Intelligence cycle

The Intelligence cycle describes how intelligence is ideally processed in civilian and military intelligence agencies, and law enforcement organizations. It is a closed path consisting of repeating nodes, which (if followed) will result in finished intelligence. The stages of the intelligence cycle include the issuance of requirements by decision makers, collection, processing, analysis, and publication (i.e., dissemination) of intelligence.[1] The circuit is completed when decision makers provide feedback and revised requirements. The intelligence cycle is also called the Intelligence Process by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the uniformed services.[2]

Conceptual model
The Intelligence Process or Cycle
Intelligence reflects a progressive refinement of data and information

Direction

Intelligence requirements are determined by a decision maker to meet his/her objectives. In the federal government of the United States, requirements (or priorities) can be issued from the White House or the Congress. In NATO, a commander uses requirements (sometimes called Essential elements of information (EEIs)) to initiate the intelligence cycle.

Collection

In response to requirements, an intelligence staff develops an intelligence collection plan applying available sources and methods and seeking intelligence from other agencies. Collection includes inputs from several intelligence gathering disciplines, such as HUMINT (human intelligence), IMINT (imagery intelligence), ELINT (electronic intelligence), SIGINT (Signals Intelligence), OSINT (open source, or publicly available intelligence), etc.

Processing and Exploitation

Once the collection plan is executed and the data arrives, it is processed for exploitation. This involves the translation of raw intelligence materials from a foreign language, evaluation of relevance and reliability, and collation of the raw data in preparation for exploitation.

Analysis

Analysis establishes the significance and implications of processed intelligence, integrates it by combining disparate pieces of information to identify collateral information and patterns, then interprets the significance of any newly developed knowledge.

Dissemination

Finished intelligence products take many forms depending on the needs of the decision maker and reporting requirements. The level of urgency of various types of intelligence is typically established by an intelligence organization or community. For example, an indications and warning (I&W) bulletin would require higher precedence than an annual report.

Feedback

The intelligence cycle is a closed loop; feedback is received from the decision maker and revised requirements issued.

See also

References
  1. "The Intelligence Cycle" (HTML). Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). 23 March 2013. Archived from the original (HTML) on 08 May 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  2. "Joint Publication 2-0, Joint Intelligence" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC). Department of Defense. 22 June 2007. pp. GL–11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
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