Cyber Intelligence Planner

Cyber Intelligence Planner Work Role ID: 331 (NIST: CO-PL-001) Workforce Element: Intelligence (Cyberspace)

Develops detailed intelligence plans to satisfy cyber operations requirements. Collaborates with cyber operations planners to identify, validate, and levy requirements for collection and analysis. Participates in targeting selection, validation, synchronization, and execution of cyber actions. Synchronizes intelligence activities to support organization objectives in cyberspace.


Items denoted by a * are CORE KSATs for every Work Role, while other CORE KSATs vary by Work Role.

Core KSATs

KSAT ID Description KSAT
22

* Knowledge of computer networking concepts and protocols, and network security methodologies.

Knowledge
108

* Knowledge of risk management processes (e.g., methods for assessing and mitigating risk).

Knowledge
264

Knowledge of basic physical computer components and architectures, including the functions of various components and peripherals (e.g., CPUs, Network Interface Cards, data storage).

Knowledge
1056

Knowledge of operations security.

Knowledge
1157

* Knowledge of national and international laws, regulations, policies, and ethics as they relate to cybersecurity.

Knowledge
1158

* Knowledge of cybersecurity principles.

Knowledge
1159

* Knowledge of cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

Knowledge
2009

Provide input to the analysis, design, development or acquisition of capabilities used for meeting objectives.

Task
2043

Coordinate for intelligence support to operational planning activities.

Task
2045

Assess all-source intelligence and recommend targets to support cyber operation objectives.

Task
2052

Assess target vulnerabilities and/or operational capabilities to determine course of action.

Task
2064

Assist in the development and refinement of priority information requirements.

Task
2070

Enable synchronization of intelligence support plans across partner organizations as required.

Task
2159

Contribute to crisis action planning for cyber operations.

Task
2163

Incorporate intelligence equities into the overall design of cyber operations plans.

Task
2181

Coordinate with intelligence planners to ensure collection managers receive information requirements.

Task
2185

Coordinate with the intelligence planning team to assess capability to satisfy assigned intelligence tasks.

Task
2186

Coordinate, produce and track intelligence requirements.

Task
2187

Coordinate, synchronize and draft applicable intelligence sections of cyber operations plans.

Task
2237

Determine indicators (e.g., measures of effectiveness) that are best suited to specific cyber operation objectives.

Task
2267

Develop and review intelligence guidance for integration into supporting cyber operations planning and execution.

Task
2276

Develop detailed intelligence support to cyber operations requirements.

Task
2352

Draft cyber intelligence collection and production requirements.

Task
2368

Ensure that intelligence planning activities are integrated and synchronized with operational planning timelines.

Task
2386

Evaluate intelligence estimates to support the planning cycle.

Task
2425

Incorporate intelligence and counterintelligence to support plan development.

Task
2442

Identify, draft, evaluate, and prioritize relevant intelligence or information requirements.

Task
2459A

Identify cyber intelligence gaps and shortfalls.

Task
2484

Identify the need, scope, and timeframe for applicable intelligence environment preparation derived production.

Task
2509

Provide input to or develop courses of action based on threat factors.

Task
2529

Issue requests for information.

Task
2530

Knowledge and understanding of operational design.

Knowledge
2531

Knowledge of organizational planning concepts.

Knowledge
2532

Lead and coordinate intelligence support to operational planning.

Task
2558

Maintain relationships with internal and external partners involved in cyber planning or related areas.

Task
2619

Provide subject matter expertise to planning teams, coordination groups, and task forces as necessary.

Task
2624

Conduct long-range, strategic planning efforts with internal and external partners in cyber activities.

Task
2736

Provide cyber focused guidance and advice on intelligence support plan inputs.

Task
2778

Recommend refinement, adaption, termination, and execution of operational plans as appropriate.

Task
2806

Review and comprehend organizational leadership objectives and guidance for planning.

Task
2819

Scope the cyber intelligence planning effort.

Task
2888

Document lessons learned that convey the results of events and/or exercises.

Task
3003

Ability to adjust to and operate in a diverse, unpredictable, challenging, and fast-paced work environment.

Ability
3011

Ability to apply critical reading/thinking skills.

Ability
3015

Ability to apply approved planning development and staffing processes.

Ability
3021

Ability to collaborate effectively with others.

Ability
3022

Ability to communicate complex information, concepts, or ideas in a confident and well-organized manner through verbal, written, and/or visual means.

Ability
3033

Ability to coordinate cyber operations with other organization functions or support activities.

Ability
3040

Ability to develop or recommend planning solutions to problems and situations for which no precedent exists.

Ability
3041

Ability to effectively collaborate via virtual teams.

Ability
3044

Ability to exercise judgment when policies are not well-defined.

Ability
3048

Ability to function in a collaborative environment, seeking continuous consultation with other analysts and experts—both internal and external to the organization—in order to leverage analytical and technical expertise.

Ability
3060

Ability to interpret and understand complex and rapidly evolving concepts.

Ability
3066

Ability to participate as a member of planning teams, coordination groups, and task forces as necessary.

Ability
3076

Ability to tailor technical and planning information to a customer’s level of understanding.

Ability
3106

Knowledge of a wide range of basic communications media concepts and terminology (e.g., computer and telephone networks, satellite, cable, wireless).

Knowledge
3107

Knowledge of a wide range of concepts associated with websites (e.g., website types, administration, functions, software systems, etc.).

Knowledge
3114

Knowledge of all forms of intelligence support needs, topics, and focus areas.

Knowledge
3117

Knowledge of all-source reporting and dissemination procedures.

Knowledge
3129

Knowledge of attack methods and techniques (DDoS, brute force, spoofing, etc.).

Knowledge
3154

Knowledge of classification and control markings standards, policies and procedures.

Knowledge
3155

Knowledge of client organizations, including information needs, objectives, structure, capabilities, etc.

Knowledge
3159

Knowledge of cyber operations support or enabling processes.

Knowledge
3174

Knowledge of the intelligence requirements development and request for information processes.

Knowledge
3177

Knowledge of common computer/network infections (virus, Trojan, etc.) and methods of infection (ports, attachments, etc.).

Knowledge
3188

Knowledge of computer networking fundamentals (i.e., basic computer components of a network, types of networks, etc.).

Knowledge
3194

Knowledge of crisis action planning and time sensitive planning procedures.

Knowledge
3215

Knowledge of cyber actions (i.e. cyber defense, information gathering, environment preparation, cyber attack) principles, capabilities, limitations, and effects.

Knowledge
3225

Knowledge of data communications terminology (e.g., networking protocols, Ethernet, IP, encryption, optical devices, removable media).

Knowledge
3257

Knowledge of target and threat organization structures, critical capabilities, and critical vulnerabilities.

Knowledge
3264

Knowledge of existing, emerging, and long-range issues related to cyber operations strategy, policy, and organization.

Knowledge
3274

Knowledge of fundamental cyber operations concepts, terminology/lexicon (i.e., environment preparation, cyber attack, cyber defense), principles, capabilities, limitations, and effects.

Knowledge
3275

Knowledge of fundamental cyber concepts, principles, limitations, and effects.

Knowledge
3287

Knowledge of how collection requirements and information needs are translated, tracked, and prioritized across the extended enterprise.

Knowledge
3311

Knowledge of analytical standards and the purpose of intelligence confidence levels.

Knowledge
3336

Knowledge of intelligence employment requirements (i.e., logistical, communications support, maneuverability, legal restrictions, etc.).

Knowledge
3340

Knowledge of intelligence requirements tasking systems.

Knowledge
3342

Knowledge of intelligence support to planning, execution, and assessment.

Knowledge
3388

Knowledge of crisis action planning for cyber operations.

Knowledge
3397

Knowledge of intelligence capabilities and limitations.

Knowledge
3443

Knowledge of PIR approval process.

Knowledge
3444

Knowledge of planning activity initiation.

Knowledge
3445

Knowledge of planning timelines adaptive, crisis action, and time-sensitive planning.

Knowledge
3463

Knowledge of required intelligence planning products associated with cyber operational planning.

Knowledge
3489

Knowledge of organizational structures and associated intelligence capabilities.

Knowledge
3554

Knowledge of the critical information requirements and how they’re used in planning.

Knowledge
3560

Knowledge of the production responsibilities and organic analysis and production capabilities.

Knowledge
3561

Knowledge of the common networking and routing protocols(e.g. TCP/IP), services (e.g., web, mail, DNS), and how they interact to provide network communications.

Knowledge
3582

Knowledge of the intelligence frameworks, processes, and related systems.

Knowledge
3584

Knowledge of intelligence preparation of the environment and similar processes.

Knowledge
3585

Knowledge of accepted organization planning systems.

Knowledge
3606

Knowledge of the process used to assess the performance and impact of operations.

Knowledge
3609

Knowledge of the range of cyber operations and their underlying intelligence support needs, topics, and focus areas.

Knowledge
3610

Knowledge of the relationships between end states, objectives, effects, lines of operation, etc.

Knowledge
3611

Knowledge of the relationships of operational objectives, intelligence requirements, and intelligence production tasks.

Knowledge
3629

Knowledge of the various collection disciplines and capabilities.

Knowledge
3651

Knowledge of what constitutes a “threat” to a network.

Knowledge
3659

Knowledge of wireless technologies (e.g., cellular, satellite, GSM) to include the basic structure, architecture, and design of modern wireless communications systems.

Knowledge
3665

Skill in administrative planning activities, to include preparation of functional and specific support plans, preparing and managing correspondence, and staffing procedures.

Skill
3681

Skill in applying analytical methods typically employed to support planning and to justify recommended strategies and courses of action.

Skill
3685

Skill in applying crisis planning procedures.

Skill
3742

Skill in determining the physical location of network devices.

Skill
3772

Skill in evaluating information for reliability, validity, and relevance.

Skill
3844

Skill in preparing and presenting briefings.

Skill
3845

Skill in preparing plans and related correspondence.

Skill
3879

Skill in reviewing and editing plans.

Skill
3938

Skill in utilizing feedback in order to improve processes, products, and services.

Skill
3965

Skill to analyze strategic guidance for issues requiring clarification and/or additional guidance.

Skill
3966

Skill to anticipate intelligence capability employment requirements.

Skill
3967

Skill to anticipate key target or threat activities which are likely to prompt a leadership decision.

Skill
3971

Skill to apply analytical standards to evaluate intelligence products.

Skill
3976

Skill to apply the process used to assess the performance and impact of cyber operations.

Skill
3978

Skill to articulate the needs of joint planners to all-source analysts.

Skill
3979

Skill to articulate intelligence capabilities available to support execution of the plan.

Skill
3987

Skill to conceptualize the entirety of the intelligence process in the multiple domains and dimensions.

Skill
3990

Skill to convert intelligence requirements into intelligence production tasks.

Skill
3992

Skill to coordinate the development of tailored intelligence products.

Skill
3996

Skill to correlate intelligence priorities to the allocation of intelligence resources/assets.

Skill
3998

Skill to craft indicators of operational progress/success.

Skill
4000

Skill to create and maintain up-to-date planning documents and tracking of services/production.

Skill
4018

Skill to express orally and in writing the relationship between intelligence capability limitations and decision making risk and impacts on the overall operation.

Skill
4032

Skill to interpret planning guidance to discern level of analytical support required.

Skill
4045

Skill to orchestrate intelligence planning teams, coordinate collection and production support, and monitor status.

Skill
4053

Skill to relate intelligence resources/assets to anticipated intelligence requirements.

Skill
4059

Skill to synchronize planning activities and required intelligence support.

Skill
6900

* Knowledge of specific operational impacts of cybersecurity lapses.

Knowledge

Additional KSATs

KSAT ID Description KSAT
52

Knowledge of human-computer interaction principles.

Knowledge
2058

Assist and advise inter-agency partners in identifying and developing best practices for facilitating operational support to achievement of organization objectives.

Task
2073

Provide input to the identification of cyber-related success criteria.

Task
2091

Collaborate with other team members or partner organizations to develop a diverse program of information materials (e.g., web pages, briefings, print materials).

Task
2160

Contribute to the development of the organization’s decision support tools if necessary.

Task
2192

Use intelligence estimates to counter potential target actions.

Task
2310

Develop potential courses of action.

Task
2327

Develop, implement, and recommend changes to appropriate planning procedures and policies.

Task
2392

Evaluate the conditions that affect employment of available cyber intelligence capabilities.

Task
2435

Identify all available partner intelligence capabilities and limitations supporting cyber operations.

Task
2528

Interpret environment preparations assessments to determine a course of action.

Task
2564

Maintain situational awareness to determine if changes to the operating environment require review of the plan.

Task
2702

Prepare for and provide subject matter expertise to exercises.

Task
3001

Ability to accurately and completely source all data used in intelligence, assessment and/or planning products.

Ability
3054

Ability to identify external partners with common cyber operations interests.

Ability
3057

Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and guidance relevant to organization cyber objectives.

Ability
3095

Knowledge of internet network addressing (IP addresses, classless inter-domain routing, TCP/UDP port numbering).

Knowledge
3098

Knowledge of virtualization products (Vmware, Virtual PC).

Knowledge
3205

Knowledge of current computer-based intrusion sets.

Knowledge
3211

Knowledge of cyber laws and legal considerations and their effect on cyber planning.

Knowledge
3235

Knowledge of deconfliction processes and procedures.

Knowledge
3253

Knowledge of encryption algorithms and cyber capabilities/tools (e.g., SSL, PGP).

Knowledge
3262

Knowledge of evolving/emerging communications technologies.

Knowledge
3271

Knowledge of internal and external partner cyber operations capabilities and tools.

Knowledge
3286

Knowledge of host-based security products and how they affect exploitation and vulnerability.

Knowledge
3291

Knowledge of how internet applications work (SMTP email, web-based email, chat clients, VOIP).

Knowledge
3292

Knowledge of how modern digital and telephony networks impact cyber operations.

Knowledge
3293

Knowledge of how modern wireless communications systems impact cyber operations.

Knowledge
3326

Knowledge of information security concepts, facilitating technologies and methods.

Knowledge
3356

Knowledge of organization policies and planning concepts for partnering with internal and/or external organizations.

Knowledge
3358

Knowledge of organizational hierarchy and cyber decision making processes.

Knowledge
3374

Knowledge of malware.

Knowledge
3391

Knowledge of objectives, situation, operational environment, and the status and disposition of internal and external partner collection capabilities available to support planning.

Knowledge
3419

Knowledge of organization or partner exploitation of digital networks.

Knowledge
3459

Knowledge of the functions and capabilities of internal teams that emulate threat activities to benefit the organization.

Knowledge
3539

Knowledge of telecommunications fundamentals.

Knowledge
3543

Knowledge of the basic structure, architecture, and design of modern communication networks.

Knowledge
3545

Knowledge of the basics of network security (e.g., encryption, firewalls, authentication, honey pots, perimeter protection).

Knowledge
3570

Knowledge of the organizational structure as it pertains to full spectrum cyber operations, including the functions, responsibilities, and interrelationships among distinct internal elements.

Knowledge
3571

Knowledge of the organizational planning and staffing process.

Knowledge
3572

Knowledge of organization decision support tools and/or methods.

Knowledge
3578

Knowledge of the impacts of internal and external partner staffing estimates.

Knowledge
3591

Knowledge of organization objectives, leadership priorities, and decision-making risks.

Knowledge
3601

Knowledge of the outputs of course of action and exercise analysis.

Knowledge
3607

Knowledge of the processes to synchronize operational assessment procedures with the critical information requirement process.

Knowledge
3615

Knowledge of the structure and intent of organization specific plans, guidance and authorizations.

Knowledge
3616

Knowledge of the structure, architecture, and design of modern digital and telephony networks.

Knowledge
3627

Knowledge of cryptologic capabilities, limitations, and contributions to cyber operations.

Knowledge
3630

Knowledge of the ways in which targets or threats use the Internet.

Knowledge
3638

Knowledge of organization issues, objectives, and operations in cyber as well as regulations and policy directives governing cyber operations.

Knowledge
3639

Knowledge of organization cyber operations programs, strategies, and resources.

Knowledge
3766

Skill in documenting and communicating complex technical and programmatic information.

Skill
3877

Skill in reviewing and editing intelligence products from various sources for cyber operations.

Skill
3893

Skill in tailoring analysis to the necessary levels (e.g., classification and organizational).

Skill
3946

Skill in utilizing virtual collaborative workspaces and/or tools (e.g., IWS, VTCs, chat rooms, SharePoint).

Skill
3964

Skill to analyze target or threat sources of strength and morale.

Skill
4023

Skill to graphically depict decision support materials containing intelligence and partner capability estimates.

Skill
4041

Skill to monitor threat effects to partner capabilities and maintain a running estimate.

Skill
4042

Skill to monitor target or threat situation and environmental factors.

Skill