IBM X-Force Exchange vs Threat Intelligence Platform

IBM X-Force Exchange is a cloud-based threat intelligence platform for researching security threats, collecting intelligence, and collaborating with peers. Its reports provide context for IP addresses, URLs, malware hashes, web applications, signatures, and vulnerabilities. Logged-in users can search, comment, share research, and create public or private collections containing indicators, reports, and other research content. A QRadar plug-in looks up IP and URL information from events and lets users send data from searches, offenses, and rules to collections. The API documentation covers IP and URL category feeds, reports, vulnerability feeds, and TAXII feeds, with JSON and STIX/TAXII formats. However, API use requires a purchased premium subscription; freemium API keys no longer have API access. The free plan provides limited portal access, and guest users cannot use every website feature. The GUI requires a supported browser and a direct internet connection. IBM describes API Enterprise as suitable for security operations centers and managed security service providers.

Threat Intelligence Platform combines threat intelligence feeds with in-house databases to analyze threat hosts and attack infrastructure in real time. Its web interface provides details about a host and its underlying infrastructure. The Domain Infrastructure Analysis API returns web, mail, and name servers, known subdomains, IP addresses, geolocation, and subnet information. The Domain Reputation API assesses domains and IPv4 addresses against more than 120 parameters to calculate a reputation score. Other APIs cover SSL certificate chains, SSL configuration, malware checks, and connected domains. The APIs are presented for integration with cybersecurity products such as CTI platforms, SIEM solutions, and DRP solutions, and for enriching systems or examining indicators of compromise, third-party digital assets, and attack-surface exposure. The service is available on the web and through APIs, with cloud deployment. A free, fully functional trial requires no credit card or company information. The free subscription provides 100 credits after sign-up; web analysis costs 10 credits per request, and API requests cost 1–3 credits each. API use is limited to 100 requests per minute.