Embedded Intelligence Services (EIS) have quickly become one of the most valuable security intelligence resources for several industries — specifically for understanding how to mitigate threats. EIS brings an analyst — or even a team of analysts — in-house so that intelligence support can be immediately accessible and better aligned with the organization’s culture and its specific risks.
An embedded intel program is meant to add value, supporting all security operations and departments of an organization. It utilizes tactical and strategic intelligence to better understand potential disruptions, threats, and reputational concerns impacting their properties, employees, customers, and events. It provides greater clarity about complex threat information, which helps leaders navigate crises and keep pace with often rapidly changing circumstances.
Using an analytical methodology to assess large amounts of disparate data, an internal intel team can identify threats quickly and communicate them to client leadership. In contrast to other intel services, embedded intelligence is more aligned with a specific organization. Not only can it identify overall threats across categories, but can also focus on what those threats mean at that time and advise how the client can respond in the most comprehensive and timely manner.
For one client, the EIS analysts provide value by offering situational awareness and actionable intelligence for ongoing geopolitical issues and global incidents. Crisis24’s client initially requested support at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to understand the impact on their employees and sites. The EIS team built comprehensive scorecards summarizing the situations in the vicinity of all their global offices. As additional incidents emerged, the team was able to pivot to providing actionable intelligence and support regarding how the California wildfires and the 2020 US Presidential elections and related civil unrest could affect the client’s employees, facilities, and assets.
“The use of embedded intelligence across organizations and industries has seen incredible growth,” says EIS leader Kristin Lenardson. “In the past 10 years, embedded intelligence has significantly grown in the private sector — from a few thousand analysts when I started to having tens of thousands of analysts now making up embedded intel teams worldwide. Two universities now offer professional intelligence programs. That is just the beginning as companies fully realize just how invaluable this level of intelligence is.”
EIS is also a scalable solution. Depending on a client’s global footprint and organizational size, EIS can be scaled up or down as needed. Several organizations have 24x7 teams, with analysts all on-site or in a follow-the-sun model. However, others may need a smaller program with a single, or even a part-time, analyst supporting their global security team. The scalability of an EIS team is dependent on the client’s need and not the size of the organization. EIS also provides smaller programs and one-off projects as needed for clients.
With security professionals embedded in an organization, communication becomes much more effective. Intelligence analysts who can quickly digest complex and conflicting information become the trusted voice on global threats and operational information for an entire organization, ensuring that decision makers always have the best available information. They also serve as a filter for senior leadership, protecting their time while monitoring events until they exceed predetermined thresholds.
Another growing trend of EIS is the sheer reliance of organizations on embedded teams, which are increasingly involved in areas that have traditionally been the sole responsibility of the security department — from risk to crisis management and business continuity.
“Now, embedded intelligence is much more all-encompassing,” says Lenardson. “That shift can be tied in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, as intel teams had to learn several new skillsets immediately to help organizations pivot and quickly respond to the changing environment.”
EIS analysts can help anticipate events before they happen, allowing businesses to stay ahead of the next geopolitical crisis. By forecasting potential business disruptions and reducing uncertainty, an EIS team prepares decision makers with the best information before the next crisis, ensuring your organization is dynamic and information-driven.
