AI-DRIVEN ZERO-TRUST CYBERSECURITY ARCHITECTURE FOR PROTECTING PAKISTAN'S CRITICAL DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE: THE ROLES OF THREAT INTELLIGENCE, CYBER RESILIENCE, AND REGULATORY READINESS

Abstract

The growing sophistication of cyber threats has increased the vulnerability of Pakistan's critical digital infrastructure, highlighting the need for intelligent and resilient cybersecurity frameworks. This study investigated the effect of AI-Driven Zero-Trust Cybersecurity Architecture on the protection of Pakistan's critical digital infrastructure, with Threat Intelligence and Cyber Resilience as mediating variables and Regulatory Readiness as a moderating variable. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected from 420 cybersecurity professionals across critical infrastructure sectors in Pakistan. The proposed model was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicated that AI-driven Zero-Trust cybersecurity architecture significantly enhanced threat intelligence, strengthened cyber resilience, and improved the protection of critical digital infrastructure. Furthermore, threat intelligence and cyber resilience significantly mediated the relationship between AI-driven Zero-Trust cybersecurity architecture and infrastructure protection, while regulatory readiness positively strengthened this relationship. The study concludes that integrating artificial intelligence with Zero-Trust security principles provides a robust framework for improving cyber resilience, strengthening national cybersecurity capabilities, and safeguarding Pakistan's critical digital infrastructure against evolving cyber threats.