From Open Source To Operational Insight: How Osint Is Shaping Modern Intelligence
Leidos, Wednesday, February 25th, 2026
Once viewed as a niche capability, open source intelligence (OSINT) serves as a foundational element of modern intelligence, incorporated in nearly all finished intelligence products and informing decision-makers at all levels.
The Department of War (DoW) 2024-2028 OSINT Strategy, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency, underscores the rapid growth of digital communications and publicly available information as a game-changing shift for the Intelligence Community (IC).
The strategy calls for unified collection and reporting, the integration of advanced technologies, and the continued professionalization of the OSINT workforce. Similarly, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) 2024-2026 OSINT Strategy states, 'The ability to extract actionable insights from vast amounts of open source data will only increase in importance.'