GuardNet: An Architecture Based on NIST v2.0 for Confidential Data Protection in Higher Education Institutions in Peru

Linan-Acosta B.; Bazalar-Gonzales O.; Santisteban J. · Engineering, Technology and Applied Science Research (2025) · DOI: 10.48084/etasr.12978

Resumen

In recent years, educational institutions have been frequent targets of cyberattacks that compromise the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of their digital assets. Despite the growing threat, many of these institutions lack effective prevention mechanisms. In this study, we designed an architecture called GuardNet, which is based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) v2.0 framework and inspired by a comprehensive review of existing cybersecurity frameworks to enhance the protection of confidential data in higher education institutions. The architecture includes a virtual firewall, an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), and an anomaly-based detection method to identify malicious traffic or data within the network. Following this implementation, the architecture was assessed based on expert opinions and feedback from the IT staff of a Peruvian higher education institution. The results indicated a satisfactory score of 4.5 from the experts and a score of 70 on the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire administered to the IT staff. Both assessments used a Likert scale, demonstrating the feasibility and usability of the proposed solution. The findings highlight that the GuardNet architecture, designed to protect confidential data, has strong potential for addressing the cybersecurity vulnerabilities of higher education institutions in Latin America. However, its implementation may face challenges related to resource availability and technical expertise. © (2025), (Dr D. Pylarinos). All rights reserved.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas