A Multi-Criteria Decision Model for Evaluating WPAN Network Security Testing Methods in Educational Institutions

The increasing use of wireless personal networks in educational institutions has created significant challenges in ensuring network security and the reliable testing of communication infrastructure. The selection of appropriate software tools for network security testing is a complex decision-making problem due to multiple software quality criteria and operational requirements. This paper proposes a multi-criteria model for evaluating approaches to wireless personal network security testing in educational institutions through the analysis of representative software tools. The evaluation framework is based on the ISO/IEC 25010 software quality criteria: reliability, functional suitability, interoperability, performance efficiency and scalability, compatibility and maintainability. Five widely used tools (Nmap, OpenVAS, Nessus, Wireshark and Wazuh) were analyzed using a structured multi-criteria approach. Criteria weights were determined using the PIPRECIA-S method, while the ranking was verified using the TOPSIS method. The results show that Wazuh achieved the highest overall score (0.3051), followed by Wireshark (0.2315) and Nessus (0.1954), while OpenVAS (0.1443) and Nmap (0.1225) achieved lower ranks. The stability and reliability of the model were confirmed by sensitivity analysis, Pareto analysis, Spearman’s rank correlation and scenario analysis. The model provides a reliable decision-support framework for selecting network security testing approaches in educational and similar organizational environments.