Sponsored Content

From a childhood curiosity about gadgets to leading enterprise-level cybersecurity programmes, Donegal man Gavin McPaul has found a career in cybersecurity that’s both future-focused and locally grounded.

Here we chat to Gavin about his role as Head of Enterprise Vulnerability Management at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

Can you share how you got started in cybersecurity and what led you to specialise in penetration testing?

From an early age, I’ve always been fascinated by technology – phones, laptops, any new gadgets really. My family certainly picked up on my interest in IT. I was always the go-to person when anything tech-related came up at home, and I still am, unfortunately!

Towards the end of secondary school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in IT. Like most my age, I wasn’t entirely sure which course to pursue. I wanted to stay local, so ATU Letterkenny was the obvious choice. When I looked at their website, I quickly realised just how vast the field of IT was, and the sheer number of courses available. To be honest, one course immediately jumped out at me because of its title Computing with Computer Security and Digital Forensics, sounded incredibly interesting, and I’m certainly glad I made that choice.

It was towards the end of my degree that I realised I wanted to specialise in Penetration Testing. I had one module specifically on it, and I absolutely loved the content and the assignments. The goal of application penetration testing is essentially to find any weaknesses or flaws in software, ensuring users’ accounts and data remain secure. Being part of the Ethical Hacking Society in college also gave me valuable exposure to Application Penetration Testing. Getting involved in ‘Capture the Flag’ competitions and meeting likeminded students and industry professionals really cemented my interest.

You’ve achieved a senior role at a relatively young age. What do you think has helped you progress so quickly?

I believe my quick progression comes down to curiosity. I’ve always been driven to learn new things, take on more responsibility, question the status quo to find better ways of working, and I’m always interested in helping other people.

When I first started at TCS (in what was then Pramerica), we had a large team, but much of the work was individual projects. I made an effort to speak to everyone, understanding how they approached their tasks. I quickly realised everyone had their own methods. This led me to create a central collaboration space where ideas could be shared, benefiting the entire team and new joiners alike.

My curiosity and fresh perspective straight out of college meant that within my first five months, I identified an opportunity for improvement with one of our applications. This was a significant career boost, demonstrating my ability and knowledge. It got me noticed by senior leadership and opened doors to new projects.

What aspects of TCS’ culture or work environment do you believe make it an attractive place for new talent to start their careers?

What I truly appreciate about TCS is the incredible team environment. An office space with genuine collaboration and where you can learn from team members is invaluable, especially early in your career.

Nobody at TCS wants to see you fail. There’s a robust support system ready to guide you in the right direction.

As a large consultancy, our core goal at TCS is to support clients through their technology transformation journeys. Working with numerous clients across diverse sectors means there are always opportunities to explore and specialise in areas of interest. Our clients are often undergoing significant transformations, actively seeking fresh ideas and innovative solutions, and they truly value the insights and solutions we bring.

What does a typical day look like for you, and what part of your work do you find most exciting or impactful?

The most exciting aspect of cyber security and penetration testing is that no two days are the same, you truly never know what challenges might arise.

I’m fortunate to work with one of our financial services clients in the US, collaborating with an excellent team spread across the US, Ireland, and India. As a lead within their Offensive Security team, I’m currently helping them transform their entire Penetration Testing Programme. As the technical lead for our teams in Ireland and India, I provide advice, guidance, and support on all aspects of penetration testing. Our core goal for the client is to secure their applications and data from external threats.

Beyond that, my work is diverse and includes meeting potential new clients, building out new capabilities, developing internal training programmes, interviewing, and onboarding new resources, and helping manage our team of 10 people, which we’re looking to expand by another six.

What do you enjoy most about living and working in the northwest?

I love the beauty and quiet of living in Donegal. We’re fortunate to have several large organisations here, which is fantastic for our county. These provide great opportunities for people living in the area, especially with a local university like ATU Letterkenny feeding directly into places like TCS. I work for a company that genuinely values work-life balance, offering flexibility when needed. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a cybersecurity career in Donegal, working here since college, and still being given opportunities to further my career with TCS, even after six years.

What advice would you give someone looking to start a career in cybersecurity or penetration testing?

We all leave college with the same degree after four years, but what truly sets you apart from everyone else? Most students haven’t considered this question, so they often don’t have an immediate answer. When I interview graduates, I’m really looking for passion and genuine interest in cybersecurity. Often, this shines through in what they’ve done outside of their degree. Here are a few things I always recommend to students:

Sign up for any IT/Cyber Security societies at your college. If there isn’t one, take the initiative to start it!
Attend conferences like BSides, IRISSCON, or OWASP Local Chapters.
Get involved in ‘Capture the Flag’ competitions, like Zero Days CTF or the many free online options. These are fantastic for hands-on experience and for networking with other students and industry professionals. You can even prepare for them through your college society.
Create a LinkedIn account. It’s an excellent way to connect with like-minded people, and recruiters are always on the lookout there.
During summer, reach out to companies about internship programmes. They offer invaluable insight and hands-on industry experience.
If you can, pursue certifications. In Ireland, anyone can access industry-recognised certs like CompTIA Security+ or Pentest+ for free, funded by the Irish government via www.ecollege.ie.
Research areas you’re interested in; read blogs, follow specialists, or even start a personal project.
If Application Penetration Testing interests you, get to know OWASP – it will become your best friend in this field.

TCS are currently recruiting for Application Penetration Testing roles. Click here to apply, see other cyber roles here Candidate Manager – Job Vacancies

 

Donegal man’s cybersecurity career at TCS driven by curiosity and collaboration was last modified: February 11th, 2026 by Staff Writer

Tags: