IBM makes its threat intel data free to access

IBM has opened up its security intelligence data for security experts to defend against cybercrimes.

Powered by IBM Cloud, the new cyber threat intelligence sharing platform, IBM X-Force Exchange, initially contains over 700 terabytes of raw aggregated data.

The data will continue to grow, as the platform has the capacity to add up to 1,000 malicious indicators every hour, by monitoring around 15 billion security events a day, IBM said.

In addition to archived data, the platform aggregates real-time indicators of live attacks from IBM as well as third-party sources.

IBM Security general manager Brendan Hannigan said: "The IBM X-Force Exchange platform will foster collaboration on a scale necessary to counter the rapidly rising and sophisticated threats that companies are facing from cybercriminals."

IBM’s offer of free security intelligence comes at a time when attacks are becoming more complicated to be tracked.

A recent report by Websense suggests that easy access to malware-as-a-service is making even entry level threat actors to successfully create and launch data theft, avoiding the risk of attribution.

The X-Force Exchange allows organisations to collaborate on security incidents, and share data, in addition to providing IBM’s own repository.

According to the company, free sharing of information provides a social interface to interact with and validate information from industry peers, analysts and researchers.

A library of APIs facilitates programmatic queries between the platform, machines and applications.

The platform currently provides malware threat intelligence from a network of 270 million endpoints, and reputation data on nearly one million malicious IP addresses.

"We’re taking the lead by opening up our own deep and global network of cyberthreat research, customers, technologies and experts.

"By inviting the industry to join our efforts and share their own intelligence, we’re aiming to accelerate the formation of the networks and relationships we need to fight hackers," Hannigan added.

Earlier this week, BT launched an advanced security platform, BT Assure Cyber, to protect private sector and government organisations against cyber threats.