February 2026 Chapter Bylaws Under Review Governance Update on Bylaws Underway From Todd Wilkins, President The Chapter Board started a review of the chapter’s bylaws to align them with ISACA’s current community standard template. This review helps ensure our governance remains current, consistent, and aligned with ISACA’s best practices. The Board is working through this process in coordination with ISACA International. Once the review is complete, the proposed bylaws will be shared with members in late Spring 2026 and formally presented at the annual meeting in June. For now, we want to keep members informed of the work underway and what to expect in the coming months. Stay informed: see our blog on the chapter bylaws review. Introductucing Our New Education Director The SC Midlands ISACA Chapter As part of a planned leadership transition and the chapter's ongoing comitment to member education and professional development, we are pleased to introduce our new Education Director, Sheila Hemmingway, who will be leading our educational programming and learning initiatives this year.  —from Sheila Hemingway, Education Director I am particularly excited about the current state of audit, risk, and governance because these disciplines are fundamental to developing and sustaining resilient information security programs. They provide a robust framework for managing all types of risks, which is essential as technology and capabilities constantly evolve. A strong information security program built on these principles, ensures the ability to effectively defend against emerging threats. As the new Education Director for our chapter, my primary goals include designing inclusive programs that support members' professional and personal development, connecting with dedicated industry experts who are passionate about teaching and contributing to the community, and hosting events in accessible, inspirational, and convenient venues to maximize participation and engagement. I hope to help members by fostering skills growth and career advancement for members through accessible virtual and onsite educational events, as well as specialized career events that connect talented job seekers directly with recruiters. My inspiration for volunteering for this role stems directly from attending my first exceptional educational event hosted by the SC Midlands Chapter. This chapter is a vibrant community of successful professionals who have navigated certification pathways and established lifelong partnerships with their industry peers. I strongly believe the true value of professional gatherings lies in continually meeting and connecting with new people. Sheila Hemingway, Educational Director education@SCISACA.org Explore the Engage Platform Your membership gives you more than access to events, it opens the door to the Member Only section on our Engage platform. Here, you can explore Chapter News, browse our Chapter Library, and connect with fellow members through the Member Directory. We encourage our members to visit the Chapter News page on Engage, where we’ve created a blog post about the bylaws to complement the newsletter article. This provides a space for discussion and questions. The Members Only section is designed to  keep you informed, provide access to resources, and allow engagment with the chapter community. Your next insight, connection, or conversation could just be a click away. Upcoming Events February 18 (2 CPE Info) ISACA AI Introduction Registration March 18-19 (CPE Info) IT Risk Fundamentals (Save the Date) Certificate Details April 13-16 (30 CPE) CISA Certification Training (Save the Date) April 16 Member Social - Registration Save the date for the ISACA 2026 North America Conference, happening May 6-8 in Las Vegas! Join IS/IT professionals and thought leaders for three impactful days of sessions, workshops, networking, and social events designed to expand your knowledge in audit, risk, security, governance, and digital trust. Whether you attend in person or virtually, you will gain fresh insights and earn valuable CPE credits to advance your career. Learn more and register now! Update on ISACA Courses/certificates/certifications From Leighton Johnson, Certification Director The Certified in Cloud Auditing Knowledge (CCAK) credential was previously offered through a partnership between ISACA and Cloud Security Alliance (CSA). That partnership has now concluded and as a result, new CCAK purchases and engagements are no longer supported. ISACA remains strongly committed to cloud security education and is actively exploring future opportunities that align with its mission to deliver high-quality, relevant training for audit, risk, and security professionals. In addition, the Computing Fundamentals, Networks & Infrastructure Fundamentals, and Software Development Fundamentals certificates will be officially withdrawn 6 January 2026. The CET certification will also be sunset on that date; however, current CET holders may continue to maintain their certification using the same methods available today. ISACA continues to invest in foundational and entry-level education aligned to its core domains and focus areas, ensuring members have clear pathways for skills development and professional growth. Connect with Leighton Johnson at certification@SCISACA.org Interested in a CISA study group? We're exploring forming a CISA study group. Let us know if you would want to participate by taking a quick 3 question poll. Your input will help shape the study group. Our chapter is more than a list of name. We are a community shaped by commitment, growth, and shared professional purpose. Today, we celebtate all 437 members who make up our chapter, representing every stage of the ISACA journey. Together, our members hold over 400 certifications. This demonstrates our curiosity and dedication to audit, risk, and governance professions. Even more telling, over 70% of our membership have reached the silver, gold, or platinum status. This is evidence that many of us choose to stay, grow, and invest in our local chapter and community over time. Whether you're brand new, quietly connected, or deeply involved, all of you are part of what gives our chapter its strength. We're glad you're here, and we're better because of you, our members. Keeping Pace with AI: Your Guide To Policies, Ethics, and Risk Original Article By: Mary Carmichael, CRISC, CISA, CPA | ISACA eBook, November 2024 The following highlights summarize key insights from Mary Carmichael's eBook, "Keeping Pace with AI: Your Guide To Policies, Ethics, and Risk." The commentary and framing are provided by Midlands ISACA Chapter Newsletter to show relevance for ISACA professionals in audit, risk, and governance. Artificial intelligence is no longer just a futuristic concept, it is rapidly transforming organizations across industries, impacting cybersecurity, risk management, IT audit, and governance. ISACA’s recent AI pulse revealed that 85% of digital trust professionals expect they will need additional AI training within the next two years to remain effective in their roles or advance their careers. Yet, despite this growing need, most organizations have no formal policies guiding the responsible use of AI, leaving gaps that can lead to security breaches, privacy risks, and ethical challenges. Generative AI tools, like ChatGPT and DALLE offer enormous potential for content creation, automation, and data analysis, but without clear AI Acceptable Use Policies (AUP), organizations risk misuse, biased outputs, or regulatory noncompliance. Alarmingly, ISACA found that only 10% of enterprises have comprehensive generative AI policies in place. This underscores a critical gap for practitioners to address. Developing such policies requires a deep understanding of AI technologies, regulatory requirements, ethical considerations, and organizational needs. Policies should clarify acceptable and prohibited use, outline responsibilities across teams, and align with existing IT and InfoSec standards to provide clear guidance and accountability. Ethics and risk management are central to AI adoption. AI systems can unintentionally reinforce biases, generate misleading information, or compromise sensitive data. Integrating ethical principles ensures fairness, transparency, and trust. In addition, defining risk appetite and tolerance helps organizations balance innovation with operational safeguards. For example, an AI-driven customer service chatbot may increase efficiency and customer satisfaction, but thresholds for acceptable error rates, escalation procedures, and performance monitoring are essential to avoid reputational or operational harm. For ISACA professionals, these considerations are not abstract. These considerations represent the emerging responsibilities in  auditing, governance, and risk assessment. Understanding AI policies, ethical implications, and risk frameworks position professionals to guide organizations safely through AI adoption and strengthen digital trust. Our upcoming AI training lunch and learn will explore these topics in depth, provide actionable frameworks, real-world examples, and practical guidance to help you stay ahead in this fast evolving field. This newsletter highlights are based on Mary Carmichael’s “Keeping Pace with AI: Your Guide to Policies, Ethics, and Risks,” ISACA members can read the full eBook at ISACA.org. This message was sent through the SC Midlands ISACA CVENT system. Selecting "Opt-Out" will unsubscribe you from all SC Midlands ISACA emails sent via CVENT, including event communications and notifications related to earned CPE credits.