Cybersecurity Series E21: Risk, Compliance and Cybersecurity Leadership in Modern Businesses with HCS’ Lesley Whelan

Welcome to episode 21 in our Cybersecurity Series of the Alldus Podcast, the show where we explore the  latest trends, insights and strategies within Cybersecurity to help safeguard the digital world.

Powered by Alldus International, our goal is to share with you the insights of Cybersecurity industry experts to share their invaluable perspectives on emerging threats, innovative defenses and the evolving landscape of cybersecurity.

Today’s guest is Lesley Whelan, Head of Risk and Compliance at HCS. Founded in 1994, HCS is one of Ireland’s leading managed IT services and cybersecurity providers, supporting organizations with digital transformation, cloud solutions, AI technologies and IT infrastructure. With offices across Ireland and a highly accredited team, HCS combines deep technical expertise with a customer-first approach, helping businesses strengthen security, improve operations and drive sustainable growth through innovative technology solutions.

Lesley specializes in operational resilience, information security, governance and regulatory compliance across shared services, IT, managed services and cyber environments. Lesley supports organizations in strengthening governance frameworks, improving operational processes, and implementing standards such as ISO 27001 and ISO 20000. Her approach focuses on practical, outcome-driven solutions that enhance compliance, reduce risk and improve service quality across day-to-day operations.

In the episode, Lesley talks about:

Her career journey from IT engineering to cyber leadership

Focus on cyber leadership, governance and management systems

Emphasizing leadership’s role in embedding culture and security

How ISO 27001 provides governance, accountability and decision clarity

The need for pragmatic governance, decision-making and balanced AI adoption

HCS as a managed IT partner offering cyber and advisory services

Why investment in cyber requires practical testing, not just documentation

Using LinkedIn, peers, events and courses to manage constant industry change

Advice to embrace opportunities, stay open and learn from experience

To find out more about all the great work happening at HCS, check out the website www.hcs.ie and follow them on LinkedIn. You can also connect with Lesley directly on LinkedIn.

If you’re interested in exploring our latest Cybersecurity jobs, check out our live vacancies or upload your resume today to keep up to date with all the latest opportunities.

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