Cybersecurity-driven Digital Trust - Developing a Maturity Assessment Framework for Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

This thesis presents the Cybersecurity-driven Digital Trust Maturity Assessment Model (CDT-MAM), a tailored framework designed to help HEIs evaluate and improve their Digital Trust posture. The model covers five core domains: cybersecurity, data privacy and protection, governance and compliance, ethical technology use, and institutional culture and awareness. It is structured to reflect the unique needs of HEIs while aligning with globally recognised standards, including ISO/IEC 27001, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISACA’s Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework, the World Economic Forum’s Digital Trust Principles and GDPR.