The typical image of Cold War intelligence and espionage is long in the rearview mirror. Gone are the days when a simple disguise and a forged passport could get you through a border crossing. Today, the reality is far less cloak-and-dagger and far more data-driven.
The biggest shift since the Cold War? The sheer volume of publicly available information. What once required stealing state secrets can now be compiled from open sources, like commercial satellite imagery, public records and social media platforms. Collection methods once reserved for governments are now available to the public. The average person can task satellites, purchase high-res imagery and corroborate events against mapping tools.
Classic clandestine tradecraft, like what you see in the movies, such as dead drops and cover identities, hasn’t vanished, but much of the day-to-day work hinges on open source intelligence (OSINT) and analytical tradecraft, including collecting data, vetting source reliability, cross-checking facts and producing reports. Good OSINT requires disciplined analysis and human judgment, such as spotting when a profile is “too clean” or when the absence of an online footprint is itself a clue.
In today’s world, guardrails and standards matter more than ever, especially if you need your evidence to stand up in court. We operate under attorney ethical duties and professional responsibility, upholding privilege, privacy and compliance from the start. Our intel gathering follows evidentiary standards such as clear attribution and chain-of-custody so findings can withstand courtroom scrutiny. We also invest in a training pipeline that blends legal background with modern intelligence skills, because keeping clients out of trouble is as important as finding the answer.
If you need intelligence that’s lawful, verifiable and litigation-ready, from due diligence to complex disputes, contact us today.