The Black Kite Research Group (formerly known as BRITE ) is a multidisciplinary collective of data scientists, security analysts, and threat researchers dedicated to uncovering the systemic risks within the global digital supply chain. By combining continuous dark web monitoring with advanced machine learning and external cyber telemetry, the group provides the high-fidelity intelligence that powers the Black Kite platform.

Led by Chief Research and Intelligence Officer Dr. Ferhat Dikbiyik , the group specializes in the "hacker’s perspective" of cyber risk. Their work encompasses a suite of industry-standard intelligence, including the annual Third-Party Breach Report , the Ransomware Report , the Supply Chain Vulnerability Report , and the weekly Focus Friday series highlighting the week's most critical third-party vulnerabilities. These resources are designed to translate emerging vulnerabilities into actionable business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.

Leveraging a proprietary dataset of over 40 million companies, the Black Kite Research Group identifies Pressure Zones, areas where high ransomware susceptibility and weak security discipline overlap across critical sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and finance. Their research is cited globally by cybersecurity leaders, policy makers, and media outlets as the definitive source for understanding how vulnerabilities propagate through interconnected third-party ecosystems. Their mission is to move the industry beyond static scores and questionnaire-based assessments toward a model of proactive risk intelligence.