For most of us in cybersecurity, Bylaws are not top of mind. But they matter because they define how ISC2 works: who makes decisions, how leadership is held accountable, and how Members have a voice when it counts.

The Bylaws modernization process is underway, and we want Members involved from the beginning—not brought in at the end. As part of that effort, we recently sent a survey to gather input. We have heard concerns about the survey format, and we are taking that feedback seriously. After hearing from Members, we have closed the current survey to make it better. It became clear that more context and background information is needed before we ask you to weigh in on these important questions.

To those who participated, thank you. Your feedback is being carefully reviewed, and the results will be shared with the membership. Your responses will continue to inform and guide this work.

Why the Bylaws Matter

ISC2’s Bylaws have served as the foundation for organizational governance for more than 35 years. They establish Member rights and responsibilities, define the Board of Directors’ role, and set the framework for responsible oversight of a U.S. 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional corporation.

Governance is different from management. Management runs day-to-day operations. Governance sets direction, oversees the CEO, supports risk management and financial stewardship, and helps protect the long-term credibility of ISC2 certifications.

Why Modernization Is Being Considered

ISC2 has grown significantly since the Bylaws were first drafted. Today, ISC2 serves a global membership of more than 265,000 individuals who hold certifications in good standing, while the cybersecurity profession continues to evolve quickly.

The goal is straightforward: make the Bylaws clearer, more accessible, more transparent, and better suited to ISC2 today. That means making rights, responsibilities, and processes easier for Members to understand while ensuring the Board can govern efficiently and effectively.

Topics Members Will Be Asked to Consider

Member input will help guide potential recommendations in several areas:

  • Board Term Limits. Directors currently may serve up to two three-year terms. Members will be asked whether that structure still supports continuity, expertise, and effective oversight. The committee is not proposing to eliminate Board Term Limits; that is not a best practice for Associations. 
  • Member Petition Threshold. Current Bylaws allow Members to petition with 500 signatures from Members in good standing. The committee is exploring whether that fixed number remains appropriate for a global membership of more than 265,000, or whether a percentage-based threshold would be more representative.
  • Independent Board Members. Members will be asked whether non-Member Directors with expertise in areas such as finance, legal affairs, or nonprofit governance should be permitted to serve, while preserving the member-led nature of the association.
  • Bylaws Amendment Process. Current Bylaws require approval by two-thirds of Members present at a duly called meeting. The committee is exploring whether that process remains appropriate for a large, globally dispersed membership.
  • Definition of Membership. Current Bylaws define membership as individuals who hold an active ISC2 certification in good standing. The committee is exploring whether that definition should remain as-is or be revised.

How Member Input Will Shape the Process

ISC2 has engaged McKinley Advisors, an independent association consulting firm, to help gather and analyze Member feedback. McKinley will not decide what the Bylaws should say. Its role is to support an objective, methodical process for hearing from Members across the global community.

That process includes the Member surveys, live focus groups, webinars, and a Security Congress session that will be accessible to all Members, whether or not they attend in person. Feedback gathered through the surveys, focus groups, and direct Member input will inform recommendations to the Board.

Space in the focus groups is limited, so participants will be selected to reflect a range of experience and backgrounds across the membership. Contact us here to share your interest. If you are not selected for a focus group, we will share additional ways to participate.

Make Your Voice Heard

Please share your feedback by contacting us directly at https://www.isc2.org/about/governance/bylaws-committee.

We look forward to sharing what we hear from Members in the coming weeks and months.