Business intelligence is the process of collecting and analysing public data to support management in making informed business decisions in the modern business environment. It emerged from the need for companies to become more agile and better understand the market, competition, and their operations through available information. The development of business intelligence is deeply intertwined with technological advancements and societal evolution, particularly the transition to the information age. The historical practices of intelligence, including espionage, have shaped the development of business intelligence, although today's business intelligence activities are lawful and focused on publicly available information. Key elements of business intelligence include data, information, and knowledge. Data quality, encompassing accuracy, standardization, and verification, is crucial. Challenges include information overload and "Big Data”, but information management is paramount. The business intelligence cycle involves planning, data collection, processing, analysis, and data distribution, while business counterintelligence defensively protects business secrets. Information technology and analytical tools support BI, and software tools are adaptable. Business intelligence transforms companies into analytical entities, making them more competitive and capable of predicting trends, but it does not make decisions. Instead, it contributes to decision-making in the present based on past information that will influence a company's future behaviour. Challenges in business intelligence implementation include technical and organizational aspects and data security. However, successful implementation brings numerous benefits and enables organizations to be more competitive and efficient in the modern business environment