SECURING AI-DRIVEN SUPPLY CHAINS IN RURAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: A CYBERSECURITY FRAMEWORK FOR RISK MITIGATION

Abstract Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas are increasingly adopting digital technologies to improve access to health healthcare and financial services. While these innovations enhance service delivery, they also expose SMEs to significant cybersecurity threats, especially in environments with limited resources. This paper presents a practical cybersecurity framework that is cost-effective, policy-aware, and suitable for such settings. The framework incorporates layered defenses, simple anomaly detection tools, and policy-based access control. Simulated tests involving common cyber threats revealed better protection against data breaches and manipulation, with quicker detection times compared to traditional methods. The proposed approach holds promise for protecting rural SMEs and would benefit from future real-world trials and comparisons with industry benchmarks, such as those established by NIST and MITRE.