An AI-Driven Cyber Resilience Governance Framework for SMEs: A Multilayered Approach to Ransomware Defense, Zero Trust, Operational Trust, and Digital Continuity

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly becoming primary targets of ransomware operations, AI-enabled phishing campaigns, cloud compromise, credential theft, supply-chain attacks, and operational cyber disruption. While digital transformation continues accelerating globally across sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, education, finance, agriculture, and retail, many SMEs remain underprepared for the growing sophistication of cyber threats. Existing cybersecurity models are frequently designed for large enterprises, heavily compliance-oriented, or financially inaccessible for smaller organizations operating within resource-constrained environments. This paper proposes an AI-Driven Cyber Resilience Governance Framework for SMEs designed to strengthen ransomware preparedness, governance maturity, operational continuity, digital trust, and cyber-risk visibility across modern interconnected business ecosystems. The proposed framework integrates five strategic layers: governance and accountability, AI-enabled threat detection, Zero Trust access control, human awareness and cyber culture, and operational resilience and recovery. The study adopts a mixed-methods research approach combining quantitative cybersecurity analytics using public intrusion detection datasets including CICIDS2017, CSE-CIC-IDS2018, and UNSW-NB15 with qualitative governance analysis aligned with NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0, NIST SP 800-207 Zero Trust Architecture, ENISA SME cybersecurity guidance, CISA ransomware mitigation recommendations, and international digital resilience models. The research further examines ransomware exposure within global SME ecosystems across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America while discussing institutional implications for governments, development agencies, chambers of commerce, cybersecurity researchers, universities, and SME support organizations. Practical implementation pathways are explored through lightweight resilience-support mechanisms, awareness platforms, and governance-oriented cyber maturity assessment models suitable for low-resource and emerging digital economies. The paper contributes an operationally adaptable cyber resilience governance model capable of supporting SMEs, public institutions, cybersecurity programs, and digital economy initiatives seeking scalable and governance-oriented approaches to ransomware defense and cyber resilience enhancement.