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Institute of Advanced Technological and Commercial Studies

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Defending a system or keeping it standing

Both programmes live in the same machine room and look at the same infrastructure. One attacks and protects it, the other designs and operates it. The levels differ, and so do the volumes. Here are both, with their real credits, supervised hours and fees.

The same infrastructure, two trades

Networks and cloud builds: addressing, routing, virtualisation, cloud computing, deployment automation, monitoring. You learn to keep a service running under degraded conditions. Cybersecurity tests and protects: vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, incident response, governance and compliance. You learn to think like an attacker in order to organise the defence. The two read better together, and each stands on its own.

The starting point expected on each side

Cybersecurity programme — Bac+5 level

Administering a Linux system, understanding IP routing and reading a system log. Without that, the first three modules stay out of reach.

Networks and Cloud

Networking basics — addressing, DNS — and comfort with the command line. The opening module assumes both.

Two engineering school programmes

CriterionCybersecurity programme — Bac+5 levelNetworks and Cloud
RegisterMaster's degreeBachelor's degree
Duration2 years2 years
Credits120 credits120 credits
Supervised hours1200 h1200 h
Teaching blocks87
Weekly workload20 h per week20 h per week
Fees7 500 000 GNF per year5 600 000 GNF per year

Two volumes, brought to scale

Cybersecurity programme — Bac+5 level
1200 (50 %)
Networks and Cloud
1200 (50 %)
Total: 2400 supervised hours

Choosing with full knowledge

  • You want to design and operate the infrastructure: networks and cloud is your ground
  • You want to test and defend it: cybersecurity makes that its subject
  • Your current entry level also decides: the table gives both registers
  • Networks and cloud first, cybersecurity next, forms a coherent progression
  • Compare the two supervised volumes: they state the commitment of each trajectory

What is left to know

Are networks needed before cybersecurity?

The prerequisite shown above states it. A solid network base makes the security programme immediately legible.

Is practical work done on real systems?

Yes, on dedicated environments reproducing a corporate infrastructure, with the same tools used in live operations.

Do these two programmes stack?

Yes, and it is a common trajectory: the Bac+3 networks and cloud programme opens naturally onto the higher-level security programme.

Defending a system or keeping it standing — Compare | IHETC — IHETC