Without a shared understanding of what intelligence means and its purpose, you invite disillusionment. Get alignment early on key terms like “threat”, “risk” and “resilience”, then ensure your stakeholders are all on the same page regarding the function’s purpose and scope. If you put in the work up front to get all eyes on the same vision, it will prime the capability for growth.

With definitions in mind, chances are another business function is already performing intelligence in one form or another. Leave your ego at the door and tap into people across functions who hold relevant insights; whether in cyber, fraud, compliance, or competitive intelligence. Coordinate efforts to learn from each other, fill gaps, and inform requirements. It pays well to think outside the security bubble.

Attempting to build an intelligence function without proper infrastructure is like launching an app without code. Don't be lulled into taking shortcuts; you need rigorous systems for information collection, funneling data sources, doing analysis, and sharing insights. The more you sweat the details, the more resilient your function will be when things get hectic.

Once you have those systems in place, don’t let them rot. Think of your intelligence team like a startup within the business. Embrace creativity, new ideas, and ingenuity at each stage of the intelligence cycle. There will be times when policies and bureaucracy stifle innovation, but this can also breed creative solutions if you allow the team to take calculated risks. On that note…

…AI holds promise but isn't a magic wand. Apply it deliberately for automatable tasks such as data collection and cleaning, but tread with caution on predictive modeling and risk forecasting. Good quality intelligence relies on human judgement, auditing, and contextualization of information to deliver the actionable insight your audience demands.

To keep up with change, you also need to ditch any preconceptions about must-have backgrounds. Some ex-military and law enforcement professionals transition seamlessly to corporate intelligence, many don't. Seek out balanced capabilities in analysis, data diving, critical thinking, investigating, and good judgement. Talent also takes time to cultivate, so develop your people relentlessly.

Finally, gaining leadership support is crucial but insufficient. Influencers across the organisation can stall progress if they don't see the value of intelligence. Tackle this by communicating benefits (in relatable language), addressing concerns transparently, and nurturing a culture that values foresight. Financial investment will only come with consistent, enterprise-wide support for your mission.