Transforming Threat Intelligence: Microsoft’s Latest Enhancements and the Road Ahead

As cyber threats grow increasingly sophisticated, Microsoft’s ongoing investment in advanced Threat Intelligence (TI) capabilities helps ensure that organizations can stay a step ahead.  The recently announced updates are a game-changer for cybersecurity professionals, promising smarter, faster, and more proactive threat detection and response.   Today we look at what the changes to TI are and how to update our existing resources in Sentinel to be ready!

Microsoft Sentinel plays a pivotal role in leveraging threat intelligence to bolster cybersecurity measures. As a cloud-native SIEM solution, Sentinel integrates advanced threat intelligence capabilities to provide a comprehensive and proactive defense against cyber threats. By harnessing the power of AI and machine learning, Sentinel analyzes vast amounts of data to identify and mitigate potential threats in real-time. This correlation and identifying relationships is where not just our logs come in, but we need to integrate threat intelligence into this mix as well so that we can better identify that one piece of information that leads to the investigation!

Sentinel’s enhanced threat modeling, set to be fully implemented by July 31, 2025, will revolutionize the way organizations handle threat intelligence. The introduction of improved schemas, such as ThreatIntelIndicators and ThreatIntelObjects, will enable more robust data handling and streamlined threat hunting processes. These advancements will facilitate better integration of STIX objects, allowing for seamless data sharing and analysis, and provide richer context for threat indicators, giving cybersecurity teams greater insights and enabling faster, more effective decision-making.

Here’s what you need to know:

AI-Powered Threat Intelligence Evolution

The integration of AI into Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence tools takes operational efficiency to the next level.  With Microsoft Security Copilot’s specialized agents, such as the Phishing Triage Agent, SOC teams can now automate phishing detection and focus their efforts on true threats.  This AI-driven approach also extends to vulnerability analysis, expediting processes like analyzing vulnerabilities in open-source bootloaders.

These innovations are driven by Microsoft’s processing of a staggering 84 trillion signals daily, creating unparalleled intelligence on potential threats; and with new geo-context capabilities, organizations can tailor their threat analysis based on geographical security priorities, adding even more precision to their defenses.

Focus on Enhanced Threat Modeling by July 31, 2025

Perhaps the most anticipated change is the transition to enhanced threat intelligence modeling in Microsoft Sentinel, a shift set to be completed by July 31, 2025.  This transition introduces improved schemas such as ThreatIntelIndicators and ThreatIntelObjects, which offer robust data-handling and threat-hunting capabilities.

Key benefits of the new modeling include:

• Better integration of STIX objects, enabling seamless data sharing and analysis.
• Richer context for threat indicators, providing greater insights for cybersecurity teams.
• A streamlined experience for organizations using Microsoft Sentinel, supporting faster and more effective decision-making.

Organizations currently using older setups are advised to begin preparations for the migration.  Evaluating analytic rules and optimizing existing systems will be critical to leveraging these updates for a more secure operational landscape.

Transitioning Existing Analytics Rules

For organizations already using analytics rules in Microsoft Sentinel, transitioning to the enhanced threat intelligence modeling requires careful planning.  

Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth migration:

1. Identify Existing Rules:
   • Review your current analytics rules that rely on the ThreatIntelligenceIndicator table.
   • Use the Microsoft Sentinel portal to list all rules and identify those that need updates.
2. Update Rule Logic:
   • Modify the KQL (Kusto Query Language) queries in your rules to align with the new schemas, such as ThreatIntelIndicators and ThreatIntelObjects.
   • For example, replace references to the old table with the new schema and ensure entity mappings are updated.
3. Test Updated Rules:
   • Before deploying changes, test the updated rules in a non-production environment.
   • Validate that alerts are triggered correctly and that the new logic aligns with your security requirements.
4. Leverage Rule Templates:
   • Microsoft provides updated rule templates to help with the transition.
   • Use these templates as a starting point and customize them to fit your organization’s needs.
5. Dual Ingestion:
   • During the transition period, consider enabling dual ingestion to use both the old and new schemas simultaneously.
   • This approach allows you to compare results and ensure a seamless migration.
6. Monitor and Optimize:
   • After deploying the updated rules, monitor their performance and make adjustments as needed.
   • Use Microsoft Sentinel’s built-in tools to analyze rule effectiveness and refine your threat detection strategy.

Phishing and Cybercrime: A Continuing Focus

Microsoft’s relentless drive to combat phishing has also seen impressive progress. Between January and December 2024, over 30 billion phishing emails targeting customers were detected and mitigated.  AI-driven tools like the Phishing Triage Agent further optimize the triage process, addressing false positives and ensuring the most critical incidents get immediate attention.

The Bigger Picture

Microsoft’s consistent investment in Threat Intelligence demonstrates a commitment to empowering organizations against ever-evolving cyber threats.  By leveraging AI, dynamic threat modeling, and improved data schemas, cybersecurity teams are better equipped than ever to protect their organizations.

The next few months represent an opportunity for organizations to get ahead of the curve by embracing these changes and reimagining their security posture with Microsoft’s cutting-edge tools.

As the July 31, 2025, deadline for enhanced modeling draws closer, Microsoft once again underscores its leadership in the fight against cybercrime.  With these advancements, Threat Intelligence has entered a new era—one defined by innovation, adaptability, and resilience.