Cloud security and national security: Protecting critical infrastructure from cyberattacks with AI

This article examines the critical intersection between cloud security and national security, focusing on how artificial intelligence can enhance protection of vital infrastructure against sophisticated cyberattacks. As critical infrastructure increasingly migrates to cloud environments, traditional security approaches prove inadequate against evolving threats from nation-states, ransomware operators, and insider threats. The article analyzes key vulnerabilities in cloud-based critical infrastructure, including expanded attack surfaces, supply chain weaknesses, and IT/OT convergence challenges. It evaluates how AI-driven security solutions—including anomaly detection, predictive analytics, automated response, and specialized applications for converged environments can address these threats more effectively than conventional approaches. Through case studies across energy, healthcare, and financial sectors, it demonstrates practical implementation strategies and outcomes. It also examines implementation frameworks, technical and organizational challenges, ethical considerations, and future research directions, providing actionable insights for securing essential services in an increasingly contested cyber landscape.