Jordan – OSINT Capacity-Building & Training Program
IntelliSYS delivered a comprehensive, multi-day Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) training program for a coalition of Jordanian governmental and financial institutions. The program, conducted in Amman from 4–7 November 2024, supported investigators, cybersecurity teams, analysts, legal specialists, and digital-forensics personnel in strengthening their knowledge and practical capabilities in OSINT, data collection, data scraping, structured analysis, and secure open-source research techniques. The training initiative was designed as a practical, hands-on program that addressed real-world investigative needs across anti-corruption, financial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital investigations. By combining technical demonstrations with guided exercises, IntelliSYS ensured that participants not only understood OSINT theory but could also apply best practices immediately to their day-to-day work. The program is part of IntelliSYS’ broader commitment to supporting governments and regulatory bodies in enhancing digital investigative capacity, modernizing analytical workflows, and enabling evidence-based decision-making.
Participants and Stakeholder Engagement
The training sessions brought together 35 professionals from a range of national-level institutions, reflecting the cross-sectoral importance of OSINT in modern investigations. Participants represented:
- Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (JIACC)
- Central Bank of Jordan
- Ministry of Justice
- Audit Bureau of Jordan
- Judicial Council
- Departmental units covering finance, investigation, cybersecurity, IT support, and digital services
Attendees included investigators, auditors, programmers, cybersecurity specialists, researchers, department heads, and software developers. This diversity enriched discussions, enabled cross-functional learning, and highlighted the importance of OSINT across government operations.
The presence of both operational staff and strategic decision-makers ensured that the training supported both immediate investigative needs and long-term organizational capability building.
Project Scope
The OSINT training covered a wide range of high-level objectives focused on equipping participants with the foundational and intermediate skills needed to conduct open-source investigations securely, efficiently, and systematically.
- Enhancing OSINT Knowledge and Awareness
The program introduced key OSINT concepts, methodologies, and ethical considerations. Participants learned how open-source intelligence supports investigations, risk assessments, due diligence, and financial crime detection.
A pre-training assessment revealed that while a majority of participants were somewhat familiar with OSINT, many required structured guidance and practical examples. The training addressed this gap by focusing on foundational skills before progressing toward more advanced techniques.
- Strengthening Practical Data Collection Capabilities
Participants were trained in intelligently gathering information from public digital sources, including websites, social media platforms, government databases, news archives, and specialized search engines. Emphasis was placed on:
- Effective search strategies
- Advanced search operators (including Google dorking)
- Identifying, capturing, and validating publicly available information
- Ethical and secure information-gathering practices
This component directly supports investigative bodies like JIACC, the Central Bank, and financial intelligence units that rely heavily on open-source information to identify hidden relationships, locate assets, or verify financial behavior.
- Introduction to Data Scraping Techniques
Since manual data collection is slow and prone to error, the training introduced participants to modern scraping techniques that enable automated extraction of structured and unstructured data. Participants learned:
- How websites structure content
- Tools and approaches for scraping publicly available information
- Extraction of text, tables, and metadata
- Challenges with permissions, formatting, and data quality
Participants also explored PDF scraping—an important skill for investigations involving scanned documents, reports, and disclosures.
- Applied Skills in Power Query and Data Processing
Because many government agencies rely on Microsoft technologies, the training included practical sessions on using Power Query for cleaning, merging, and analyzing data.
Participants learned to transform raw datasets into structured analytical outputs that support investigations, audits, and reporting. The majority of attendees were beginners in Power Query, making this a critical component of the curriculum.
- Practical OSINT, Cybersecurity & Safe Searching
Participants were trained in secure searching, privacy protection, and proper digital hygiene when conducting OSINT activities. This component focused on reducing exposure risks, avoiding detection, and ensuring compliance with organizational cybersecurity protocols.
- Capstone Exercises and Real-World Scenarios
To reinforce learning, the program incorporated hands-on exercises that allowed attendees to apply techniques to realistic investigative scenarios. This approach helped close the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world investigative practice.
Evaluation Methodology
To measure impact and inform future improvements, IntelliSYS conducted pre- and post-training evaluations across all training days. Questionnaires assessed:
- Familiarity with OSINT concepts
- Technical capability in data scraping, Power Query, and open-source search
- Confidence levels before and after the training
- Expectations, perceived quality, and areas for improvement
Assessments were completed by 22–35 participants for Days 1–3 and by 13 participants for Day 4. The data provided a rigorous basis for understanding training effectiveness and identifying future development needs.
Key Findings from Pre-Training Assessments
The pre-training results revealed several important trends:
- OSINT familiarity varied widely.
Most were “somewhat familiar,” while a smaller group had limited exposure, highlighting a need for foundational skills development. - Power Query skill levels were largely beginner-level.
Over 60% of participants were new to the tool, supporting the decision to include introductory-level exercises. - Participants wanted practical, applicable skills.
They expressed strong interest in learning:- Advanced search techniques
- Data scraping workflows
- Tools for investigating individuals and organizations
- Methods relevant to financial and anti-corruption investigations
- Common challenges included accessing structured data and extracting information from PDFs.
These issues directly influence investigative efficiency and were therefore addressed in the program’s practical sessions. - Participants sought hands-on experience over theory.
The desire for practical work influenced session design and future recommendations.
Key Findings from Post-Training Assessments
The post-training evaluation showed a significant increase in participant confidence and skill levels across all major topics.
- High satisfaction with training quality
Across both groups, participants overwhelmingly rated the training as “Excellent” in:
- Quality and relevance of content
- Instructor knowledge and expertise
- Session facilitation
- Clarity of instructions
- Organization and venue
Instructor expertise received a 100% “Excellent” rating.
- Increased confidence in OSINT & data scraping
Participants reported being:
- Very confident or confident in conducting data scraping
- Strongly familiar with secure OSINT practices
- Confident using dorking techniques
- More capable in using Power Query and PDF extraction tools
Confidence gains were observed consistently across all institution types.
- Appreciation for practical exercises
The practical sessions were one of the most valued elements of the training, as they allowed immediate application of skills.
- Request for extended training duration
Many participants expressed interest in:
- More time for hands-on work
- Additional examples and real-world scenarios
- Expansion into more advanced topics such as Python programming and AI-driven data analysis
This feedback indicates a strong appetite for continued professional development and deeper technical training.
High-Level Outcomes
The OSINT training program delivered several key outcomes that support national investigative capabilities:
- Strengthened National Investigative Capacity
Government and financial bodies improved their ability to collect, analyze, and validate open-source information for anti-corruption, financial investigations, and cybersecurity operations.
- Modernized Analytical Practices
Participants gained exposure to modern scraping, data processing, and investigative techniques, replacing outdated manual processes with more efficient digital methods.
- Improved Inter-Agency Collaboration
By training different agencies together, the program fostered shared understanding, alignment of investigation techniques, and improved communication across departments.
- Increased Technical Confidence
Staff at varying levels of seniority now have practical, applicable skills they can immediately use in casework, audits, investigations, and analytical reporting.
- Foundation for Advanced Capacity Building
The training established a baseline from which more advanced programs—such as Python scripting, AI-enhanced OSINT, automated monitoring, and deep web analysis—can be developed.
Conclusion
The OSINT Capacity-Building Program delivered in Amman represents an important milestone in strengthening Jordan’s national investigative and analytical ecosystem. The training successfully enhanced participants’ skills in OSINT research, data scraping, safe searching, and digital analysis. Feedback from participants emphasized the program’s practical relevance, strong facilitation, and high-value content.
Across all four days, the training was well-received, and participants demonstrated clear improvements in confidence, capability, and willingness to adopt modern OSINT techniques in their professional roles. The program has laid the groundwork for further specialized and advanced training tracks that can support ongoing national efforts in anti-corruption, financial intelligence, legal investigations, and cybersecurity.
IntelliSYS remains committed to supporting Jordanian institutions in their digital transformation and investigative modernization, ensuring they are equipped with the tools, skills, and methodologies required to meet the evolving challenges of today’s intelligence and investigative landscape.