Security Requirements for Proctoring in Higher Education

The rapid growth of online education, propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the importance of ensuring fairness in assessments. Existing research explores software solutions and security concerns in online proctoring, where specialized software monitors digital assessments remotely. However, there remains a gap in research concerning specific security requirements. Our research aims to bridge this gap by identifying essential security requirements for robust online proctoring. Using three research methods—threat analysis, examination of university documents, and inspection of major proctoring software—we distill five pivotal security requirements for higher education related to student authentication, verification of work authenticity, prevention of prior access to exam materials, the protection of students' personal data, and availability of the exam. This study serves as a guide for educational institutions seeking or adapting proctoring systems as well as software development entities specializing in proctoring systems. By delineating these security requirements, we provide foundational support to strengthen online education while upholding academic integrity.