"Intelligence analysis is the application of individual and collective cognitive methods to weigh data and test hypotheses within a secret socio-cultural context."
This subfield involves gathering, analyzing, and disseminating critical information to support military operations and identify threats to national security.
Intelligence cycle: A multi-stage process of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information for decision making.
Intelligence analysis: The process of evaluating information from multiple sources to identify patterns, trends, and relationships.
Intelligence collection: The process of gathering information from multiple sources, including human sources (such as spies), technical means (such as satellite imagery), and open-source intelligence (such as news articles).
Cyber counterintelligence: The process of detecting, mitigating, and preventing cyber threats to national security and military operations.
Counterintelligence operations: The activities that aim to prevent intelligence gathering by foreign powers or other threats to national security interests.
HUMINT (Human Intelligence): Gathering intelligence through human sources (such as espionage) and evaluating the information to determine its value.
SIGINT (Signals Intelligence): Gathering and analyzing data from communication systems, such as radios and telephones.
GEOINT (Geospatial Intelligence): Gathering and analyzing information about terrain, geography, weather, and other physical characteristics of an area.
OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence): Gathering intelligence from publicly available sources, such as social media, news articles, and academic research.
Intelligence platforms and tools: The technology and software systems used for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence.
Intelligence sharing: The process of sharing intelligence information among different agencies, both domestically and internationally.
Threat assessment: The process of evaluating potential threats to national security and military operations.
Risk management: The process of identifying and managing risks to national security and military operations.
Covert operations: Secret activities aimed at gathering intelligence, disrupting enemy operations, or conducting other military and defense-related tasks.
International law: The legal frameworks regulating military and intelligence operations at the national and international levels.
Ethical considerations: The moral and ethical questions associated with intelligence and counterintelligence activities, such as the use of torture, surveillance, and drone strikes.
Psychological operations: The use of psychological tactics to influence enemy behavior, such as propaganda and deception.
Counterterrorism: The activities aimed at preventing and countering terrorist activities, including intelligence gathering and law enforcement actions.
Strategic intelligence: The intelligence used for long-term strategic planning and decision making.
Tactical intelligence: The intelligence used for real-time military operations and decision making.
Human Intelligence (HUMINT): Gathering intelligence through human sources, such as spies, diplomats, and interrogations.
Signals Intelligence (SIGINT): Gathering intelligence through electronic communications, such as phone calls and emails.
Imagery Intelligence (IMINT): Gathering intelligence through visual images, such as satellite or drone imagery.
Measurement and signature Intelligence (MASINT): Gathering intelligence through the measurement and analysis of physical characteristics, such as radiation or sound waves.
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT): Gathering intelligence through publicly available information, such as newspapers, social media, and public records.
Financial Intelligence (FININT): Gathering intelligence through financial transactions, such as money laundering and funding sources.
Cyber Intelligence (CYBINT): Gathering intelligence through cyber activities, such as hacking and data breaches.
Counterintelligence (CI): Detecting and preventing intelligence collection activities by foreign entities or identifying internal threats within an organization.
Psychological Operations (PSYOPS): Influencing the attitudes and behaviors of foreign individuals or groups through communication and propaganda.
Deception Operations (DECEPTION): Misdirecting or manipulating the adversary's perception of reality for military purposes or strategic advantage.
"The descriptions are drawn from what may only be available in the form of deliberately deceptive information."
"The analyst must correlate the similarities among deceptions and extract a common truth."
"Its practice is found in its purest form inside national intelligence agencies."
"Its methods are also applicable in fields such as business intelligence or competitive intelligence."
"Intelligence analysis is the application of individual and collective cognitive methods to weigh data..."
"Intelligence analysis is the application of individual and collective cognitive methods to...test hypotheses..."
"...within a secret socio-cultural context."
"The descriptions are drawn from what may only be available in the form of deliberately deceptive information."
"The analyst must correlate the similarities among deceptions..."
"...extract a common truth."
"Its practice is found in its purest form inside national intelligence agencies."
"...fields such as business intelligence or competitive intelligence."
"Intelligence analysis is the application of individual and collective cognitive methods..."
"Intelligence analysis is the application of individual and collective cognitive methods to...test hypotheses..."
"...within a secret socio-cultural context."
"The descriptions are drawn from what may only be available in the form of deliberately deceptive information."
"The analyst must correlate the similarities among deceptions..."
"...extract a common truth."
"Its practice is found in its purest form inside national intelligence agencies."