Cyber Security and Applications

AI-Driven Security in Cloud Computing: Enhancing Threat Detection, Automated

Response, and Cyber Resilience
--Manuscript Draft--

Manuscript Number: CSA-D-25-00128

Full Title: AI-Driven Security in Cloud Computing: Enhancing Threat Detection, Automated
Response, and Cyber Resilience

Article Type: Research paper

Keywords: Ai-Powered Security; Cybersecurity Threats; machine learning; Anomaly Detection;

Threat Intelligence; Automated Security Response

Corresponding Author: Shamnad Mohamed Shaffi, MS

Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs Campus
UNITED STATES

Corresponding Author Secondary

Information:

Corresponding Author's Institution: Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs Campus

Corresponding Author's Secondary

Institution:

First Author: Shamnad Mohamed Shaffi, Masters Degree in Information Technology

First Author Secondary Information:

Order of Authors: Shamnad Mohamed Shaffi, Masters Degree in Information Technology

Sunish Vengathattil

Jezeena Nikarthil Sidhick

Resmi Vijayan

Order of Authors Secondary Information:

Manuscript Region of Origin: UNITED STATES

Abstract: Cloud security concerns have been greatly realized in recent years due to the increase
of complicated threats in the computing world. Many traditional solutions do not work
well in real-time to detect or prevent more complex threats. Artificial intelligence is
today regarded as a revolution in determining a protection plan for cloud data
architecture through machine learning, statistical visualization of computing
infrastructure, and detection of security breaches followed by counteraction. These AI-
enabled systems make work easier as more network activities are scrutinized, and any
anomalous behavior that might be a precursor to a more serious breach is prevented.
This paper examines ways AI can enhance cloud security by applying predictive
analytics, behavior-based security threat detection, and AI-stirring encryption. It also
outlines the problems of the previous security models and how AI overcomes them. For
a similar reason, issues like data privacy, biases in the AI model, and regulatory
compliance are also covered. So, AI improves the protection of cloud computing
contexts; however, more efforts are needed in the subsequent phases to extend the
technology's reliability, modularity, and ethical aspects. This means that AI can be
blended with other new computing technologies, including blockchain, to improve
security frameworks further. The paper discusses the current trends in securing cloud
data architecture using AI and presents further research and application directions.

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Manuscript Click here to view linked References

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4 AI-Driven Security in Cloud Computing:
Enhancing Threat Detection, Automated Response,
5
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8
9 and Cyber Resilience
10
11
12 Shamnad Mohamed Shaffi Sunish Vengathattil Jezeena Nikarthil Sidhick
13 Data Architect Sr. Director, Software Engineering Senior Data Engineer
14 Clarivate Analytics
Amazon Web Services American Express Global Business Travel
15 Philadelphia, PA, USA
Seattle, WA, US Bellevue, WA, USA
16
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
17
18
19
20
21 Resmi Vijayan
22 Software Engineer
23 Comcast
24 Philadelphia, PA, USA
25 [email protected]
26
27 Abstract: Cloud security concerns have been greatly realized data sharing, productivity, and use [1]. Nevertheless, growing
28 in recent years due to the increase of complicated threats in the reliance on cloud technology has led to new threats, such as
29 computing world. Many traditional solutions do not work well in hackers, thefts, and internal threats, which are threats to
30 real-time to detect or prevent more complex threats. Artificial organizations [3]. This means that traditional security firewalls
intelligence is today regarded as a revolution in determining a
31
protection plan for cloud data architecture through machine
and encryption approaches are not enough to counter present
32 learning, statistical visualization of computing infrastructure, and and future threats [2].
33 detection of security breaches followed by counteraction. These
34 AI is the new trend in cloud security since it is a powerful
AI-enabled systems make work easier as more network activities tool for detecting threats, monitoring for anomalies, and
35 are scrutinized, and any anomalous behavior that might be a
precursor to a more serious breach is prevented. This paper responding automatically. Security solutions now use machine
36
examines ways AI can enhance cloud security by applying learning and predictive analytics to prevent a threat that is
37
predictive analytics, behavior-based security threat detection, and likely to be damaging from practically occurring [3]. As AI
38 processes big data from the cloud and eventually learns it, it
AI-stirring encryption. It also outlines the problems of the
39 previous security models and how AI overcomes them. For a improves the security position, shortens reaction times, and
40 similar reason, issues like data privacy, biases in the AI model, and decreases human mistakes, thus becoming a crucial aspect of
41 regulatory compliance are also covered. So, AI improves the modern-day protective measures [6].
42 protection of cloud computing contexts; however, more efforts are
43 needed in the subsequent phases to extend the technology's This paper seeks to discuss the use of AI-supported
44 reliability, modularity, and ethical aspects. This means that AI can solutions in the context of cloud data architecture and the
be blended with other new computing technologies, including opportunities, challenges, and prospects of this approach. It
45
blockchain, to improve security frameworks further. The paper reviews prior research studying AI in cybersecurity, explores
46 discusses the current trends in securing cloud data architecture
47 issues like data privacy and regulatory concerns, and presents
using AI and presents further research and application directions.
48 an outlook on the potential means of improving cloud security
49 AI. The study expects to establish findings that will enlighten
Keywords: Ai-Powered Security, Cloud Data Architecture,
how adopting AI changes the cloud security environment and
50
Cybersecurity Threats, Machine Learning, Anomaly Detection, prepares the environments for better security.
51
52 Threat Intelligence, Automated Security Response
53
54
I. INTRODUCTION
55
56 Cloud computing has altered how enterprises store and
57 process their data, making it possible to expand the solutions
58 while simultaneously containing high overheads. Since
59 transcended beyond implementation in academic and research
60 establishments, it has surmounted significant breakthroughs in
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3 on threats. Millions of AT&T clients’ data were accessed,
4 including personal identification details, account credentials,
and billing information. The core of the problem was found to
5
lie in AT&T’s data management and security, which allowed
6
the customer data to be extracted easily. As for significant
7 points of the described incident, it pointed to the possibility of
8 suffering considerable monetary and image losses due to
9 computer break-ins and increased activity of cybercriminals
10 who tend to turn to ransom demands as an effective way to
11 leverage data stolen [3].
12
13 These are some of the reasons why higher levels of security
14 are required for those offered by encryption and firewalls. They
15 stress applying AI solutions to protect an organization’s assets
16 from threats, secure against an improper configuration, or even
17 enhance end-point protection. Focusing on the future, threat
18 identification, automation of security, and monitoring
19
Fig 1: Enhance Cloud Security with AI Solutions procedures represent the crucial components of protecting
cloud environments.
20
21 Various conventional protection tools exist, like firewalls,
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
22 encryption, and antivirus programs, but they do not suffice
23 Cloud computing has become a burgeoning technology enough to protect from the new, improved types of cyber
24 because of the rapid increase in the storage and use of data by threats. Thus, AI has become one of the most effective concepts
25 individuals and companies. Attackers keep launching new in addressing cloud security issues and providing innovative,
26 attacks into cloud environments to target clients, gaining advanced procedures for protection. This conceptual
27 unauthorized access to their data and leading to data leakages background section offers a synthesis of cloud security issues
28 and compromised cloud services. starting from current third-party literature regarding
29 familiarization with security constraints, traditional security
New threats have occurred, highlighting the problems of models, and innovative AI-based cybersecurity risk
30 cloud security, which require further strengthening of security management solutions generated and supported through
31 measures. The increased utilization of cloud platforms weakens realistic case studies of AI mitigation of threats.
32 organizations' assets' links to cyber threats, as current threats
33 reveal whether current security is enough. A. Preliminary Survey Of Threats On Cloud Environment:
34 Key Threats And Their Impact
35 The most recent was in July 2024, when a Crowdstrike
36 security breach affected several organizations worldwide. The The problems of cloud security are most evident when
matter involved CrowdStrike's failure to secure its endpoint threats of the threat actors are exploited to attack the cloud
37
detection and response (EDR) system, whereby the security infrastructure of businesses. Risks include data loss, DoS
38
measures were compromised, and the adversaries got access to attacks, data leak insider attacks, and ransomware attacks.
39
the information they were not supposed to access. These Research has illustrated that up to 80% of cloud breaches are
40 problems axed all aspects of governance and financial and caused by mistakes and poor access control [4]. Other forms of
41 healthcare facilities. The source of this attack was realized to social engineering, such as phishing, also play a role in
42 have originated from a vulnerability that was not patched to credential theft, hence unauthorized access to information.
43 allow the attackers to penetrate the systems. This breach Advanced persistent threats (APTs) operate in cloud
44 prompted the discussion about the third-party cybersecurity environments where the attackers’ presence goes unnoticed for
45 vendors' dependency and proactivity of security patching [1]. a long time, and the long-term goal is acquiring essential data
46 [5]. One of the burning issues from the further enhancement of
47 Another one was a cogent data leakage vulnerability in the next generation of computing environment, namely, multi-
48 Microsoft Azure. This led to cloud misconfiguration, poor cloud and hybrid cloud, is security issues and threats or the
49 identity and access management policies, and unauthorized need to transition from post-factum protection to the concept of
50 access to several enterprise data information. The attacker used prevention.
51 misconfigured storage accounts and unsafely protected APIs to
steal sensitive data. This incident supports the accumulation of B. Limitations of Traditional Cloud Security Measures:
52
threats related to misconfigured cloud services, including cloud Why Conventional Approaches Are No Longer Sufficient
53
leaders. The incident impacted businesses that depend on Azure
54 The foundation of cloud protection includes conventional
services and artificially forced customers to rethink the Azure
55 cloud security tools, such as firewalls, encryption mechanisms,
shared responsibility model [2].
56 IDSs, and antivirus software, which have significant
57 Another recent and well-known case of corporate hacking limitations. However, traditional security systems are between
58 happened to AT&T; the company lost its consumer data. The real-time adaptable and thus not a suitable technique for
59 attackers demanded that they be paid in Bitcoin to remove the dealing with portable and developing cyber threats in today's
60 stolen data; the experience unveiled a danger of ransom based computing environment [6]. Furthermore, these tools are based
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3 on previously identified attack patterns; hence, they cannot policies like the GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 need constant
4 detect and neutralize zero-day threats [7]. Furthermore, many monitoring and change to prevent costs of compliance and legal
conventional security solutions rely on manual intervention, suits [9].
5
which slows down threat containment and increases the
6
probability of success of cyberattacks [8]. Moreover, as cloud These challenges can be addressed through AI and ML
7 adoption continues to increase, these old-school security ways solutions designed to incorporate intelligence in security
8 become more challenging to scale as they struggle to handle monitoring to map out security responsibilities. Machine
9 vast amounts of traffic and distributed data, and these learning algorithms review cloud configurations to determine
10 potentially dangerous structural vulnerabilities and certify that
organizations are very vulnerable to security attacks.
11 the organization complies with its regulatory standards.
12 1) Incident Response (IR) Challenges and AI/ML Solutions Businesses cut down the amount of time spent and intervention
13 by automated means of checking compliance by comparing the
Cloud security with incident response (IR) has many cloud infrastructure against specific regulations. The risk
14 challenges in dealing with the complex nature of cyber threats
15 assessment tools allow AI to expose potential threats to an
and distributed cloud environments. The main problem comes organization before they are exploited, thus improving their
16 from being able to detect threats in real-time in multiple cloud prevention. Furthermore, AI offers security posture
17 infrastructures. These traditional security tools find it management that allows cloud settings to stay valid according
18 challenging to correlate security events on the different to the current best practices and risk modeling that forecasts
19 platforms, resulting in delayed fusion of security events for risk based on its data regarding past attacks. Using AI, the
20 threat detection and response. In addition, cloud environments business can manage and facilitate defined communicational
21 show high sophistication and evolution in attack patterns that interactions between the involved stakeholders and specific
22 do not allow rule-based security systems to change in practical task assignments and have an innovative approach to workflow,
23 ways entirely. Unsurprisingly, security teams also see an which may enhance security significant response speed [10].
24 avalanche of alerts daily, most of which are false positives,
25 resulting in alert fatigue and delaying an appropriate response 3) Data Protection Challenges and AI/ML Solutions
26 to real threats. On the other hand, cloud assets are not easily
visible to organizations, which means it is difficult for them to Businesses have a serious problem with protecting sensitive
27 data in the cloud because of the complex encryption
28 discover unauthorized access or malicious activities and fail to
discover them before they escalate into cyber break-ins [13]. requirements, the ever-evolving data privacy regulations, and
29 the decentralization of cloud storage. To protect data,
30 In order to tackle these challenges, AI and ML-driven organizations must implement robust encryption mechanisms
31 solutions have transformed incident response by providing auto such that unauthorized users can access only the data they can.
32 security operations and predictive threat mitigation. The While managing encryption keys manually comes with
33 security teams can filter out the false positives, and machine- vulnerabilities, it is still possible to do so. Since securing data
34 learned prioritization of alerts will allow the security teams to privacy and enforcing strict security policies on a company
35 focus on high-risk threats. Security Orchestration, Automation, must comply with data protection laws such as GDPR, CCPA,
36 and Response (SOAR) platforms based on AI are used to and PCI DSS, it is important to keep an eye on your system and
37 integrate various security tools in one platform by which configure and implement regular audits. What makes it worse
38 automated incident containment and response execution are is that multiple data storage locations across various cloud
39 enabled. As described above, deep learning models can environments make it challenging to have a central eye on
40 enhance threat detection by analyzing massive log datasets and security. Unauthorized access, insider threats, and
41 identifying suspicious patterns and anomalies indicative of misconfigured access controls increase the likelihood of a data
42 potential attacks by detecting them. breach, which, among other potential losses, results in a loss of
43 money and damage to reputation [11].
2) Shared Responsibility Model Challenges and AI/ML
44 Solutions The challenge of data protection is solved by using AI and
45 ML-driven solutions to automate encryption management and
46 Nevertheless, cloud security needs to be divided, split, and enforce compliance policy. The machine learning algorithm
47 shared between the CSPs and the customers, or instead, the provides a way of automatically allocating the encryption keys
48 responsibilities must be split in some way for Cloud Security based on data sensitivity and reduces the manual intervention
49 to be executable. However, the flexible division of roles brings and the security gaps. This means that AI-powered access
50 some confusion and the possibility of numerous security risks. control systems monitor each user’s behavior. They will likely
51 Governance issues pose a problem mainly due to a lack of engage in suspicious activity, such as unauthorized access
definition and respective identification of boundaries of attempts, whenever they detect strange behavior. By intelligent
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organizations’ liabilities, which in turn makes data classification, AI systems can classify data on the risk level
53
misconfigurations and exposures widespread. In this context, and assign a different level of protection for highly sensitive
54
because workloads constantly move between public, private, information. Moreover, AI-driven solutions for privacy
55 and hybrid clouds, security policies have always been
56 protection, including AI-driven PII detection and AI-powered
challenging to standardize. Moreover, it is crucial to have the data masking, ensure compliance and maintain the customer’s
57 support of information technology personnel, security
58 information. Data loss prevention (DLP) solutions based on AI
personnel, compliance officers, and executives to enforce analyze network traffic and prevent possible data leaks by
59 security. Other factors that make cloud security management
60 detecting unauthorized transmission. This allows cloud-based
more challenging include regulatory compliance, where
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3 data to be secure while promoting changes to regulatory  Alone, continuous authentication and real-time anomaly
4 requirements [12]. detection made with AI can reduce unauthorized
attempts by 85%.
5 Cybersecurity has become a critical issue in organizations
6 because malicious attacks have advanced more than ever,  There was a much higher decline in insider threats since
7 requiring organizations to develop intelligent, automatic, and the AI agent was able to monitor internal operations and
8 adaptive security capable of detecting and responding to such identify suspicious access patterns that may pose threats
9 threats in real time. to insiders.
10 C. AI-Based Approaches to Cybersecurity  Reducing the likelihood of human error, enforcing least
11 privilege access, and making access decisions
12 1) Machine Learning for Anomaly Detection in Cloud automatically.
13 Security: Applying ML models to examine large volumes of
14 data and determine if a potential cyber-attack exists is possible.
15 However, ML algorithms learn and evolve with time compared
to conventional rule-based security systems. Supervised The following makes it evident that the use of AI in ZTA
16 improves security because it disapproves of any implicit trust
17 learning models detect known threats, such as decision trees
and support vector machines. In contrast, unsupervised while amplifying the security measures according to threat
18 intelligence collected in real-time [12].
19 learning models, such as clustering algorithms, detect unknown
20 threats based on deviation from normal network behavior [9].
21 2) Deep Learning for Identifying Hidden Threats in Cloud
22 Networks: A deep learning approach uses artificial neural
23 networks to identify mixed patterns in a data set. It is also very
24 good at identifying zero-day threats and other specific types of
25 malwares. Besides, it may detect hazardous viruses that can
26 avoid detection by standard anti-virus software. Network traffic
27 logs, alerts, and endpoint behavior used with deep learning
28 greatly help reduce false positives in threat detection [10].
29 3) Behavioral Analytics for Proactive Intrusion Detection
30 and Risk Assessment: To find these patterns, supervised
31 behavior analysis tracks the user's activities, device
32 interactions, and network traffic. With the set normal behavior,
33 the AI systems can capture eventualities that depict the
34 account's anomalous status, unauthorized access, or even
35 infection by malware [11]. This can be useful for various
36 businesses since this action is preventive and ensures that
37 security threats that may threaten the organization's data do not
38 occur.
39
D. Case Studies of AI-Driven Security Implementations:
40
Real-World Applications and Success Stories
41 Fig. 2: AI-Enhanced Security in Zero-Trust Architecture
42 Integrating AI-driven security models in cloud systems has
43 made a massive shift in data safety, threat identification, and
44 response time. More than one organization, irrespective of the 2) Artificial Intelligence in SIEM: The Ways to Strengthen
45 type of business, has implemented AI-based security Real-Time Analyzing and Threat Information
46 frameworks to prevent cyber-attacks and protect data. The
SIEM systems are imperative solutions for assembling,
47 following case studies reflect real-life cases where the use of
evaluating, and correlating information about security
48 AI-based security systems has helped boost the security
occurrences from multiple sources to identify cyber threats in
49 system.
cloud networks. However, the traditional approaches
50 1) AI-Driven Zero-Trust Architecture (ZTA) in Large implemented in SIEM are ineffective because of challenges.
51 Enterprises This is because traditional SIEM solutions have false positives,
52 slow response time, and are incapable of coping with massive
53 ZTMAc is a cybersecurity architectural model that does not data logs.
54 inherently trust any subject, internal or external to the network.
55 Instead, it implements strong identity checks and constant The following benefits have, therefore, been realized by
56 authentication features. An attempted case was developed by a companies that have implemented AI-driven SIEM solutions:
large financial institution where using an ML model, they built
57
a Zero-Trust security structure that would monitor user  Event correlation and threat detection of up to 60% could
58 be achieved without spending considerable time on this
behavior with high frequency, analyze access requests, and
59
alert and prevent any anomalous behavior in real time. The process and interacting with cyber threats.
60 results were remarkable:
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3  Improved efficiency in threat prioritization, as AI - Risk administration in real-time by
models prioritize security alerts in an optimal order to analyzing user behavior, identifying a device, and
4 tracking transaction history.
evade overwhelming security staff with too many alerts.
5 - It also lowers false positives, eliminating
6  Changes detection involves Feed Forward, where higher cases where valid transactions or operations are
7 forms of threat intelligence learn from security threats to denied.
8 refine future risk identification. Impact It learns new fraud patterns, can identify
9 other types of fraudulent scenarios, and increases
Now, with the integration of the advanced components of transaction protection.
10 Artificial Intelligence, SIEM has become more proactive and
11 has made it easier for the security teams to work more
12 effectively and respond to threats and incidents with high levels
13 4) AI-Enhanced Threat Hunting and Response in Cloud
of precision [13]. Data Centers
14
15 3) Deep Learning for Fraud Detection in E-commerce Business-critical data stored in cloud data centers is
16 Platforms promising for APTs, insider attacks, and ransomware threats.
17 Because the internet is available and accessible to Most cloud service providers have adopted AI algorithms in
18 customers, credit card fraud via cyber scams, threatened their security models to increase the chances and mechanisms
19 chargebacks, stolen credit cards, and the creation of fake of active threat searching and prevention. Some of the notable
20 accounts is relatively common in online retailing companies. advantages of integration of artificial intelligence in cloud
21 Analytical fraud detection methods tend to have updated security include the following:
22 problems with new fraud behaviors or produce too many false
23 alarms, disturbing legitimate customers’ transactions. One of
24 the largest online selling stores decided to establish a deep  Ongoing monitoring and identification of behaviors
25 learning-based fraud detection system, which had the following indicative of APTs are done by utilizing an automated
26 benefits: detection system on the network traffic.
27  Real-time prevention of ransomware attacks where files
 By achieving an accuracy rate of 97% when determining
28 fraudulent transactions, chargebacks and financial losses infected by viruses are shut down, unauthorized access
29 are minimized [14]. is prevented, and encryption of other files is also halted.
30
31  Real-time risk mitigation, where the AI in an  Intelligent security features allow security teams to learn
32 environment constantly assesses the purchase behaviors, about some kinds of threats before they become
33 the fingerprints of the device being used, and past imminent threats.
34 transactions to identify fraudulent activity on the fly.
Thus, by using AI for constant threat detection, prediction,
35  Reducing and avoiding itself after allowing decision- and response, CS teams can minimize the time needed to
36 making while ensuring that only fraudulent transactions address incidents and improve the overall security of cloud
37 are prevented. ecosystems [15].
38
39 The application of deep learning here can be described as 5) Comparative Analysis of AI Models in Cloud Security:
40 the presence of a learning algorithm that captures new forms of Strengths and Weaknesses of Different AI Techniques
fraud detection, recognizes complex schemes, and improves
41 There are various aspects concerning the AI models applied
the overall security of the transactions [14].
42 to cloud security and the strengths and disadvantages of
43 TABLE 1: DEEP LEARNING FRAUD DETECTION specific models. The following table gives a cross comparison:
44 Deep Learning for Details TABLE 2: STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF DIFFERENT AI MODELS
45 Fraud Detection in
46 E-commerce AI Models Advantages Limitations
Platforms
47 Supervised The ability to detect Requires labeled
48 Problem E-commerce forms include credit card fraud Learning known threats is datasets for training
and chargebacks, stolen credit cards, fake highly accurate
49
accounts, and cyber fraud. Traditional fraud
50 detection techniques are inadequate to deal with Unsupervised Identifies unknown May generate false
51 new fraud scenarios and generate large numbers Learning threats and anomalies positives
52 of false positives. Reinforcement Continuously Requires extensive
53 Solution Deciding on improving the fraud detection Learning improves defense computing resources
system using a deep learning method to increase mechanisms
54
55 the fraud detector’s effectiveness. Deep Learning Excels at recognizing High computational cost
56 Key Benefits - 97% efficiency in the cases of fraudulent zero-day attacks
57 transactions, chargebacks, and, consequently, Behavioral Several of its Requires further
financial losses. Analytics capabilities include enhancement to reduce
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real-time the number of alarms
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identification of has grown rapidly is through intelligent systems monitoring
inside threats regulatory requirements and ensuring that the cloud security
4
measures align with evolving global cybersecurity standards.
5
6 These methods bring the best and most progressive cloud B. Advancements in AI-Driven Threat Intelligence
7 security options parallel to the next level of AI models. New technologies in cloud security will emerge in
8
The increasing sophistication of cyber threats necessitates a successive variations of intelligent threat intelligence where
9
paradigm shift in cloud security strategies. Security solutions security systems are aligned more to anticipation and
10 prevention than reaction. The evaluation of the threat source is
11 incorporating Artificial Intelligence are proficient in
predetermination, automation, and flexibility of Security expected to convert to more innovative algorithms, where
12 cyberattacks can be tracked to their sources. These models will
13 Algorithms as opposed to conventional security techniques.
Nevertheless, relative risks, including adversarial AI attacks, require deep learning to analyze data from several sources,
14 recognize the profile of attacks, and estimate future attacks.
data privacy, and computational costs, must be overcome to
15
leverage AI to advance cloud security fully. Besides the feature of attribution of an event, context-aware
16
17 Research should be conducted in the future to further anomaly detection is the next big step toward AI-driven threat
18 improve AI's interpretability, develop integration with intelligence, which adds behavioral analytics, device
19 blockchain, advance threat intelligence, and develop next- fingerprints, and network activity to identify anomalous
20 generation cloud security using AI. behaviors of a person in real time. In contrast to other anomaly
21 detection systems based on the rules of logical decision-
III. FUTURE WORK making, AI models will improve with each new data and work
22
With cyber threats growing increasingly complex, it is not accurately to detect an insider threat or a complicated
23
surprising that AI-based security solutions must adapt to start cyberattack. Another relatively explored area is federated
24
fighting these very complex attacks. The future of cloud learning, which is training a learning model in multiple
25 organizations while sharing the security data analyses without
26 security is emerging AI technologies, improved threat
intelligence systems, ethical considerations in the case of AI- exchanging actual data. It is a decentralized model that will
27 help to enhance global protection against threats and make
28 powered security, and integration with other innovative
technologies such as blockchain. Due to the increasing use of organizations more effective in analyzing threats.
29
30 AI to standardize and increase the effectiveness of Future developments will also establish a link between AI
31 cybercriminal attacks, cybersecurity professionals must adopt and cyber threat intelligence feeds that collate information from
AI-based solutions to detect, predict, and avert threats the government, cyber security companies, and organizations.
32
proactively. Within this section, details are given on where These platforms will assimilate AI to offer threat intelligence
33
future research and development will take the next generation to organizations and help organizations prevent such threats by
34 of cloud security.
35 taking measures even before they are hatched. At the same
36 A. Emerging AI Technologies for Enhanced Cloud Security time, advanced technologies such as honeypots and traps will
be employed in security systems to deceive attackers and gain
37 Like any new technology, AI is rapidly advancing to new data on their TTPs.
38 frontiers in cloud security, particularly more innovative,
39 adaptive, and autonomous defense mechanisms. The quantum C. Ethical and Privacy Considerations in AI-Powered
40 integration of quantum machine learning (QML) can change Security
41 cloud security by adding quantum computing’s power to This is because the companies' use of AI for cloud security
42 analyze big data in real time, revolutionizing the cloud security poses several ethical and privacy issues. It is also possible to
43 market. This will consequently significantly improve the prioritize security threats based on prejudices we have of
44 detection of the zero days that typically evade conventional potential attackers and thus create a flawed security model.
45 security measures. This is another promising development used This is because, with trained AI models that use existing data,
46 in security, specifically threat simulation and using GANs to there might be more focus on specific types of user behavior
47 train AI security models against ever-changing cyber threats. while some elaborate cyber-attacks are left unnoticed. This can
48 The utility of GANs is to generate sophisticated attack be done with the help of collecting data that is diverse and
49 scenarios to improve security systems’ resistance against inclusive about gender, race, etc., and using specific algorithms
50 adversarial attacks. that were developed with fairness in mind. The next concern is
51
Another is that autonomous AI security agents are created the problem of surveillance that is put in place by AI
52 to act against threats without human intervention, and monitoring solutions since they constantly track various user
53 cybersecurity becomes more proactive than reactive. These activities. Open AI governance policies and the use of
54 agents will use reinforcement learning techniques to adapt to applications, including differential privacy and homomorphic
55 new cyber threats on the fly so that response times are reduced, encryption, should regulate artificial intelligence in
56 and the impact of a breach is minimized. Also, in the future, AI organizations.
57 will come up with self-healing AI systems capable of Besides, artificial intelligence is a sensitive element in
58 automatically detecting and patching vulnerabilities and thus cyber defense; therefore, accountability and explainability of
59 preventing a security incident from escalating. Another its decisions are crucial. Thus, these systems should be
60 steeping field where AI in automating compliance management explainable and accountable when artificial intelligence is
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3 given specific security responsibilities. This will bring about ethical issues, and regulation issues. Also, AI is implemented
4 explainable AI (XAI), which will aid the cybersecurity teams differently depending on the cloud environment; the outcomes
in comprehending how the models identify threats and their of the cloud depend on its infrastructures, governance policies,
5
choices to minimize numerous ignorance issues and boost the and the type of data being processed in the cloud environment.
6
trust and utilization of AI security systems. They will have to This section discusses these aspects in further detail in terms of
7 define regulations regarding the proper use of AI in cloud the efficiency, constraints, and conformity of the regulation of
8 security, and governments and industries will do what is AI-powered cloud security.
9 needed. Accountability in artificial intelligence and adherence
10 A. Effectiveness of AI in Real-Time Threat Detection and
to the laws governing data privacy are other factors that will
11 explain the general acceptance of AI in security systems. Prevention
12 AI has brought significant changes regarding the ability to
13 D. AI and Blockchain Integration for Next-Generation
Cloud Security monitor events as they occur. It uses big data to detect
14 corruption and then respond without a human being
15 In order to enhance cloud security, integrating AI with intervening. Deep learning-based IDS has been used to identify
16 blockchain offers an innovative way to integrate AI’s predictive new levels of cyber-attack with adequate security, thus
17 capability with blockchain’s decentralized and tamper-proof mitigating the risk of data breaches in cloud computing [3]. AI-
18 architecture. The creation of blockchain identity management based threat intelligence also improves the speed of actions
19 with assistance from AI can enhance authentication by since programs are created to fight malware and ransomware,
20 authenticating user identities while ensuring that the and IT insiders will act without delay [7]. With the help of AI
21 information is immutable and tamper-proof. This integration in predictive analytics, an organization can quickly identify
22 can significantly cut identity fraud and unauthorized access to areas of weakness and fix them before they are exploited by
23 cloud resources. Further, the AI-driven security models can use attackers [12]. In addition, It is noteworthy that Cloud SIEM
24 consensus mechanisms in blockchain to validate the threat solutions with AI help to monitor constantly and make cloud
25 intelligence in a distributed network with enhanced accuracy platforms stronger against new threats [14].
26 and reliability of cyber threat detection.
B. Limitations and Challenges in Implementing AI-Driven
27 Blockchain can also help improve the transparency and Security Solutions
28 accountability of AI-driven security measures. It will benefit
29 industries where data protection is crucial and necessary, such Despite its advancements, AI-based cloud security faces
30 as healthcare and finance. Also, with the help of AI-powered several limitations. One of them is that deep learning models
31 smart contracts, AI can regulate and automate security policies, require significantly high computational power. Therefore,
32 incident response, and compliance enforcement, making cloud deploying such models is expensive and computationally
33 security proactive and efficient. With the evolution of AI and demanding [5]. Also, AI programming functions based on data
34 blockchain technologies, the use case of securing cloud feeding; hence, if the data fed is flawed, the system will be
35 infrastructures with emerging cooperation between AI and equally flawed, and the results from such a broken algorithm
36 blockchain will further enhance threat mitigation and trust- can compromise security measures [9]. Another problem with
building capabilities in cloud-based services. AI applications is that they are adversarial systems since
37
hackers will also employ AI to hack into the systems by
38
That is why cloud security in the future will depend on the exploiting their programming [11]. There are also various
39
developments of Artificial intelligence and its interconnectivity drawbacks regarding the use of automation, such as the
40 with other novelties. Given the constantly increasing cyber assumption by the organization to trust the automated systems,
41 threats, IT security solutions that utilize artificial intelligence hence making little or no effort to oversee critical security
42 should be predictive, adaptive, and independent. Advanced decisions made by the computers as they might misinterpret the
43 quantum machine learning and self-autonomous currents will alerts stated by the durable AI systems [16].
44 improve threat detection, especially threat sophistication.
45 Developments in AI in threat intelligence will enable an C. The Role of Regulatory Compliance and Governance in
46 organization to detect threats and respond to them promptly to AI-Based Cloud Security
47 prevent them from becoming out of control. Ethical and privacy AI-operated cloud security must respect regulatory and
48 concerns must surface and be managed to advance the proper compliance standards to offer legal data handling. Some
49 use of AI. At the same time, the marriage between AI and examples of mandatory regulation for industries, including the
50 blockchain will enable new forms of security layers that are financial and healthcare sectors, are GDPR, HIPAA, and
51 almost immutable to hacker attacks. FedRAMP [18]. These laws require implementing measures in
52
IV. DISCUSSION security control and data protection and explaining the
53 functions of artificial intelligence [20]. Nevertheless, they also
54 Enhancing cloud security with AI has provided better real- pointed out one of the major problems that organizations
55 time threat detection, early identification of threats, risk experience: rapid changes in the threats within the
56 prevention strategies, and risk management. Artificial cybersecurity environment, which, in turn, may result in
57 intelligence security technologies apply machine learning violations of regulatory requirements when introducing fresh,
58 algorithms, deep learning algorithms, and behavioral analysis innovative technologies based on AI [22]. Also, regulatory
59 to prevent cyber threats from happening. However, some issues bodies are trying to adopt AI governance principles that would
60 related to such solutions include computational complexity,
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3 help manage bias, accountability, and transparency in Management. International Journal of Information and Cybersecurity, 3(1), 1-
cybersecurity and enhance the proper use of AI [24]. 19.
4
[2] Akram, E., & Basit, F. (2023). AI-Powered Information Security:
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6 Cloud Environments (Public, Private, Hybrid)
[3] Ayyadapu, A. K. R. (2023). Enhancing Cloud Security with AI-Driven
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Conflict of Interest

Declaration of interests

☐ The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships
that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

☐The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered
as potential competing interests:

☐ XX is an editorial board member/associate editor/editor-in-chief for Cyber Security and Applications

and was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article. All authors declare
that there are no competing interests.