Insights into CTI: From Government to Private Sector - Interview with Garrett Carstens (S1E1)

Keywords: intelligence, CTI, Garret, Freddy, information, tradecraft, analysis, methodology, structured techniques, critical thinking, private sector, cyber, training, data, decision-making Join us in the first episode of the Intelligence Tradecraft podcast where we interview Garrett Carstens in beautiful Berlin during the FIRST CTI Conference, April 2025. Garrett shares his extensive experience in Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI), from his beginnings at the US Department of Defense to his current role as VP of Intel Operations at Intel 471. We delve into the transition from government to private sector, the importance of critical thinking in cyber intelligence, the evolution of threat intelligence, and how to effectively measure success in this field. Garrett also discusses the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in cyber intelligence and provides practical advice for those looking to make a similar career transition. Resources and references mentioned Intel471 - https://www.intel471.com/ SANS blog - https://www.sans.org/blog/enhance-you... FIRST CTI Conference Agenda - https://www.first.org/conference/firs... LinkedIn post on "what makes something intelligence?" -   / fmurre_in-your-opinion-when-does-something...   The Intelligence Architecture Mind Map on GitHub - https://github.com/Errum/IntelArchite... SANS courses FOR578 CTI - https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-c... FOR589 Cybercrime Investigations - https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-c... Intel471 Handbook - https://www.intel471.com/resources/cy... GitHub Repo - https://github.com/intel471/CU-GIR Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Conversation 02:47 Background and Career Journey 06:10 Transitioning from Government to Private Sector 09:02 Intelligence Operations and Stakeholder Engagement 11:58 Lessons Learned in Intelligence Delivery 14:49 Source Evaluation and Information Assessment 18:05 Intelligence Standards and Practices 20:54 Open Source Intelligence vs. Information 24:05 The Role of AI in Intelligence Gathering 27:19 AI in Operational Efficiency 29:13 Measuring Success and Stakeholder Feedback 31:35 The Importance of Continuous Learning 35:08 Training and Development in Intelligence 39:17 Demonstrating Value to Stakeholders 43:05 The Role of AI in Intelligence 50:29 Transitioning from Government to Private Sector This conversation is a compressed edit of an interview Freddy has conducted as part of his PhD research. The interview was recorded in April 21st, 2025 during the FIRST CTI Conference in Berlin.