Real-Time Threat Detection and Collaborative Defense Mechanisms to Enhance National Cybersecurity

The government has announced plans to deploy AI-driven threat detection systems to monitor and respond to cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, sensitive data, and digital operations in real-time. According to documents obtained by Wealth Pakistan, a core element of this initiative is the development of AI-based cybersecurity solutions providing end-to-end protection across the lifecycle of AI systems.

The proposed systems will leverage advanced AI capabilities to counter evolving risks and attacks, with a focus on secure data storage and transmission, sandbox testing, and stakeholder feedback. Transparency and human oversight are also emphasized, particularly for high-risk AI operations. Human oversight mechanisms will be mandatory, and public sector AI systems will be disclosed in a public register.

The government has outlined a comprehensive approach to ensure the secure use of AI, including the development of a national data security policy that will define security levels, auditing standards, and training processes. This will be complemented by a defense-in-depth strategy covering perimeter, network, host, application, and data layers.

A national authority trust and identity management policy will enforce authentication for data service access, bolstering accountability for digital activities. Identity and access management protocols, including multi-factor authentication and role-based controls, will adapt to the evolving threats. The use of multi-factor authentication will require users to provide two or more forms of verification, such as a password and a fingerprint, to access sensitive data.

The government has also announced plans to establish an open-source AI governance framework to regulate the secure use of open-source AI, ensuring data security, controlled sharing, and collaborative innovation. Specialized protocols for AI systems will safeguard against unique vulnerabilities, and AI-powered simulations will anticipate new threats. These simulations will use machine learning algorithms to predict potential threats and vulnerabilities, allowing the government to take proactive measures to mitigate them.

The AI Directorate and the Centre of Excellence in AI (CoE-AI) will address the challenges posed by Generative AI, while regulatory guidelines will mitigate disinformation, privacy violations, and fake news. Compliance with intellectual property laws and content verification mechanisms will safeguard the creators’ rights. The government will also establish a national AI ethics committee to ensure that AI systems are developed and used in a way that aligns with national values and principles.

The government has also established regulatory sandboxes to facilitate agile legal harmonization and ethical testing, with at least 20 enterprises expected to benefit by 2027. These sandboxes will foster responsible and inclusive adoption of AI technologies across the country. The sandboxes will provide a safe environment for companies to test and refine their AI systems, allowing them to identify and address potential issues before they become major problems.

The government’s ambitious plan to counter cyber threats with AI-driven solutions is a significant step towards enhancing national cybersecurity and ensuring the secure use of AI. The plan is expected to have far-reaching benefits, including improved national security, enhanced economic competitiveness, and increased public trust in the government’s ability to protect sensitive data.

Key Features of the Government’s AI-Driven Cybersecurity Plan:

Real-time threat detection and response systems

AI-based cybersecurity solutions providing end-to-end protection across the lifecycle of AI systems

Comprehensive approach to ensure the secure use of AI, including national data security policy and defense-in-depth strategy

National authority trust and identity management policy to enforce authentication for data service access

Open-source AI governance framework to regulate the secure use of open-source AI

Specialized protocols for AI systems to safeguard against unique vulnerabilities

AI-powered simulations to anticipate new threats and vulnerabilities

National AI ethics committee to ensure that AI systems are developed and used in a way that aligns with national values and principles

Regulatory sandboxes to facilitate agile legal harmonization and ethical testing