Securing the Human Element in AI-Powered Cyber Defences: A Zero Trust Perspective

Organizations use artificial intelligence more extensively for cybersecurity protection but gain digital security improvements through AI while human security vulnerabilities draw cyber enemy attacks. Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) serves as the basis for this paper to examine the significant role human beings play in maintaining AI cybersecurity protection. Security measures must emphasize human-focused approaches due to the need to defend against terrorists and auditors, human behavioural irregularities, and social engineering tactics since artificial intelligence cannot entirely control these attacks. The security capabilities of Zero Trust principles reduce human-caused security threats through their combination of verification methods, access control protocols, and privilege access controls. Based on previous studies on cybersecurity awareness, insider threat monitoring, and artificial intelligence threat assessment research, the study created a complete framework that connects ZTA principles with human behavioural information. The authors performed systematic research on published articles and deployed technical systems that identified adaptation barriers that users face in participation alongside difficulties in policy enforcement effectiveness. The paper outlines strategic recommendations to integrate AI systems with Zero Trust principles to increase organizational cybersecurity against threats stemming from human behaviour.