Cybersecurity Expert

• Level of educationBac+5
• EmployabilityHigh
• Starting salary€2,800
• Experienced salary€5,000
• MobilityGood
• ROME codeM1802
• FAP codeM2Z

Why is the cybersecurity expert vital for companies?

With the exponential increase in cyberattacks, protecting sensitive data has become a strategic issue for every organisation. The consequences of a cyberattack can include major financial losses, damage to reputation and legal penalties. The cybersecurity expert plays a crucial role by anticipating, preventing and resolving these incidents.

A real example: during the WannaCry attack in 2017, ransomware spread worldwide, affecting more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries. Large organisations such as FedEx and the NHS (the British health service) were paralysed, suffering losses of millions of euros and massive disruption to their activities. A cybersecurity expert could have prevented such impacts by applying security updates to vulnerable systems, raising employees’ awareness of fraudulent emails and deploying advanced detection solutions. This kind of preventive action has become essential to reduce risks.

What is a cybersecurity expert?

A cybersecurity expert is a specialist who protects IT systems, networks and data against cyber threats. Through constant monitoring and the use of advanced tools, they keep digital infrastructures secure and business running.

Main duties of a cybersecurity expert

• Auditing security systems: identifying vulnerabilities and proposing solutions.
• Developing protection strategies: putting in place security policies suited to the company’s needs.
• Supervising cybersecurity tools: firewalls, anti-intrusion software, monitoring tools.
• Responding to incidents: analysing, containing and resolving cyberattacks.
• Training teams: raising staff awareness of good practice.

A typical day as a cybersecurity expert

1. MorningThey check alerts from monitoring tools and firewalls, analyse the logs linked to a suspicious event and decide with the teams whether action is needed.
2. Late morningThey bring their expertise to project teams: architecture reviews, choice of a security solution or recommendations to secure a server, a network or a cloud environment.
3. AfternoonThey carry out a technical audit or a penetration test on a defined scope, identify vulnerabilities and write practical recommendations to fix them with the teams involved.
4. End of the dayThey prepare an awareness session for staff, update the security documentation and spend time keeping up with new threats.

During a cyberattack, they step in directly: they analyse the attack, help to contain it and propose measures to stop it happening again.

Essential skills to become a cybersecurity expert

Technical skills

• Command of penetration testing tools.
• Knowledge of cryptography.
• Expertise in network and cloud systems.
• Skills in log analysis and forensics.

Personal skills

• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Responsiveness and quick decision-making.
• Effective communication to work with multidisciplinary teams.

Which training to become a cybersecurity expert?

Academic path: Bac+5 in IT, cybersecurity or networks.

Professional certifications: CISSP, CEH, CISM.

Advanced training: specific programmes offered by CSB.SCHOOL.

What is the salary of a cybersecurity expert?

Career prospects for a cybersecurity expert

• Senior cybersecurity consultant.
• Chief information security officer (CISO).
• Cybersecurity architect.

Why is this job in high demand today?

The growing digitalisation of companies and the sophistication of cyberattacks make experts indispensable. In Europe, 500,000 cybersecurity positions are waiting to be filled.

Cybersecurity expert or CISO: what’s the difference?

The expert focuses on operations, the CISO on the overall strategy:

FAQ about the cybersecurity expert job

What are the prerequisites for starting a cybersecurity programme?

A good grounding in IT and networks is recommended.

Do you need to master several programming languages?

Yes, languages such as Python, Java or C++ are often used.

Is the job open to people changing careers?

Absolutely, with suitable training.

What are the differences between a cybersecurity expert and a CISO?

The expert focuses on operations, the CISO on overall strategy.