OSINT training teaches you to collect, evaluate and analyse publicly available information using professional intelligence methodology. With us, that means going far beyond “Google skills” into structured research design, source evaluation, analysis and reporting that support real investigations. In the OSINT world this is also called professional Open Source Intelligence tradecraft. On our site you find programmes like OSINT Pathfinder, OSINT Master, OSINT Intelligence Analysis and OSINT Explorer, aimed at investigators, analysts, government organisations and security professionals who need reliable, repeatable results from open sources.
What is OSINT training and what do you learn in an OSINT training course?
OSINT training is professional education in gathering and analysing open source information using intelligence methods. In our programmes you learn how to define information needs, plan research, find and evaluate sources, document your steps and turn raw data into usable intelligence. We focus on methodology first, then on practical OSINT research techniques that support investigations and analysis. Drawing on more than 35 years of OSINT experience and leadership in the Dutch Defence Intelligence & Security Service, we translate intelligence methodology into practical skills you can apply immediately in your daily work.
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What types of OSINT training formats are available and how do they differ?
Professionals can follow OSINT training as open enrolment classroom courses, in-house programmes for teams, or online training. At RIS we offer open classroom courses such as OSINT Pathfinder and OSINT Master at Fletcher Wellness-Hotel Leiden, in-house programmes tailored to your organisation, and online training like OSINT Explorer. Open courses are ideal for individuals who want interaction with peers from other organisations. In-house formats allow us to work with your specific procedures, tools and cases. Online formats provide flexibility and remote access while keeping our focus on methodology and practical exercises.
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How do you choose and register for OSINT training as a professional or organisation?
You start by clarifying your investigative tasks, current skill level and desired outcomes, then match these to a concrete OSINT course and register. For individuals, this usually means selecting an open course such as OSINT Pathfinder (€ 1.789 incl. 21% VAT), OSINT Master (€ 1.948 incl. VAT), OSINT Intelligence Analysis (€ 1.989 incl. VAT) or OSINT Explorer (€ 1.689 incl. VAT) and booking via our OSINT training pages. Organisations often plan a short intake with us to define objectives, choose between open and in-house formats, reserve dates and confirm participant numbers before we prepare the programme logistics together.
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What should you look for when selecting an OSINT training provider or course?
Look for proven intelligence experience, a clear methodology and a curriculum that matches investigative practice, not just tools. Our programmes are designed and delivered by Arno Reuser, founder and former head of the OSINT branch of the Dutch Defence Intelligence & Security Service, working with internet and OSINT since 1990–1991. We build courses around professional intelligence methodology, real-world case work and practical research techniques used by government, private sector and security organisations worldwide. When you compare providers, check who teaches, how they connect OSINT to analysis, and which concrete investigative outcomes the training supports.
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For which professionals and sectors is OSINT training particularly relevant?
OSINT training is particularly relevant for investigators, analysts and security professionals who make decisions based on information from open sources. We work with government organisations, law enforcement, defence, international organisations, corporate security, risk and compliance teams, and financial institutions. Our customer base includes ministries, police, tax authorities, international courts, NATO bodies and major banks, which shows how broadly OSINT skills apply. Whether you investigate individuals, organisations, networks, threats or fraud, structured open source intelligence helps you work more systematically, transparently and defensibly.
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What results can you realistically expect from professional OSINT training?
From professional OSINT training you can expect faster, more focused research, better source evaluation and clearer intelligence reporting. Participants learn practical techniques they can apply immediately, but also a way of thinking: planning, documenting and justifying every research step. Organisations usually see impact quickly when teams share a common methodology: more consistent results, fewer missed sources and more defensible conclusions. Because we base our programmes on more than 35 years of OSINT practice and work with government and private sector clients worldwide, we design training with measurable improvements in daily investigative work in mind.