Peer Review

This resource explains how threat intelligence turns scattered signals into actionable defense. It introduces threat actors, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), indicator-of-compromise (IOC) thinking, and the processes of collection and analysis. It also covers the intelligence lifecycle and shows how security teams use intelligence to prioritize controls and guide incident response. The material is designed for students learning security analysis and strategic defense.

NOTE: This material is part of Prep4Uni.online, a free, independent learning hub dedicated to making high-quality university preparation accessible to all students. The platform offers a structured, top-down curriculum covering STEM, Humanities, and Business, designed to build strong academic foundations through practical tools and conceptual clarity. To ensure the highest standards of validity, the content is curated and led by Dr. Jacob Gan, a retired university professor with a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and over 20 years of experience in higher education and mentorship.

Reference Material

This guide enables students to build technical analysis skills, provides lecturers with a structured framework for teaching proactive defense, and equips professionals with actionable methods to strengthen organizational security and incident response.

• Faculty (Lecture & Curriculum): Use the "Side-by-Side Framework Comparison" to illustrate the differences between the Kill Chain and Diamond models in a classroom setting.
• Students (Self-Paced/Individual): The FAQ and "Thought-Provoking Questions" sections act as a robust study guide for those preparing for university-level cybersecurity exams.
• Team Labs (Simulation): Use the Malware Analysis section as a blueprint for team-based sandbox exercises to identify C2 communication patterns.

Any Internet browser will suffice.

• Mastering Frameworks & Models: Students will learn to apply the MITRE ATT&CK and Diamond Model to categorize adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).

• Operationalizing Data: Learners will understand how to transform technical Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) into actionable defense strategies for Security Operations Centers (SOCs).

• Strategic Proactive Defense: Gain the ability to use vulnerability intelligence and threat hunting to anticipate and mitigate attacks before they escalate.

High School, College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional

None.