Dr. K. Shahu Chatrapati

Thesis Title

A Unified Quantum-Resilient and Secured AI Framework for Next-Generation Autonomous Critical Infrastructure

The rapid transition toward next-generation autonomous infrastructure including 6G and 7G communication networks, cloud-native ecosystems, and smart grid has fundamentally expanded the global cyber-attack surface, rendering traditional signature-based security inadequate. Current literature identifies Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the critical enabler for these networks, providing the intelligence necessary to manage massive data rates and ultra-low latency while securing distributed architectures like Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). However, these advancements face a dual threat: the vulnerability of current cryptographic standards to future quantum-powered decryption and the inherent "black box" nature of complex AI models, which prevents human-verifiable oversight in mission-critical environments. To bridge this gap, recent research advocates for a shift toward Quantum-driven Zero Trust Architectures (ZTA) that utilize continuous authentication and quantum-resistant foundations to ensure data integrity across decentralized infrastructure nodes.