing what data collection is and learning how to leverage data sources to help combat and prevent attacks should consider enrolling in an advanced degree program to upgrade their expertise and skills. For example, a Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies program can help individuals learn how to stay up to date on the latest data collection techniques and gain new skills that can help them address today’s critical intelligence and security challenges.

What Is Data Collection?

Data collection is a foundational process in determining intelligence threats. It involves gathering and storing information from various sources. Data collection is a critical step in the intelligence cycle in which raw data is gathered, analyzed and then transformed into actionable insights that guide decisions and strategies.

Given the sheer volume of data available, intelligence professionals must follow best practices to ensure the data they use is accurate, relevant and ethically sourced. Whether it comes from open sources, technical tools or human beings, the collected information must undergo rigorous processing and analysis to extract meaningful insights. By focusing on the data’s quality and security at every stage of the collection process, analysts can produce reliable intelligence that supports effective actions across the intelligence community.

This disciplined approach ensures that the information gathered not only meets current needs but also upholds the integrity of the intelligence process. Through effective data collection and analysis, intelligence professionals can confidently understand what the threat intelligence is saying and determine the next steps to mitigate risks.

What Is Threat Intelligence, and Why Is It Important for Intelligence Analysis?

Threat intelligence is the intelligence produced by gathering and analyzing information on current and emerging cyberthreats that is used to strengthen an organization’s defenses. For organizations of all sizes and in all industries, including government agencies, threat intelligence is essential to understanding the motives and tactics of threat actors, responding swiftly to incidents and taking proactive measures to protect systems and data.

Threat intelligence is categorized into three types: tactical, operational and strategic.

Tactical threat intelligence helps detect and respond to active cyberattacks. It focuses on indicators of compromise like IP addresses and file hashes. This intelligence supports incident response and threat-hunting teams.
Operational threat intelligence provides a deeper understanding of threat actors’ behaviors and strategies. It helps predict and prevent attacks by identifying likely adversaries and prioritizing vulnerabilities.
Strategic threat intelligence gives a high-level overview of the global threat landscape. It helps leaders align their organization’s risk management and investment strategies with the cyberthreat environment.

Threat intelligence adds crucial context to security alerts, helping teams distinguish real risks from routine anomalies. This enables organizations to launch a focused response to genuine threats.

With quality threat intelligence, organizations can shift from reacting to incidents to anticipating them — preventing attacks before they happen. At the executive level, threat intelligence offers a clear view of the threat landscape, helping leaders prioritize their organization’s resources and investments according to the most significant risks.

To understand what threat intelligence is, it helps to consider the elements of the threat intelligence life cycle. Security teams employ a continuous, six-step process that helps them maintain a clear and current view of all potential threats. The six steps are as follows:

Planning: Security teams collaborate with stakeholders to clarify what they need to know about potential threats. This step defines the focus of the data collection, so the team’s efforts align with the organization’s security priorities.
Data Collection: Teams gather raw data from sources such as threat intelligence feeds, internal logs and professional communities. This information sets the stage for deeper analysis.
Processing: Collected data is organized and filtered to bring forward the most relevant insights, making it easier to spot key trends and patterns.
Analysis: Security analysts evaluate the processed data to identify potential threats and risks, turning raw information into clear, actionable intelligence for the organization.
Dissemination: Findings and recommendations are shared with key stakeholders, who may, based on these insights, update the organization’s security tools or block any suspicious activity.
Feedback: The team reviews how effectively the cycle met its goals and identifies new questions or needs to guide the next round.

Types of Data Collection

Security teams can use any of several different methods to gather information and turn it into valuable intelligence. The data collection process can focus on a single source or combine multiple types of sources to provide a more complete picture. For example, information might come from open sources like news reports, or from more specialized methods like imagery intelligence (IMINT) or measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT).

The specific types of intelligence analysis security teams use depend on the issues at hand, such as ongoing concerns about terrorism or cybercrime. Collectors assess what has already been gathered to plan new efforts, ensuring that each piece of data is relevant and contributes to the bigger picture.

Interview Method of Data Collection

The interview method of data collection is a qualitative approach that uses direct interactions, like face-to-face, phone or virtual conversations, to collect firsthand information on a specific target, situation or issue. As these are social interactions, an intelligence interview relies on the interviewer (the information collector) building rapport with the interviewee (the source) to gather insights that support national security, criminal investigations or military operations.

Effective interviewing uses open-ended questions, reflective listening and rapport-building techniques to encourage detailed, honest responses, with the accuracy and usefulness of the information paramount. Interview formats include:

Structured interviews follow a set of predetermined questions for consistency.
Unstructured interviews resemble a natural conversation, with the interviewer guiding the discussion to relevant topics.
Semistructured interviews combine a prepared set of questions with flexibility, balancing consistency with informality.

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)

Open source intelligence (OSINT) is the intelligence produced by collecting and analyzing legally accessible public information to meet specific intelligence needs. It is used by various professionals, including government agencies, law enforcement agencies, military departments, investigative journalists, private investigators and cybersecurity experts. OSINT supports activities such as identifying security threats, conducting market research and gathering foreign intelligence.

OSINT information is gathered from diverse public sources, including:

Public records
News media
Libraries
Social media platforms
Images and videos
Websites
The dark web

Social Media Monitoring

Social media monitoring is used to create what is known as social media intelligence (SOCMINT), a specific type of OSINT that is focused on gathering and analyzing data from government and nonstate actors on social media platforms. Social media monitoring often involves accessing data intended for specific audiences, adding privacy considerations to its practices. The field is nuanced, with variations in the types of information collected and the methods required to extract data across diverse platforms.

This type of data collection technique covers a wide range of types of social media platforms, including:

Social networking platforms (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn)
Media-sharing platforms (e.g., Instagram)
Forums (e.g., Reddit)
Image-sharing platforms (e.g., Pinterest)
Video-sharing platforms (e.g., YouTube)
Microblogging platforms (e.g., Twitter)
Social gaming platforms (e.g., Xbox Live)
Blogging platforms (e.g., WordPress)

Transactional Tracking

Transactional tracking in intelligence is the monitoring of financial transactions to identify and prevent illicit activities that range from terrorism financing to money laundering. Analysts using this data collection technique gather and analyze financial data to understand the behavior, capabilities and intentions of individuals or entities involved in suspicious activities.

Intelligence agencies, along with organizations like the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), use transactional tracking to identify the accounts of those linked to criminal or terrorist networks so they can target and freeze them.

Transactional tracking plays a crucial role in enhancing global security by dismantling financial networks that support criminal activities. Typical activities can include:

Analyzing patterns in financial transactions to identify suspicious activity
Tracing fund flows to detect connections between individuals or organizations
Building and maintaining lists of high-risk individuals and organizations for targeted monitoring

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)

Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is the intelligence produced by collecting and analyzing information transmitted by foreign electronic signals, including those from communications, radar and weapons systems, to understand the capabilities, actions and intentions of potential adversaries.

SIGINT serves national security purposes, helping U.S. government agencies protect the country, support allies, fight terrorism, combat international crime and aid in diplomatic efforts. The National Security Agency (NSA) oversees the collection, processing and dissemination of SIGINT with a committee advising on policy and managing intelligence requirements.

SIGINT has a global reach, often involving intercepted data in foreign languages or encrypted formats. These factors can make the processing of SIGINT complex, but timely interpretation is crucial to providing actionable intelligence for decision-makers.

Collecting SIGINT involves various technical methods, including:

Monitoring radio waves and satellite communications
Decoding encrypted messages
Intercepting telephone conversations
Analyzing open-source data
Using electronic equipment such as satellites, specialized aircraft, bugging devices and fiber optic interceptors

Human Intelligence (HUMINT)

Human intelligence (HUMINT) is the intelligence created from the collection, processing and analysis of information obtained directly from human interactions. Its unique focus is on understanding adversaries’ motivations, intentions and plans.

As one of the oldest forms of intelligence, HUMINT continues to be vital for national security. Unlike technical intelligence, HUMINT emphasizes the human element of information, providing essential context and insights that technical methods cannot determine.

HUMINT gathering is a data collection technique that encompasses various elements, including:

Interviews with witnesses or people of interest
Interrogations of suspects or detainees
Liaisons with informants for insider information
Surveillance of people of interest to gather behavioral data
Debriefings of personnel after assignments
Field intelligence operations in foreign or hostile settings

Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT)

Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) is the intelligence produced by collecting, analyzing and interpreting elements of imagery intelligence (IMINT) combined with geospatial information to create data tied to a specific location.

GEOINT is used across military and nonsecurity applications, including for tracking geographic changes, disaster response, agricultural planning and urban development. In military contexts, it plays a critical role in strategic planning and battlefield monitoring. GEOINT also supports emerging uses such as precision location tracking of mobile devices and vehicles, as well as ATM transaction analysis, which can be helpful in transactional tracking.

GEOINT benefits from advancements in technologies, including reusable rockets, small satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles and high-powered computing, which enhance data accessibility, quality and processing capabilities and predictive analytics. Adverse weather and lighting conditions can impact the quality of GEOINT images, but advanced technologies for processing and interpreting imagery effectively help overcome these challenges.

GEOINT sources include:

Visual photography
Infrared and radar sensors
Lasers and electro-optics
Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery
Satellite imagery
Data collected by field personnel

Imagery Intelligence (IMINT)

Imagery intelligence (IMINT) is the intelligence produced by collecting and analyzing visual data from sources such as satellites, reconnaissance aircraft, drones and ground-based cameras. It is widely applied across defense, national security, disaster response, urban planning and environmental monitoring.

Although IMINT is recognized as a distinct intelligence discipline, it is typically considered a subdiscipline of GEOINT. Increasing global access to space-based imagery has expanded IMINT’s capabilities.

IMINT provides a physical perspective to intelligence with capabilities that include:

Satellite imagery
Aerial photography
Thermal imaging
Multispectral analysis
Geospatial data integration

Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT)

Measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) is intelligence focused on the unique physical characteristics of objects or activities, such as their sounds, vibrations or traces, to detect, identify and characterize them.

MASINT plays a crucial role in understanding the potential threats posed by adversaries, supporting national defense by providing scientifically grounded insights that inform countermeasures and strategic decisions. Its rigorous approach to quantitative and qualitative data makes MASINT highly reliable and enhances the intelligence gathered from other disciplines. Oversight of MASINT falls under the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Data collection techniques employed to collect MASINT include:

Using radar to measure and analyze characteristics rather than directly collect signals
Examining electromagnetic pulses or other transmissions for hidden information
Analyzing emanations from materials at a location to identify their components or background substances
Detecting changes in natural or human-made emanations, from meteorological shifts to hidden structures
Tracking radiation to reveal nuclear activity or materials
Complementing imagery by using light-based measurements to clarify images and identify materials

Benefits of Earning a Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies

Earning a Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies provides professionals with a competitive edge in today’s complex security landscape. As the volume and sophistication of available data increase, agencies and organizations need experts who can effectively analyze, interpret and act on information.

Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies students gain skills in areas that include:

Data Collection and Analysis: Advanced methods for gathering HUMINT, SIGINT and OSINT are taught, ensuring students can collect the raw information that can be turned into actionable intelligence.
Analysis and Critical Thinking: Students gain the capabilities needed to assess complex datasets and identify patterns, critical skills for making informed decisions and creating adaptable security strategies to meet emerging threats.
Threat Intelligence and Cybersecurity: Students delve into threat actor behaviors, cybersecurity protocols and risk assessment, preparing them to combat growing digital threats and protect organizational or national interests.
Global Security Issues: Students gain strategic perspectives on how intelligence operations fit within larger national and international security frameworks.
Advanced Intelligence Tools: Experience with the latest intelligence tools, software and methodologies give students a technical edge and gets them ready to contribute in intelligence roles.

Make an Impact as an Intelligence and Security Leader

A career in intelligence and security is more relevant than ever, offering exciting opportunities to safeguard national and global interests.

Earning a Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies (MAISS) at Augusta University Online can equip you with the skills and expertise needed to excel in this dynamic and important field. With concentrations in intelligence analysis, social influence and general studies, this program allows you to tailor your education to align with your career goals.

Through mastering advanced data collection and analysis techniques and gaining hands-on experience with the latest intelligence tools, students develop the knowledge required to address modern security challenges. Graduates with a master’s degree in intelligence and security studies are qualified for leadership and specialized roles in government, law enforcement, private intelligence, cybersecurity, cryptography and global security consulting.

If you’re ready to take the next step toward an impactful career, learn more about AU Online’s MAISS program to start building a future in intelligence and security today.

Sources:
AKTEK, “Best Practices for Intelligence Gathering”
CrowdSec, “Understanding the Importance of Threat Intelligence Data Collection”
CrowdSec, “What Is Cyber Threat Intelligence: Lifecycle, Types, and Benefits”
EMDYN, “Imagery Intelligence”
Grey Dynamics, “A Guide to Human Intelligence (HUMINT)”
Grey Dynamics, “A Guide to Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT)”
Heavy.ai, “GEOINT — Geospatial Intelligence”
IBM, “What Is Threat Intelligence?”
Intel.gov, How the IC Works
MAG, “What Is SIGINT and How It’s Maximizing Military Capabilities”
Maltego, “Everything About Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) and Investigations”
Maltego, “Understanding the Different Types of Intelligence Collection Disciplines”
National Security Agency, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Overview
Office of the Director of National Intelligence, “The IC OSINT Strategy 2024-2026”
Office of the Director of National Intelligence, “What Is Intelligence?”
Qualtrics, “How to Carry Out Great Interviews in Qualitative Research”
Royal Society Open Science, “Managing Disclosure Outcomes in Intelligence Interviews”
SANS Institute, “What Is Open-Source Intelligence?”
The Wall Street Journal, “Disclosures of U.S. Identities in Spy Reports Nearly Tripled Last Year”