Intelligence (information)

Part of a series on the
Intelligence field and Intelligence
Phases of Intelligence Intelligence cycle Intelligence cycle management Espionage Intelligence assessment Intelligence analysis Intelligence collection plan
Framework Agent handling Blowback (intelligence) Clandestine HUMINT operational techniques Code name History of espionage Intelligence failure Intelligence requirement Intelligence law Intelligence studies Intelligence sharing Recruitment of spies Security sector governance and reform Total Espionage doctrine Treason
Areas of Intelligence Raw intelligence All-source intelligence Counterintelligence I.S.R. Military intelligence Clandestine human intelligence Human intelligence (intelligence gathering) Technical intelligence Cyber threat intelligence Medical intelligence Signals intelligence Open-source intelligence Imagery intelligence Acoustical intelligence Geospatial intelligence Intelligence outsourcing Basic intelligence Strategic intelligence Criminal intelligence Measurement and signature intelligence Communications intelligence Electronic intelligence Foreign instrumentation signals intelligence Telemetry intelligence Air intelligence Naval intelligence Cyber espionage Nuclear espionage Sexpionage Tradecraft
Corporate sector Industrial espionage Marketing intelligence Market intelligence Business intelligence Commercial intelligence
People Intelligence officer Asset (intelligence) Intelligence community Intelligence agency Private intelligence agency Cover (intelligence gathering) Foreign Intelligence Service Military attaché Mole (espionage) Cutout (espionage) Sleeper agent Atomic spies Resident spy Espionage organizations
Culture Intelligence literature Spy fiction Spy film International Spy Museum CIA library Kryptos OSS Society CIA Museum N.M.I.S.O. Stasimuseum Bletchley Park The Cold War Museum The Intelligence Summit Spyscape Spy Museum Berlin Spy Museum (Tampere) KGB Espionage Museum
Tools Sentient (intelligence analysis system) Concealment device Stone Ghost Pinwale Microdot Threat Intelligence Platform The Thing Enigma machine Synthetic Environment for Analysis and Simulations
Lists List of intelligence agencies List of intelligence gathering disciplines List of awards List of defunct intelligence agencies
Related topics National security Surveillance Global surveillance Disguise Reconnaissance Target acquisition Assassination Criminal investigation Codebreaking Propaganda Graphology Paramilitary Cybersecurity
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Intelligence, or simply "Intel," refers to primary information and data gathered, evaluated, assessed, analyzed, and interpreted by members of the intelligence field to provide insight into the power projection, intentions, and activities of adversarial, neutral, and allied governments, organizations, or individuals. Unlike raw data, intelligence is processed and contextualized through the intelligence cycle to support decision-making in areas such as national defense, diplomacy, law enforcement, and security operations. This information can be sourced from many areas and can take many forms, including reports, intercepted communications, satellite imagery, or human-sourced observations—and is used to anticipate threats, assess risks, and guide strategic planning.

Phases of the intelligence cycle under intelligence cycle management and other phases of intelligence include;

• Espionage (the act of gathering intelligence)
• Intelligence analysis
• Intelligence assessment