Zexam: zta-based online examination system

Academic institutions have accelerated their digitalisation, especially after the pandemic, shifting from traditional paper-based exams to online assessments. However, online examinations remain vulnerable to cheating and academic misconduct. Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), built on the principle of “never trust, always verify,” ensures that every user is thoroughly authenticated before access is granted. While many existing systems focus on detecting cheating through context-switch monitoring, impersonation, where students share credentials with unauthorised individuals, remains a significant threat. ZEXAM addresses this by incorporating keystroke-based authentication, a secure and convenient behavioural biometric that requires no additional hardware. This approach ensures that only verified users can access and complete exams, strengthening integrity and trust in academic assessment.