The monetization of threat intelligence as a part of the digital economy

The ongoing process of monetizing threat intelligence (TI) is increasingly viewed as a cardinal factor in the cybersecurity sector, with cybersecurity brokers being the main driving force behind it. With the rise of the digital economy, society is becoming increasingly reliant on threat intelligence when it comes to maintaining resilient and modern business operations. The following research examines in what manner cybersecurity brokers collect, analyze and distribute threat intelligence in order to elevate decision-making and foster growth in both private and public sector. Furthermore, the study includes how brokers monetize TI, the business models they employ as well as the added stakeholder value. A mixed-methods approach is used by the author by including case studies of EDIH Trakia’s CYBER4ALL STAR project, which shed light on the effectiveness and accessibility of threat intelligence on the small-to-medium enterprise (SME) level. The key insights of the paper highlight how stakeholders use threat intelligence in order to foster a more rational approach to allocation of resources effectively, development of a robust cybersecurity posture and to voice ethical and legal concerns regarding privacy and transparency of data. The conclusion focuses on the need for a stronger regulatory initiative when it comes to efforts in ensuring a responsible monetization of TI in the scope of a continually growing cybersecurity market.