Intelligence can be considered a process, a product, and an institution. Institutions in particular point toward the idea of national security, since intelligence services are curiously bound up with both state sovereignty and the core executive.

Therefore this essay will analyse the importance of intelligence to international security. Firstly, it will shed light upon the controversial concept of intelligence distinguishing it from simple ‘information’ and bogus spy stories.

Intelligence plays a crucial role in managing the key national and international security threats that societies and individuals face, ranging from the threat of domestic and transnational terrorism, to digital espionage and attacks, to pandemics, to renewed inter-state, and great power rivalries.

Intelligence is an important component of national power and a fundamental element in decision making regarding national security, defense, and foreign policies. Intelligence is conducted on three levels: strategic (sometimes called national), tactical, and counterintelligence.