Abstract: A printed circuit board and an apparatus including the printed circuit board are described. The printed circuit board includes a plurality of layers; a footprint fabricated on an outer layer of the plurality of layers; a plurality of signal pins and a ground pin, wherein the plurality of signal pins and the ground pin are included in the footprint. The printed circuit board includes a ground guard including: ground pads, ground layers, and a set of vias. The vias are located on the ground pads and connect the ground layers. The vias are located between the ground pin and at least one signal pin of the plurality of signal pins in a direction parallel to a plane of the plurality of layers. A quantity of the vias is based on satisfying a signal integrity threshold associated with the at least one signal pin of the plurality of signal pins.