OSINT Market Expects Massive Growth

A lot can change for people over the course of a decade—and the same holds true for the OSINT market: it’s on the precipice of a major period of growth and expansion. A recent report shows the OSINT market is currently valued at $6.25 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $58.21 billion in 2033. The market is capturing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 25 percent. Others estimate it will grow 20.34 percent in the next five years (by 2028) and 22.63 percent by 2030. Regardless, the OSINT market is quickly expanding; how will this expansion affect the OSINT market? What are the trends to watch during this transformative time?

OSINT Transformation: Top Ten Things to Watch

Below are my Top Ten Things to watch as the OSINT market grows.

#10 Increasing Need for OSINT Research Training and Education

As the market grows, so too will the need for OSINT research training and education courses. There are many open-source courses and some paid courses available. More and more training and education will follow. This may involve free and paid training courses and research in the education field regarding tools, techniques, and academic research projects.

#9 Emerging OSINT Tools

There are many popular OSINT tools available now, both private and open source. As the market expands, more software will emerge. Will we see more software development companies enter the market or smaller ones merging together? What types of tools will be developed? This is one trend to watch.

#8 Increasing Demand for OSINT Researchers

A bigger market means an increased demand for skilled OSINT researchers. According to some OSINT researchers, there will be a continued challenge in training and retaining enough people to fill these roles. Many researchers leave OSINT jobs for higher paying cleared research positions. Will the market be able to fill these jobs or will emerging technology tools be used to fill the gap?

#7 Identifying Possible OSINT Market Challenges

Some fear recession in the US. With inflation rising, the Fed raising rates, and the stock market reeling, the fear is understandable. Many in tech and other industries are streamlining budgets and cutting back on staff. How will this affect the OSINT market? Will more companies turn to new technology versus having human researchers? Keep an eye on this as the timing of the OSINT market growth comes head-to-head with the economic challenges.

#6 Increasing Need for More Partnerships and Collaborations

As the OSINT market grows over the next decade, so too will the need for customers to collaborate or partner with one another to share data. One example is law enforcement agencies. Will they partner on the local, state, and federal levels to share OSINT research results? Also, look for educational institutions to help public and private groups collaborate on OSINT research techniques and data analysis.

#5 Evolving Top Sources of OSINT Data

Currently, most OSINT researchers gather data on the internet, from the media, public government data, professional and academic publications, and commercial sources. How will this growth affect these sources? In the future, will they rely more heavily on internet data? How will Artificial Intelligence (AI) affect the gathering of data? Look to see if emerging technology affects the sources for OSINT data and for new sources to evolve.

#4 Defining Top OSINT End Users

Today, there are a variety of top OSINT end users who come from a variety of backgrounds. Those users include military and defense intelligence agencies, cyber security organizations, law enforcement agencies, and private specialized businesses. Will that continue or will new users come into the OSINT marketplace? Which user type will grow during this time period to represent the largest market segment? How will this impact the tools and services organizations provide?

#3 Growing Need for OSINT Services

A bigger OSINT market means more users, more software, and more data. This will kick-off a growing need for consulting companies to help researchers with everything from data collection to analysis and training. Look for existing companies to expand their consulting services or new companies to pop up to fill the gap.

#2 Developing Tools and Technologies

A growing market will mean there will be new emerging OSINT research tools and technologies on the scene. The market already boasts a variety of Machine Language (ML) software, Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools, and AI apps continue to evolve. How will these emerging tools impact this already growing market?

#1 Growing Financial Impact of the Expanding OSINT Market

More OSINT business means more money. Companies will expand and new OSINT tools and services companies will emerge. Will this market grow even beyond the current predictions? Which companies will take the lead in capturing the lion’s share of the OSINT market? Watch as companies grow, merge, or emerge to secure a portion of the profit of this growing market.

How Can Ntrepid Help?

Now you know the Top Ten Things to watch as the OSINT market transforms. It’s important to prepare for the future of OSINT market growth—and the future starts now! Our MA platform and in-house experts can help with all your OSINT research needs. Contact us for more information.