Organizations are increasingly realizing the value of utilizing publicly available data from open-source intelligence (OSINT) providers to enrich their investigations with critical insights. With i2's Analyst's Notebook suite of solutions, analysts can carry out comprehensive investigations entirely within the Analyst's Notebook solution - resulting in faster, more comprehensive and consistently well-informed intelligence.
The collection and analysis of OSINT data - publicly accessible or commercially available data - has surged in recent years. Gathering this information is no longer limited to government agencies, and it now serves as a valuable complement to classified sources like signals intelligence (SIGINT), human intelligence (HUMINT), and financial intelligence (FININT), helping analysts build a more complete intelligence picture.
As businesses increasingly prioritize data-driven strategies and real-time analytics, demand for advanced big data solutions is expected to drive strong market growth in the years ahead, with a projected growth of over 13% in 2025 alone - nearly tripling the current market by 2029! Given the need for this type of information - along with the complexity of managing the volume, variety, and rapid changes of OSINT data - it’s no surprise that organizations rely on third-party data provider solutions.
In situations where investigators have access to classified or covert intelligence, combining these sources with OSINT can be particularly powerful. Integrating multiple streams of intelligence within a single platform gives analysts a more complete and coherent picture of an individual or organization's activities. This fusion of data is invaluable when tracking criminals or terrorists, as it ensures strategic decisions are based on the most accurate and current intelligence available.
Imagine an organization investigating a complex fraud case involving cryptocurrency transactions. By enriching their proprietary blockchain analytics with OSINT, such as social media activity, data from forums, or publicly available profiles, they can uncover connections between anonymous wallet addresses and real-world identities, dramatically accelerating the investigation.
Similarly, when working with geospatial intelligence, OSINT can provide critical context. Publicly shared photos, event data, or user-generated content can validate or challenge satellite imagery, helping analysts pinpoint activity in high-risk areas or monitor suspicious movement patterns. i2 has built a Connected Network that enables analysts to seamlessly leverage a wide range of data types in real time, transforming fragmented information into actionable, strategic insight when it matters most.
Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are a major driving force behind the growth of the OSINT market. Sophisticated algorithms can rapidly process vast datasets, uncover patterns, and detect anomalies in real time. This enables real-time monitoring, automates routine tasks, improves efficiency, enhances predictive analytics, filters out misinformation, and reveals emerging trends; empowering analysts to make faster, more informed decisions.
AI-driven algorithms enable investigators to efficiently sift through vast amounts of intelligence by processing data rapidly and in real time. This technology not only streamlines analysis but also helps identify emerging trends and detect potential threats before they escalate into serious risks.
AI tools also enable investigators to monitor social media content in real time. Through advanced analysis of images and videos, AI can extract critical insights that are often difficult to obtain through traditional methods, providing valuable context and contributing to a more comprehensive intelligence picture.
As promising as OSINT technologies are, investigators must remain acutely aware of the ethical, privacy, and security implications tied to their use. While these tools open new doors to valuable intelligence, growing concerns over data protection and increasing public pressure for stronger privacy laws may close others. As such, investigators have a responsibility to use OSINT with care and accountability.
This includes ensuring all investigative activities comply with the regulatory frameworks of the jurisdictions in which OSINT is being used, as well as adhering to - and championing - industry best practices. When working with sensitive subjects, investigators must also take proactive steps to protect their own identities and manage their digital footprints.
Just as important as the data itself is the software used to analyze it. Investigative agencies must be diligent in selecting analytical platforms that not only support their operational needs but also uphold the same ethical and legal standards required of their investigators. As privacy laws continue to evolve, agencies should prioritize solutions that offer strong data governance and transparency, ensuring they remain compliant across different jurisdictions.
Moreover, it is critical that the analytical tools in use safeguard the data they process. This means ensuring that sensitive intelligence is not stored on shared or externally accessible databases, particularly those controlled by the software provider or third parties. Data sovereignty, encryption, and access controls should be foundational features of any trusted platform, ensuring that what is analyzed remains private, secure, and within the control of the investigating organization.
While effective data collection is essential, the true value of OSINT lies in how well the intelligence is analyzed and acted upon. This is especially critical when OSINT is combined with classified sources, where the stakes, and the need for accuracy, discretion, and strategic insight, are significantly higher.
Organizations need a secure analysis platform capable of consolidating intelligence from a wide range of sources - including proprietary data, OSINT, and other external intelligence - into a single, unified environment. The software should allow analysts to seamlessly integrate and visualize this data in a clear, cohesive format, such as dynamic charts and link analysis views, enabling faster, more informed decision-making. For investigators to chart an effective course of action, they must be able to rely on real-time, accurate insights that are delivered through a platform that not only protects sensitive data but also makes it easily accessible and actionable within a single interface.
One solution that enables analysts to record, track, and visualize individuals, organizations, relationships, timelines, and events in a structured format is i2 Analyst’s Notebook. Our solution consistently maps intelligence from multiple sources, including OSINT, as well as SIGINT, HUMINT, and FININT, providing a comprehensive and cohesive view of complex investigations. Crucially, i2 Analyst's Notebook is built with robust security measures and adheres to strict ethical standards for data protection, ensuring that an organization’s sensitive intelligence can remain secure and compliant.
It is a powerful visual analysis tool designed to help investigators and analysts uncover hidden relationships, patterns, and trends within complex datasets. Widely used across law enforcement, national security, and financial sectors, i2 Analyst's Notebook transforms disparate information into actionable intelligence.
This technology significantly enhances an investigators’ ability to track activities, such as an individual’s physical movements, financial transactions and indicators of potential threats, while also enabling real-time decision-making and providing a defensible audit trail.
For example, in regards to criminal activity, Analyst's Notebook enables the analyst to assess threats and the levels they pose, facilitating the analyst to recommend actions. This is why Avon and Somerset Police consider i2 Group software to be critical to their campaign to combat anti-social behavior and violence against women and girls type crimes. By identifying and mapping networks, analyst’s are able to identify key influencer, ringleaders and brokers – enabling law enforcement resources to be used efficiently to make early interventions.
To illustrate how Analyst's Notebook supports more informed strategic decision-making, a fictional scenario can demonstrate how the platform consolidates intelligence from a wide range of sources and identifies potential patterns in an individual’s activities, and possibly those of their associates. This, in turn, helps analysts build a more comprehensive picture of events on the ground, enabling investigators to respond more effectively.
In this scenario, a fictional organization is investigating a character named John Jones from Rhyl, Wales, who is suspected of involvement in money laundering.
By accessing OSINT data from official records, the analyst can see that John Jones was previously convicted of grievous bodily harm (GBH) in a 2017 court case.
By leveraging both the OSINT data and advanced analytics that i2 Analyst's Notebook is known for, an analyst can not only determine the suspect’s current whereabouts but also uncover their potential business interests.
Figure 1: Initial Data Points
For example, by charting publicly available data points, such as John Jones’s name, date of birth, and criminal history, on an Analyst's Notebook chart (e.g., Figure 1), the analyst can leverage connected OSINT sources to automatically surface relevant news articles and publicly accessible court records linking him to the GBH case.
Figure 2: Enriched Results from Connected OSINT Sources
With just a few clicks, the analyst can enrich their investigative chart by querying connected OSINT data sources, uncovering the name of his business, The Rhyl Razor, and identifying other individuals linked to it (e.g., Figure 2).
Analysts can continue building out their investigative chart by expanding their OSINT investigations through broad or targeted queries. They might choose to query all available OSINT sources to automatically map everyone and everything connected to John Jones, or take a more focused approach - querying specific OSINT sources, such as those designed to uncover business registrations.
Figure 3: Discovering the Connected Network
Leveraging i2 Analyst's Notebook's connected network of data sources, the analyst was able to quickly expand the intelligence picture by identifying additional businesses where John Jones is listed as a named individual. In this fictional scenario, the system reveals four other businesses where he is registered as an officer (e.g., Figure 3). With this critical data in hand, and a broader understanding of his network, the investigation can now dive deeper into the suspect's financial activities and known associates.
As the demand for OSINT tools continues to rise across various sectors, organizations are realizing the necessity of robust, secure platforms that can integrate multiple data sources. Solutions like i2 Analyst's Notebook are transforming how investigators handle and analyze intelligence, empowering them to make quicker, more informed decisions. With AI-driven analytics, real-time data collection, and seamless integration of diverse data streams, Analyst's Notebook enables analysts to identify patterns, track relationships, and make connections across vast datasets. This, in turn, enhances their ability to tackle complex cases, from fraud investigations to national security threats, all while ensuring compliance with evolving privacy and ethical standards.
Looking ahead, as the OSINT landscape grows more intricate, the need for platforms that can consolidate proprietary and open-source data into a single, actionable view will only increase. Organizations across law enforcement, finance, and national security will rely on solutions like Analyst's Notebook to stay ahead of emerging threats and streamline investigations. By providing a comprehensive, secure environment that combines the best of AI and human intelligence, i2 Group solutions support smarter decision-making that leads to more effective interventions. In an increasingly complex world, the right investigative tools are crucial for turning raw data into strategic, actionable insights.