Autonomous Cyber Defense in Smart Cities
Ali Al Maqousi, Kashinath Basu, Amjad Aldweesh, Mouhammd Alkasassbeh
Abstract
Smart cities integrate IoT devices, edge computing, and data analytics to enhance public services while creating new cyber vulnerabilities. This chapter proposes an autonomous cyber defense framework leveraging AI for threat detection and automated incident response. The framework addresses evolving threats, orchestrates analytics, and ensures governance for ethical, scalable protection across diverse infrastructures, such as transportation and utilities. Key components include data ingestion, continuous learning, real-time analytics, and threat intelligence sharing, which together minimize response time and mitigate risk. Case studies illustrate how AI-driven solutions reduce detection-to-response intervals. The chapter concludes with emerging research directions for robust cybersecurity and resilience.