VRC: AI Training and Governance

New Podcast Episode:

This week we’re revisiting one of our most insightful conversations on ISO compliance with a true leader in the field: David Forman, Founder of Mastermind Assurance and one of the most respected certification auditors working with ISO standards today.

With the surge in global data breaches, AI governance concerns, and organizations being required by customers to prove their security posture, ISO certifications are more relevant than ever. That’s why we’re bringing this episode back, because the insights David shared about ISO frameworks, audits, and governance are incredibly timely in today’s compliance landscape.

If your organization is navigating SOC 2, ISO 27001, AI governance, or global trust requirements, this conversation offers valuable perspective from someone who sits on the certification side of the audit process.

In This Episode:

• The Real Role of an ISO Auditor — how conformity audits differ from typical compliance checks

• ISO vs. SOC 2 — why they serve different purposes and when organizations need both

• Why ISO Certifications Are Growing — global trust, supply-chain risk, and rising security expectations

• Lessons From Major Data Breaches — how incidents like Target and Equifax changed compliance expectations

• The Challenge of “Retrofitting” Compliance — why mature companies sometimes struggle more than startups

• ISO 42001 & AI Governance — how organizations should think about AI management and risk today

• Automation Platforms vs. Real Compliance — why tools don’t replace accountability

• Building an Integrated Governance Program — preparing for future frameworks before customers demand them

Whether you’re considering ISO certification, expanding into international markets, or preparing for new AI governance expectations, this episode provides a clear look into how certification actually works from the auditor’s perspective. Listen now!

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If you are a regular reader of the VRC Newsletter, you’ve consumed a lot of information about what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is, what it does, and what it can do for you.  The possibilities AI presents are almost endless.  This new “digital co-worker” holds real promise as a productive member of the team.  It’s important to remember… AI is a tool… not a replacement.  AI cannot and should not ever be used without Human-In-The-Loop involvement.  As it was stated in a recent VRC Podcast, your work, your company, and your reputation can be severely damaged if AI is not governed.  If you get dragged into court, AI is not the one sitting on the stand being grilled by lawyers in front of a jury.

AI is the tool that takes a massive amount of data and delivers it to you in a way that saves time and informs the decisions you make.  Because AI delivers the information you request from it, AI is always a reactive response and not making proactive decisions.  That job is and should always be your responsibility!

AI does not have the ability to determine outcomes.  It lacks the ability to be proactive and simply cannot replace human thought and the good old-fashioned gut instinct.

Much of the fear with AI’s integration into almost every aspect of life is the question “Will I be replaced?”  It would be naive to think AI won’t impact staffing in your business at some point.  But the overall impact will force the revision of how you do your work.  Reinvention isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  It will challenge company executives, leadership, and front-line workers in new, exciting ways.

The VanRein Compliance team has invested significant time and effort in AI and how to help you and your company.  As AI Governance is becoming mandatory in 2026, your compliance partnerships need to be future-proof.  If you are reacting, you are losing.  A clear Focus Forward effort keeps you ahead of laws, rules, and regulations.  Our team is perfectly positioned to partner with you and your compliance efforts.  If AI Governance isn’t part of your 2026 business plan, you’re out of time to get started.  VRC is here to help.

Embrace it.  Own it.  Control it.  And you will succeed with it.

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It’s undeniable.  The way we work, how we work, and where we work has seen incredible changes over the last six years.  We’ve gone from everyone huddled into offices and cubicles to being spread out across the globe.  Now we live somewhere in the middle.  None of this would have been possible without the rapid creation and deployment of technology.  Now, on the stage: Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The transition from using typewriters to computers caused a lot of head-scratching and confusion when that shift began.  Think of AI, our new digital co-worker, the same way.  Sure, there was some frustration and concern in the beginning, but we figured it out.  We nailed it, and we’re better for it.  AI is the same way.  We have a lot of questions, concerns, and certainly frustration ahead.  But you can do it.  You’ve done it before!

Here’s what you need to do:

1. CURIOSITY: Use the computer (that you’ve mastered by now) and do some research and reading. You don’t need to get into the weeds of it, but gain a general understanding of what AI is, how it works as a tool, and most importantly, WHY we need it.

2. PLAY IN THE SANDBOX: Yes, just like kids playing in a sandbox learn how to interact with others and build social skills, take some time to play around with multiple AI platforms. Ask it questions, give it commands, get suggestions on how to improve one of your grandmother’s favorite recipes (that’s almost blasphemy). Some sandbox time will give you AI skills and get you familiar with its abilities. DO NOT limit yourself to one platform. Use ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, and others. The world is at your fingertips.

3. EMBRACE CONTINUOUS LEARNING: If your company offers learning opportunities for AI education, jump on them. Online courses you can take on your own schedule? Take the challenge. Webinars are another great learning resource. If you find workshops in your community, attend them. You will likely find others trying to do the same thing, and there’s comfort in numbers.

4. DIGITAL LITERACY: New software seems to come out daily, offering better user experiences, better efficiency tools, and better spreadsheets (is that even possible?). To improve your chances of success, you have to learn the language.

5. ASK QUESTIONS: This seems really basic, but it’s amazing how many people are uncomfortable simply asking teammates and other professional connections simple questions. Never feel like your questions are stupid. There are millions of others probably thinking the same thing. Conversations with your peers also reinforce the core of any successful AI use: people! Every part of AI use must keep Humans In The Loop, and that especially applies to learning.

VanRein Compliance is also here to help.  We answer a lot of questions about AI and have worked to help you future-proof your compliance work and keep you ahead of the game.

YOU CAN DO THIS!

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