Top Cybersecurity Companies in France 2025 [Reviewed]

• Best overall: DeepStrike advanced penetration testing with strong cloud and API security expertise.
• Best for large enterprises: Orange Cyberdefense large-scale capabilities with ANSSI / PASSI–certified services.
• Best for SMBs: Synacktiv agile boutique firm known for developer-friendly reports and hands-on testing.
• Best for compliance-driven organizations: Orange Cyberdefense deep expertise across regulatory and audit-heavy environments.
• Best for offensive security pentesting & red teaming: DeepStrike strong adversary simulation and exploitation depth.

In 2025 the stakes have never been higher. Enterprises face AI‐powered cyberattacks and strict regulations. IBM reports the global average breach cost at $4.4M, and France remains a top‐10 ransomware target. EU laws like NIS2, DORA and France’s SecNumCloud label impose mandates for testing and audits. For example, DORA requires threat‐led penetration testing of financial systems, and the CNIL French GDPR authority demands regular security audits. These pressures mean choosing the right cybersecurity partner is not optional. This independent ranking uses objective criteria expertise, certifications, services scope, etc. to help French buyers compare vendors.

How We Ranked the Top Cybersecurity Companies in 2025

We evaluated each firm against strict criteria to ensure transparency and expertise:

• Technical Expertise & Certifications: We looked for top industry credentials e.g. OSCP, CISSP, OSCE, CREST and relevant national qualifications ANSSI/PASSI in France.
• Service Scope & Specialization: We assessed the breadth and quality of services pentesting, red teaming, SOC/MDR, incident response, cloud security, etc. and any niche expertise e.g. OT/industrial systems.
• Industry Experience: We favored providers with deep experience in key French sectors government, finance, healthcare, critical infrastructure.
• Compliance & Standards Alignment: Providers must support ISO 27001, GDPR, and sector‐specific rules NIS2/DORA/SecNumCloud. We noted any official accreditations PASSI, LPM, SecNum or relevant security visas.
• Transparency & Reporting Quality: Clarity of deliverables, detailed findings, remediation guidance, risk scoring, executive summaries and openness of methodology e.g. public case studies, CVE disclosures were key factors.
• Global Reach & Regional Presence: We prioritized French‐headquartered firms or global companies with sizable French teams. French‐language delivery and local support especially for public sector and regulated clients counted strongly.
• Client Trust & Reputation: Proven customer references, published success stories, and industry recognition e.g. ISG reports helped gauge trust. For example, market reports list Orange Cyberdefense, Thales Group, Atos, Capgemini among France’s leading security providers.
• Innovation & Tooling: Use of modern techniques SASE, XDR, AI/ML for security and proprietary platforms PTaaS portals, automated retesting was evaluated. Contributions to [network vulnerability research] or threat intel projects were positive signals.
• Use Cases Enterprise vs SMB: We noted which firms focus on large, complex deployments versus nimble services for SMEs or startups. Pricing models fixed price pentests vs subscription‐based testing and flexibility were considered.

This methodology ensures each ranking reflects practical buyer needs. All vendors below are compared fairly by these criteria.

How to Choose the Right Cybersecurity Company

Choosing the right provider means cutting through marketing hype and focusing on real capabilities:

• Avoid One Size Fits All: Beware vendors who rely heavily on automated scanning tools. The best firms use a mix of manual and automated testing. Follow established [penetration testing best practices] for example, clear scoping, qualified testers, and retesting rather than empty promises.
• Check Credentials & Track Record: Look beyond logos. Verify team certifications OSCP, CREST, CISSP etc. and ask for case studies or CVEs they've discovered. Certifications like ANSSI/PASSI are important for compliance, but experience counts too. Many top testers emphasize real world bug bounty pedigree and transparency over merely boasting a certification.
• Language & Local Presence: French language support is crucial for many buyers. Confirm if reports and communication can be in French, especially for public sector or regulated industries. An absence of French support can be a red flag for local clients.
• Industry Fit: Choose a provider experienced in your sector. For instance, an energy grid will want someone comfortable with OT/SCADA, while a fintech needs auditors familiar with financial regs. Seek out [industry specific security insights] from the firm, like examples of similar projects or sector certifications.
• Transparent Pricing: Watch for extremely low bids. In France, automated scans are cheap but ineffective. Typical pentests range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of euros. Insist on clear deliverables risk ratings, remediation steps and understand what happens if vulnerabilities reappear some vendors include free retesting.
• Beware of Red Flags: Lack of case studies, vague service descriptions, no written procedures, or overly long sales pitches are warning signs. A credible firm will answer technical questions directly e.g. How do you test API security? and provide references.

In short, prioritize proven expertise, relevant experience, and transparency. Verify any claims with data: ask for previous pentest reports redacted or threat intelligence examples. For guidance on practical testing steps, see our article on penetration testing best practices.

Top Cybersecurity Companies in France 2025

We first list France based specialists, then global firms with strong French operations. All companies below scored high on our criteria.

DeepStrike Best Overall Cybersecurity Company in 2025

• Headquarters: Newark, Delaware USA
• Founded: 2016
• Company Size: ~50 employees global
• Primary Services: Offensive security continuous Pentest as a Service, red teaming, vulnerability management, cloud/API testing
• Industries Served: SaaS/tech firms, finance, healthcare, public sector, infrastructure

Why They Stand Out: DeepStrike is a hacker driven pentesting firm that emphasizes advanced manual testing and cloud/API expertise. Their team holds OSCP/OSCE/CISSP certifications and includes former bug bounty champions. They offer a real time PTaaS platform with 24/7 access, Slack/ServiceNow integration, and unlimited retesting for validated fixes. Reports are highly detailed yet actionable, often praised by clients for clear remediation steps and risk prioritization. DeepStrike’s agility and small team structure allow quick mobilization, often <48h start up and flexible engagements compared to larger consultancies.

Key Strengths:

• Team of senior pentesters OSCP, OSCE, CISSP with Fortune 500 bug hunting experience.
• Hybrid testing methodology: automated scans plus deep manual review for web, mobile, network, cloud and API.
• Strong developer friendly reporting: detailed findings with clear remediation, risk scores, and executive summaries.
• Innovative delivery: Continuous PTaaS model with real time dashboards, integrated workflow, and free retesting.
• Compliance oriented: Supports ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA and GDPR auditing needs though not PASSI certified yet, they align closely with ANSSI guidelines.

Potential Limitations:

• Not ANSSI/PASSI certified: DeepStrike emphasizes transparency and experience over formal ANSSI qualification, which may matter for certain French government contracts.
• Smaller firm: Capacity is limited compared to large MSSPs so may not handle dozens of simultaneous 6‑month engagements.
• Focus on pentesting: Their core is offensive services, they do not offer dedicated 24/7 SOC/MDR like big defense firms.

Best For: Cloud first organizations, SaaS and technology companies, start ups and mid market firms seeking continuous or repeated pentesting. Also a strong choice for enterprises needing thorough, developer friendly security assessments.

Orange Cyberdefense

• Headquarters: Paris, France Cyberdefense division of Orange S.A.
• Founded: 2014 as a division
• Company Size: ~3,200 employees global
• Primary Services: Managed SOC/MDR, network and application pentesting, red teaming, incident response, 24/7 threat monitoring, Cloud DLP/Security
• Industries Served: Telecom, government, finance, healthcare, large enterprises

Why They Stand Out: Orange Cyberdefense is a heavyweight, leveraging Orange’s global resources. It holds ANSSI’s PASSI qualification and ISO 27001, ensuring rigorous processes. Orange offers end to end services from managed detection and SOC operations to high end pentesting and red teaming. They pair proprietary threat intel with human experts to simulate phishing, lateral movement and other advanced attacks. Orange’s French branch often collaborates with ANSSI and other standards bodies, making it a go to for strictly regulated firms. Their reports are enterprise grade including executive summaries, and they invest heavily in R&D.

Key Strengths:

• ANSSI certified PASSI, PDIS, ISO 27001 and RGS‑LPM accredited ideal for compliance driven organizations.
• 24/7 global SOC and threat intel network, backed by 3,000+ experts across multiple labs.
• Broad scope: network/web/cloud pentests, blue teaming, ICS security, and security consulting.
• Enterprise scale: handles massive, complex deployments for telecoms and government, with multilingual support.

Potential Limitations:

• Large firm bureaucracy: Slower engagement planning and higher minimum pricing, may be overkill for small projects.
• Less personalized: Standardized processes might feel less tailored than boutique firms.

Best For: Large enterprises, government agencies, and regulated industries finance, critical infrastructure that need a fully managed security program with strict accreditation PASSI and deep local expertise.

Thales Cybersecurity

• Headquarters: Paris/La Défense, France Thales Group
• Founded: 2000s as part of Thales
• Company Size: ~3,000 cybersecurity staff global
• Primary Services: High end penetration testing incl. hardware/OT, secure network design, data encryption, IR/SOC support
• Industries Served: Defense, aerospace, energy, finance, transportation, government

Why They Stand Out: Thales Cybersecurity draws on its defense heritage. Many consultants are former military or intelligence operatives with specialized security clearances. They excel at rigorous testing of critical systems including OT, SCADA, and hardware components, a legacy of Thales’ aerospace and military background. Thales is PASSI qualified and ISO 27001 accredited, reflecting military grade processes. They handle high stakes projects for energy grids, defense networks, and banking infrastructure. Thales’s approach often includes comprehensive assessments, even physical/social engineering if needed and extremely thorough documentation.

Key Strengths:

• Deep domain expertise: Former government/defense experts, CISSP/SEP certified.
• Full spectrum testing: IT, embedded systems, hardware hacking, wireless/OT security.
• High assurance: PASSI qualified, ISO/IEC 27001 certified, follows strict ANSSI methodologies.
• Strong track record in defense and critical infra e.g. smart grid, aviation.

Potential Limitations:

• Very high cost: Premium fees reflect the elite expertise often justified only for very critical assets.
• Slower turnaround: Complex bureaucratic structure can lengthen project timelines.
• Less agile: More procedural, may feel rigid for fast paced commercial needs.

Best For: National defense and critical infrastructure operators airports, power, manufacturing, large banking and energy firms requiring top tier, government level security testing.

Airbus CyberSecurity now Hasco

• Headquarters: Paris, France Airbus Defence & Space division
• Founded: 2006 as Airbus CyberSecurity, rebranded Hasco
• Company Size: ~200 employees before spin off
• Primary Services: Industrial control system ICS security, OT/SCADA penetration testing, secure communication networks, SOC services
• Industries Served: Transportation, aerospace, utilities, industrial manufacturing, government

Why They Stand Out: Hasco Airbus’s spun‑off cybersecurity arm specializes in securing operational technology. Their engineers know SCADA/ICS and embedded systems inside out, making them leading experts in sectors like air traffic control and smart transportation. They frequently support French and European critical infrastructure, even running ANSSI cyber exercises. For purely IT systems they also provide web/mobile security audits, but their core strength is in industrialized environments. Clients cite Airbus’s ability to find cutting edge vulnerabilities in rugged hardware and proprietary systems.

Key Strengths:

• OT/ICS focus: Deep expertise in industrial protocols, aerospace systems, train and traffic control networks.
• ANSSI partnership: Long history of collaboration on government cybersecurity projects.
• Cross domain team: Combines IT pentesting with aerospace grade engineering.
• Unique labs: Advanced facilities to emulate critical infrastructure environments.

Potential Limitations:

• High premium pricing and long contracts tailored to government projects.
• Narrow focus: Overkill for pure IT/web apps, best used by industries resembling aerospace/industry.
• Smaller global footprint compared to telecom led players more Europe centric.

Best For: Critical infrastructure and manufacturing companies transportation networks, utilities, aerospace systems where OT security is paramount, and clients need world class SCADA vulnerability analysis.

Synacktiv Groupe Horoquartz

• Headquarters: Toulouse, France
• Founded: 2014 part of Horoquartz
• Company Size: ~50 employees
• Primary Services: Penetration testing, red teaming, security advisory, PTaaS platform
• Industries Served: Startups, mid‑market tech, finance, healthcare, SMEs

Why They Stand Out: Synacktiv is a homegrown boutique pentest team with an offensive mindset. Their testers hold OSCP level skills and the firm is PASSI qualified with ISO 27001. Synacktiv is known for creative attack methods, logic/chain exploits and for developer friendly reports that clearly explain vulnerabilities and fixes. They publish public research and bug bounty write ups, boosting credibility. Because Synacktiv is smaller and agile, pricing and engagements are competitive, often making them ideal for French SMEs and startups seeking a partner rather than a huge auditor.

Key Strengths:

• PASSI certified experts delivering manual pentests on web, mobile, and networks.
• Transparent collaboration: open publications of findings, clear, action oriented reports.
• Competitive pricing: tailored for smaller budgets, with flexible retest options.
• Entrepreneurial culture: responsive to dynamic needs of startups and tech companies.

Potential Limitations:

• Limited resources: smaller team means longer waits for very large projects.
• Focus on pentesting: does not offer full MDR/SOC.
• Regional presence: Primarily mid market, may not have same prestige for large enterprise procurement.

Best For: Tech startups, SaaS companies, and French SMEs that value an engaging, hands on pentesting partner. Also well suited for cloud native firms needing ongoing assessments without enterprise level costs.

Intrinsec

• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Founded: 1995
• Company Size: ~100 employees
• Primary Services: Pentesting IT and OT, cybersecurity audits, threat intelligence, consulting
• Industries Served: Finance, telecom, energy, aerospace, government

Why They Stand Out: Intrinsec is one of France’s older cybersecurity firms. It holds ANSSI/PASSI qualifications and often bundles ISO 27001 audits with technical tests. Intrinsec blends offensive testing with risk consulting and has dedicated SOC/CTI services. Their legacy clients include banks and critical infrastructure. Intrinsec prides itself on combining deep security audits with hands on pentesting in a single engagement.

Key Strengths:

• Established presence: one of France’s first cybersecurity specialists, with veteran consultants.
• Dual focus: security audits GRC, ISO plus practical pentesting useful for compliance projects.
• PASSI and ISO certifications, along with ASOC managed SIEM offerings.

Potential Limitations:

• Consulting heavy: may emphasize documentation/process over rapid testing cycles.
• Possibly less cloud native focus than newer firms.

Best For: Large enterprises and regulated organizations seeking a blended audit + pentest approach. Good for clients needing formal compliance documentation plus testing.

Capgemini SE

• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Founded: 1967
• Company Size: ~340,000 employees global, ~10,000+ in France
• Primary Services: End to end cybersecurity MDR/SOC, D&I, identity, pentesting, cloud security, managed services
• Industries Served: Finance, manufacturing, retail, public sector, utilities, telecommunications

Why They Stand Out: Capgemini is a global IT integrator with a massive security arm. In ISG’s France cybersecurity survey, Capgemini is named a Leader in multiple categories. They offer virtually all security services from strategy consulting to 24/7 SOC operations backed by a large team in France. Capgemini’s strength lies in integration and scale: they can handle multi year transformation projects and operate advanced security platforms across enterprise environments.

Key Strengths:

• Extensive French footprint and local teams in major cities.
• Broad portfolio: cloud migration security, identity management, managed services, large scale pentesting.
• ISO 27001 and industry specific compliance HIPAA, PCI, etc. expertise.
• Partnerships with major technology providers Microsoft, AWS, Splunk.

Potential Limitations:

• Less specialized: Security is one of many services, you may get standard consulting frameworks.
• Slower decision making: As a large corporation, client engagements may involve more red tape.

Best For: Large corporations and multi national enterprises that need a single partner for global cybersecurity transformation. Best for organizations valuing integrated service lines over point solutions.

Sekoia

• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Founded: 2019 merger of InThreat
• Company Size: ~100+ employees
• Primary Services: Managed Detection & Response MDR, SOAR/SIEM platform XDR, Threat Intelligence
• Industries Served: Technology, financial services, public sector, healthcare

Why They Stand Out: is an emerging French leader in detection and response. Their platform fuses CTI, AI guided analytics, and SOAR automation to modernize SOC operations. A recent Series B 2025 underscores investor confidence. Sekoia’s emphasis is on rapid incident detection: their AI Native tools surface threats automatically. They also offer a SOC service for clients who prefer managed detection rather than building in house. Backed by Orange Ventures and global investors, Sekoia bridges startup agility with enterprise security needs.

Key Strengths:

• Integrated platform: Combines threat intel, SIEM and automated response in one solution.
• Strong threat intelligence heritage formerly InThreat, huge CTI database.
• Modern tech stack: GenAI enhancements for SOC efficiency.
• French based with global aspirations meets EU data sovereignty expectations.

Potential Limitations:

• Relative newcomer: Track record is shorter than legacy firms.
• Focused on MDR/XDR: No pentesting or red teaming services, so may need partners for that.

Best For: Mid size to large organizations looking to modernize their SOC or outsource detection. Well suited for companies adopting cloud and needing AI driven threat monitoring.

Comparison Table

Enterprise vs SMB Which Type of Provider Do You Need?

Large corporations and mid size firms generally prefer providers with extensive services and global support. When to choose large firms, If you need 24/7 SOC coverage, multi region threat intelligence, or integration across many IT domains, a big vendor Orange, Capgemini, Atos, etc. can offer scale and process maturity. They excel at complex deployments and long term contracts, though at higher cost. Large teams can handle one off audits, ongoing managed security, and multi year digital transformations.

In contrast, boutique firms often outperform in flexibility and speed. Smaller pentest specialists like DeepStrike or Synacktiv can start quickly <48h and adapt to evolving needs. They offer closer attention to customers and tend to be more transparent with pricing and technical detail. For mid sized organizations and lean security budgets, a boutique’s tailored approach and developer friendly mindset can yield better value. However, they may lack large scale SOC or in country coverage across all time zones.

Cost vs value trade off: Large consultancies will command premium rates but provide extensive compliance documentation and global reporting dashboards. Boutiques charge less but often deliver more hands-on guidance and faster remediation cycles. Your decision should weigh factors such as required certifications PASSI, ISO, language support, and the complexity of your infrastructure. In any case, ensure the provider’s expertise matches your environment e.g., cloud native SMBs might prefer an agile, cloud savvy partner, whereas a multinational bank might prioritize a certified global firm.

FAQs

• How much do penetration testing services cost?

Costs vary by scope. A basic web app test for a small organization might cost on the order of €3,000–€5,000, whereas a comprehensive network/infra pentest for a large enterprise can exceed €12,000. For example, a 3 day application test might be around €2,000, while a 15+ day enterprise network test can exceed €13,000. Daily rates for top experts typically range €600–€1,000. Red Team exercises simulating a full attack are even higher. Always compare several quotes, ensuring they include both manual and automated testing. Beware any extremely low bid often indicative of automated scans only.

• Are certifications more important than tools?

Both matter, but skill and process beat flashy tools alone. Certifications like OSCP, CISSP or ANSSI PASSI signal that staff have passed rigorous exams or government vetting. However, many top pentesters emphasize hands-on experience over credentials. In fact, an ANSSI PASSI qualifies a firm for official audits, but high skill firms like DeepStrike or Synacktiv sometimes operate without it by showcasing real world results. Evaluate certifications as a baseline they reduce risk, but insist on seeing the team’s track record, methodologies e.g. OWASP, NIST PTES, and client references.

• How long does a pentest take?

Engagement length depends on complexity. A short web/mobile pentest might be 3–5 working days, whereas a broad network/SCADA test could require 2+ weeks. As a rule of thumb, DeepStrike’s data shows a 3 day app test ~€2K and a large network test 15+ days at €13K+, implying those time frames. After the test, allow several days for report generation. For recurring needs, consider Pentest as a Service PTaaS models, which embed continuous scanning into your DevOps pipeline.

• What kind of reports should I expect?

Top firms deliver detailed vulnerability reports plus an executive summary. Reports include evidence for each finding, a severity or risk rating, and prioritized remediation steps. Good providers DeepStrike, Orange, etc. also include overall risk scores or heatmaps and post test support recommendations. Look for firms that offer artifacts useful for your workflow for example, CSV exports, issue tracker tickets, or integrations with Slack/Jira. Also verify whether retesting of fixes is included. In France, many vendors DeepStrike, Synacktiv include one free retest round to confirm fixes, which adds value.

• How often should testing be done?

Regularly. In the current climate, pentesting is considered mandatory hygiene rather than one off. At minimum, conduct a full test annually or after major changes, new systems, and big releases. ISO 27001 Annex A requires frequent security tests, and GDPR/ANSSI guidance advises periodic vulnerability assessments. Many companies are now moving to continuous testing e.g., quarterly scans or PTaaS to rapidly catch new flaws. Ultimately, frequency depends on risk: fast changing environments and highly regulated industries should test more often.

Selecting a cybersecurity partner in France demands careful research. We have ranked providers strictly by the criteria above, without marketing bias. Each organization from boutique pentesters to global integrators has strengths and weaknesses in different areas. We encourage buyers to verify claims through references, consider language/regional fit, and align a provider’s expertise with their own risk profile. The best choice will depend on your specific needs: whether it’s advanced red teaming, managed SOC, regulatory compliance, or a mix of these. Stay informed, ask tough questions, and use this guide to shortlist vendors so that you can make a fully informed, evidence driven decision.

About the Author

Mohammed Khalil is a Cybersecurity Architect at DeepStrike, specializing in advanced penetration testing and offensive security operations. With certifications including CISSP, OSCP, and OSWE, he has led numerous red team engagements for Fortune 500 companies, focusing on cloud security, application vulnerabilities, and adversary emulation. His work involves dissecting complex attack chains and developing resilient defense strategies for clients in the finance, healthcare, and technology sectors.