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Maximizing investigative insight: The strategic value of third-party data integrations

Written by Natalie Cline | Jul 17, 2025 11:28:04 AM

In today's world of complex threats, intelligence and investigative professionals must be more agile, far more intelligent in how they work and operate with greater context than ever before. Natalie Cline, i2 Group’s Global Alliances Lead, explains how the visual analysis leader empowers analysts to uncover hidden connections, relationships, and patterns within its suite of products, amplifying its true power by pairing with the right third-party data.

i2 Group's integrated suite of products, including Analysis Studio, Analysis Hub, and i2 Analyst’s Notebook (subscription), connects users to a vast network of public, commercial and internal data sources. At the core is i2 Analyst’s Notebook, a powerful visual link analysis tool that enables analysts to transform disparate data points into coherent, actionable insights.

When paired with trusted third-party data providers, this capability expands dramatically, delivering enriched intelligence in real-time. Time-consuming tasks like data structuring and importing are eliminated, while analysts can filter and shape data directly within i2’s Connectors before it ever reaches the chart. This streamlined process allows organizations to act with speed, uncover deeper insights, and conduct investigations with greater confidence and efficiency.

By collaborating with leading data providers, i2 delivers seamless integration to a wide range of intelligence sources, including open-source intelligence (OSINT), personally identifiable information (PII), cryptocurrency, organizational data, geospatial intelligence, cyber threat indicators and public records.

This robust and connected network enriches investigations with contextualized data in real-time, eliminating the need for manual extraction and reconciliation across systems. It empowers rapid, informed decision-making for mission-critical analysis across a variety of sectors such as defense, national security, law enforcement, government and financial services. While the value of these integrations is clear, not all data sources deliver the same results. True operational effectiveness comes from a strategically curated selection of third-party sources that are purpose-built to meet the real-world demands of analysts and investigators.

Market-leading integration ecosystem

i2 Group’s suite of products features an unmatched third-party integration ecosystem. Through strategic alliances with leading data providers, i2 delivers an integration library that meets a broad range of investigative needs, supports both cloud and on-premise environments, simplifies procurement through bundled solutions, and evolves continuously to address shifting global threats.

These integrations are not simply data connections. They are purpose-built solutions created in partnership with providers who understand the needs of investigators. Whether enabling real-time sanctions screening, adding cryptowallet attribution data to visual environments, or enhancing fraud investigations with credit and know your customer (KYC) data, each integration is designed to amplify value and streamline workflows.

What sets i2 Group apart is not just the quantity of integrations but their strategic fit. The right data sources, seamlessly deployed within a unified analysis environment, deliver a level of capability and speed that sets the platform apart in the market.

Third-party data connections: Why variety matters

Investigations span multiple domains such as financial crime, cyber intelligence, organized crime, terrorism, fraud, sanctions evasion and more. No single dataset can provide comprehensive coverage across these different areas. That is why diversity in data partnerships is essential.

i2 Group’s suite of products provide access to a broad and balanced array of data integrations, including:

  • Cryptowallet attribution and blockchain intelligence.

  • Ad intelligence (AdIntel) and digital footprinting.

  • Credit bureau and identity data.

  • KYC and sanctions screening data.

  • Company registry and corporate ownership structures.

  • Maritime and vessel tracking data.

  • Order of battle data for geopolitical intelligence.

  • Dark web monitoring and breach intelligence.

  • Speech-to-text keyword extraction.

  • Geolocation and mobility datasets.

  • OSINT from public records and social media platforms.

This range of data types allows investigators to shift seamlessly across domains, uncover hidden relationships and act on complex intelligence without switching tools or interrupting workflows.

Demand-driven integration strategy

The integration strategy is guided by customer feedback and operational priorities, ensuring development efforts are aligned with real-world analytical needs. This roadmap is shaped by direct input from users who highlight the data sources that would most enhance their outcomes. Each integration is evaluated for its impact on actual workflows, with a focus on filling critical gaps or introducing meaningful new capabilities.

To maintain a balanced and purposeful portfolio, i2 avoids redundancy by partnering with providers whose offerings are both distinct and additive. It also strives to cover a range of price points to meet the diverse needs of customers. Just as importantly, i2 seeks out partners who are committed to long-term collaboration and support.

Curation is also prioritized over volume, with i2 choosing data sources that deliver unique value and align closely with how analysts work. The result is a scalable, efficient and relevant ecosystem that empowers users to focus on generating insights rather than managing data inputs.

A well-tended alliance network

Central to i2’s integration success is a strong and growing network of data partners. It’s not just about building connectors and moving on; partnerships must be collaborative and long-term. Together, these partnerships study analyst workflows, identify areas for improvement and continuously enhance the integrations to better serve real-world use cases. In addition, i2 also aligns with go-to-market strategies to ensure customers get both a powerful platform and the data needed to unlock its full value.

Accessibility is integral to i2’s commitment. Products are now available at a range of price points, including new subscription-based options, making the technology more attainable and providing more flexibility for customers. Similarly, the diverse data partnerships span a variety of pricing tiers, enabling i2 to deliver integrated solutions that meet a broad range of organizational budgets.

And this is just the start of what is possible, with i2’s model in constant evolution. There is, however, a clear goal: to make it easier than ever for customers to access both the i2 suite of products and the critical data they need to generate actionable intelligence.

This collaborative ecosystem is what enables i2 to deliver on its mission of speed, access, and insight for those working in national security, law enforcement, defense and public safety.

Intelligence-led operations across critical sectors

I2’s solutions are trusted by organisations across sectors to drive intelligence-led operations with speed, clarity and confidence.

Whether supporting defense operations, public safety efforts, national security missions, regulatory enforcement, or financial investigations, i2 helps teams integrate data from multiple sources, uncover critical patterns and make informed decisions. Its scalable tools adapt to a wide range of operational needs, enabling everything from strategic planning to frontline response.

By connecting the dots across complex datasets, i2 empowers organisations to detect threats, prevent fraud, ensure compliance and act decisively in high-stakes environments.

Final thoughts

In a rapidly changing world, the ability to analyze diverse data using a single visual tool offers a critical advantage. i2 Analyst’s Notebook provides this capability through carefully selected data integrations that align with customer workflows and operational needs.

By focusing on strategic variations and disciplined curation, i2 empowers analysts with the insights they need to navigate complex situations, helping them to uncover truth and ultimately take more effective action. The result is a platform unmatched in its ability to support investigation and intelligence across sectors and use cases.

About the Author

Natalie Cline holds Master’s degrees in both Linguistics and International Business Administration. With over a decade of experience in Computational Linguistics and a background in academia, she now leads Global Alliances at i2 Group - leveraging her analytical expertise to form strategic partnerships that drive innovation and empower analysts worldwide.