A process for protecting the surface of a roller bearing against corrosion. The roller bearing is provided with a thin protective coating of a powdered coating material or of a wet coating material and then the bearing is inductively heated, at the coated surface thereof, in the range of 200.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. for a few seconds to cure the coating material. The bearing is thereafter cooled. The wet coating material is based on inorganic substances and is electrically conductive.