Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) for Beginners

The half-day OSINT virtual training course will equip delegates with the practical skills and confidence to use the advanced search capabilities of Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, Hootsuite and Followerwonk to discover relevant content from trusted sources, identify and validate influencers, monitor key topics and extract actionable intelligence to assist decision support.

Delegates will learn how to remove the noise from open-source research by accessing highly relevant information from trusted sources.

The half-day OSINT virtual training course is also available as a client customised private course via Zoom, Teams or WebEx. Please contact the course administrator for details.

The OSINT virtual training course is already being delivered to a number of private organisations and the feedback is excellent.

Who should attend:

The programme is particularly suited for :

• Analysts
• Policy officers
• Information professionals
• Researchers
• Librarians
• Communication & PR professionals

Why you should attend:

• The straight-forward training will turn the complex into the simple and equip delegates with the practical skills needed to improve their research skills and access relevant and trusted information to assist decision support
• All the digital tools used are free and easy to use – they are cloud services and can be accessed after the training on any PC, laptop, tablet or mobile
• Gain hands-on, practical skills and the confidence to immediately use advanced search and research skills in everyday work
• Create an OSINT dashboard (using the free version of Hootsuite) that can be used immediately for everyday work and enhanced over time
• Learn how to identify influencers, enhance information gathering and improve decision support

What are the benefits:

• Practical, applicable, hands-on training that can be applied immediately
• The course includes practical exercises to assist learning
• Increase productivity
• Confidence and empowerment based on acquiring practical hands-on skills
• Understand the advanced search capabilities of Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Hootsuite as well as a range of additional digital tools
• Learn how to identify influencers, enhance intelligence gathering and improve decision making

What previous delegates have said about the course:"

"This should be a mandatory course. So many of us could benefit from knowing how to conduct more focussed searches for data or identifying influencers that this should be a "must-do" for most across the network"

"The information on Google advanced searches will really help me out with research and will save me lots of time"

"I loved all of the practice sessions - they helped lock in the learning pretty quickly - learning by doing!"

"Andy was a great instructor, kept the drumbeat moving and gave really helpful actionable insight"

What you will get:

• Half-day virtual training from an expert
• Delegate numbers limited to a maximum of 8 per course
• One month help-desk support by phone or e-mail after the training

Course Agenda:

OSINT for Beginners virtual training course (half-day) - 09.00 to 13.00

• Introductions – you, me, what do you want from the training? (10 minutes)
• Google - overview of advanced and custom search features, demo of advanced and custom search queries, practical exercises using Google advanced and custom search. Also includes group discussion, screen sharing and chat. (90 minutes)
• Break - 5 minutes
• Twitter - overview of Twitter lists and advanced search features, demo of Twitter lists and advanced search, practical exercises using Twitter lists, advanced search. Also includes group discussion, screen sharing and chat. (45 minutes)
• Followerwonk -overview of Followerwonk and advanced search features, demo of Followerwonk and advanced search, practical exercises using Followerwonk. Also includes group discussion, screen sharing and chat. (25 minutes)
• Break - 5 minutes
• Hootsuite - overview of Hootsuite, demo of Hootsuite and the creation of intelligence streams from Twitter lists for monitoring. Also includes group discussion, screen sharing and chat. (20 minutes)
• LinkedIn - overview of LinkedIn and advanced search features, demo of LinkedIn and advanced search to identify influencers in target organisations with specific skills/responsibilities. Also includes group discussion, screen sharing and chat. (30 minutes)
• Delegate action plan - each delegate briefly describes three things they have learnt and how they will apply these new skills in their work. (10 minutes)
• Demo of OSINT Toolkit – 5 minutes

Course Tutor

Andy Black – Trainer for OSINT for Beginners training course

Andy has over 30 years of experience in the software and information services sector. He has worked for companies including Perfect Information, Excalibur Technologies and Convera and for clients including Jane’s Information, Reuters and Clifford Chance. In 2005 he switched to marketing, PR and communications and has since been Head of Digital for a leading PR firm, managed Honda’s social media monitoring and directed lead generation social media campaigns for Vodafone.

Andy is a specialist contractor to the UK Govt and trains policy-makers, analysts and communication teams in digital skills, digital research and monitoring, he is also a tutor on the Public Diplomacy and Global Communications MA at UCL.