Security Engineering Associates

Understanding Intel

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The Intelligence Cycle

The Intelligence Cycle is the process of developing raw information into finished intelligence for the client to use in decision making and action. The cycle has five steps, each of which drives the next step in the process.

Step 1: Planning and Direction

Decisions are made regarding what types of information to collect and how to collect it. SEA Intelligence Group (SEA IG) is the client's process for articulating what issues are important, which then determines how to prioritize the use of intelligence resources.

Step 2: Collection

The Intelligence Community (IC), whether Open Source Intelligence, Human Intelligence, Geospatial Intelligence or Measure and Signature Intelligence gathers the raw data used to produce finished intelligence products. Collection can be from open sources, such as newspapers, or from clandestine sources, such as other people or technical means.

Step 3: Processing

The IC converts the information that is collected into a usable format, such as by language translation or decryption.

Step 4: Analysis and Production

SEA IG analyzes processed information to turn it into finished intelligence. This may include drafting reports, evaluating the reliability of different sources of information, and resolving data conflicts. Intelligence reports typically integrate multiple sources of intelligence and the experience and knowledge of many different members of the IC.

Step 5: Dissemination

Intelligence reports are distributed to the client. The SEA IG has two major roles in this step.

First, the SEA IG needs to ensure that the intelligence is correct and forthright. The information has been gained through legal channels leaving no implied liabilities to either the client or SEA IG.

Second, the client needs to evaluate the intelligence from their own perspective and provide feedback to producers on whether the intelligence was useful and accurate.