Train in Cyber Defense to address major digital security and sovereignty challenges.

The Cyber Defense of our digital systems is a priority to ensure our security, prosperity, and freedoms. The Cyber Defense curriculum at École Hexagone was developed with the best French security solution providers, such as Stormshield (Airbus), Outscale (Dassault Systèmes), and HarfangLab.

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Why a Master’s in Cyber Defense?

States, institutions, and businesses face fierce international competition, increasingly resulting in relentless clashes in cyberspace. The current health crisis has highlighted the importance of digital technology for our societies but also revealed vulnerabilities, such as the cyberattacks on French hospitals in 2021.

Recruitment in the field of cyber defense will be massive in the coming years in both the public and private sectors: for example, the Ministry of the Armed Forces has announced the recruitment of 2000 additional cyber fighters within 3 years.

There is a significant skill shortage, while the stakes are fundamental.

This is why, while remaining true to its values of excellence, innovation, and quality, École Hexagone decided to open a Cyber Defense curriculum under the authority of Navy Captain Nicolas MALBEC, who also holds significant responsibilities within the Cyber Defense Command (COMCYBER).

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Nicolas MALBEC, Commander of the French Navy
Commander Nicolas MALBEC

Director of the Cyber Defense Curriculum

Detailed Program 1st and 2nd Years

1st Year
(600 hours)

  • Legal environment for cyber defence
  • SMSI, ISO 270XX, risk analysis, EBIOS RM
  • Geopolitical challenges of cyber defence
  • Cryptology
  • Secure architecture
  • Network security
  • Operating system security
  • Secure architecture
  • Connectivity
  • Secure equipment
  • DevSecOps, Cloud security
  • Technical audit
  • AI theory
  • AI in the service of Defence
  • Source code security
  • Project to develop an attack
  • Cybersecurity (Stormshield EDR + HarfangLab)
  • Cyber crisis management
  • Security Operational Center
  • Forensic
  • Sport

2nd Year
(450 hours)

  • Economic intelligence
  • Cryptology
  • Technical audit
  • AI attacking each other
  • AI for the benefit of the attacker
  • Cyber crisis exercise
  • Security Operational Center
  • Forensic
  • Defining and implementing a BCP/DRP
  • Computer Emergency Response Team
  • Maintaining safety
  • Methodology and support for dissertation
  • Sport

Evaluation Methods:

Simulated Professional Situations: These are fictitious or real cases where the candidate must deliver written and/or oral outputs. They are carried out individually or collectively, supervised by trainers and consultants from partner companies. The candidate will propose both a technical solution and various types of documentation (specifications, manual, business plan, etc.);

Case Studies: This allows the candidate to focus on a real past situation, where they must gather information to understand and analyze the situation and context of a given problem and draw conclusions;

Practical Work: These are exercises conducted on-site over a limited time, usually 2 to 4 hours, where candidates must apply their technical skills;

Professional Report and Oral Defense.

At the end of this training and subject to meeting all prerequisites, you will obtain the title “Data, Network and Systems Security Manager” from École Hexagone, a professional title at level 7 registered on July 18, 2023, with the RNCP (reference no. 37796).

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A Curriculum Already Recognized and Awarded

France Compétences has validated the registration of the title "Data, Network and Systems Security Manager" under reference no. 37796, awarded at the end of the Master's program.

France Compétences, Certification registered with the RNCP

This recognition by the French state is an excellent indicator for businesses and allows access to work-study programs.
Additionally, this decision guarantees the alignment of our training and certification programs with the needs of the job market.

The EDUNIVERSAL agency has awarded the Program Launch Award to our Master's in Cyber Defense and Information Systems Security.

EDUNIVERSAL Program Launch Award 2023 EDUNIVERSAL Program Launch Award 2022

This recognition highlights the quality of our training in preparing for careers in cybersecurity and cyber defense: pentester, cryptologist, cybersecurity/cyber defense engineer, consultant, etc.

SecNumedu Label

SecNumEdu Logo SecNumedu is a label established by the National Cybersecurity Agency of France (ANSSI) to distinguish initial training in cybersecurity in France. The SecNumedu label has been awarded for the Master's in Cyber Defense led by Commander Nicolas MALBEC.

An Experienced Field Team

ALIXE

Versailles

Floriane is a cybersecurity specialist. Initially at Thalès and then at HarfangLab, Floriane is now Deputy Head of the Response Division at ANSSI. She teaches the ‘Secure Architecture’ module to the students in the Master’s in Cyber Defense program.

BARRAT

Versailles

Laurent is Mayor, CISO and DPO for local authorities, and Deputy CISO at the DINUM (Interministerial Directorate for Digital Affairs). He shares his extensive field experience in risk analysis with our students.

BENAZET

Versailles

Commander BENAZET served in the French Navy for nearly 19 years (ERIDAN, LA PERLE, LE TRIOMPHANT). He is now a Project Director for “Digital Transformation” at the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty.

Membre du Conseil Scientique

BERTSCHY

Clermont-Ferrand & Versailles

Cyril has a highly developed international career spanning Italy, China, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France. He specializes in Economic Intelligence issues and contributes to the discussions on Digital Sovereignty led by École Hexagone.

Membre du Conseil Scientique

CORNETTE

Versailles

Louise is responsible for training at HarfangLab, our academic partner on Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) technologies. She represents HarfangLab at our Scientific Councils.

DELAS

Versailles

A graduate of École Polytechnique and École Polytechnique de Montréal, Joséphine is an Artificial Intelligence engineer specializing in cybersecurity. She now works at HarfangLab, our academic partner.

Commandant Gwenaël SAGET

Clermont-Ferrand & Versailles

Commandant de corvette SAGET joined the Cyberdefense Master’s program since its inception in 2022. He mentors students in the Forensics analysis track (digital investigations).

TAFUR

Versailles

Dr. TAFUR pursued her higher education in Denmark, Italy, Spain, and finally at Oxford in the UK. Her research on Ethics in the Age of Artificial Intelligence led her to join the European Research Council as an expert.

Clermont-Ferrand & Versailles

Vincent has over 20 years’ experience in IT, particularly in IT production and the world of networks and telecommunications. Vincent holds a Master’s degree in Network and Systems Engineering from the University of Paris-Saclay and a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Management (MAE/MBA) from IAE Paris / University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.

In the Press Curriculum News

Alliancy - Florence BOULENGER
 - 

Cyberdefense : 20,000 to 30,000 profiles are missing in France

Pour faire face à la pénurie de 20 000 à 30 000 professionnels de la cyber-sécurité en France, les offres de formation commencent à se structurer. L’école Hexagone à Versailles lancera en septembre prochain le mastère « Cyberdéfense et Sécurité des systèmes d’information », placé sous l’autorité du capitaine de frégate Nicolas Malbec, membre du ComCyber (Commandement de la Cyberdéfense) et ingénieur de formation.

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Le Monde Informatique
 - 

A new master in Cyberdefense and IT security opening in École Hexagone

L’école d’informatique Hexagone proposera à partir de la rentrée académique 2022 un Mastère en cyberdéfense et sécurité des systèmes d’information, placé sous la direction du capitaine de frégate Nicolas Malbec. Ce programme fera intervenir des spécialistes français du domaine, tels que Stormshield, Outscale et HarfangLab sur le campus de Versailles.

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Le Figaro Étudiant
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Hexagone will train the future cyberdefense experts

École d’Ingénieurs IA, Hexagone proposera à la rentrée un nouveau cursus dédié à la cyberdéfense. Ce programme en alternance de deux ans fera intervenir des pointures du domaine et des sociétés éditant des solutions made in France.

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