Translating Cyber Threat Intelligence into Strategic Business Insights for Decision-Makers

In an era of pervasive cyber risk, Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) has become a critical, yet often underutilized, asset for executive decision-making. A persistent gap exists between the technical, tactical output of security teams and the strategic, business-relevant insights required by C-suite executives and boards of directors. This disconnect leads to misaligned priorities, inefficient resource allocation, and a reactive security posture. This research investigates a structured methodology for translating raw CTI into strategic business insights (SBIs) that directly inform enterprise risk management, investment decisions, and competitive strategy. Through a multi-phase, mixed-methods study involving interviews with 35 senior leaders (CISOs, CFOs, CEOs, Board Members) and analysis of CTI processes across 12 organizations, we identified five core translation failures and developed the Threat Intelligence to Business Insight (TI2BI) Framework . The TI2BI framework employs a multi-layered translation process involving Contextualization, Impact Valuation, and Scenario Modeling to convert Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) and Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) into narratives about financial exposure, brand impact, operational disruption, and strategic opportunity. A six-month pilot implementation of the framework at a Fortune 500 financial services firm demonstrated a 70% increase in executive engagement with CTI reports and a 40% improvement in the alignment of cybersecurity investments with top-tier business risks. This study provides a validated model for security leaders to elevate CTI from a technical feed to a cornerstone of enterprise strategic planning, enabling proactive, business-informed cyber defense.