What is HITRUST?
HITRUST, or Health Information Trust Alliance, is a non-profit organization that uses the ‘HITRUST approach’ to help the healthcare industry control data protection standards and effectively manage data, information risk, and compliance. It’s similar to HIPAA, but instead of being written and enforced by the federal government, HITRUST is regulated by a group of healthcare professionals.
HITRUST is a way for the healthcare sector to self-regulate security practices while also fixing some of HIPAA’s shortcomings and providing a PCI (Payment Card Industry)-like enforcement system for businesses to adopt. HITRUST is a recommended framework trusted by many larger healthcare companies, health networks, and hospitals to manage risk along with other frameworks.
Why is HITRUST important?
In the United States, HITRUST is the healthcare industry’s security framework getting adopted primarily in hospitals It sets an industry-wide standard for handling Business Associate compliance. For a variety of reasons, HITRUST is slowly getting adopted in the healthcare industry along with other certifications:
HITRUST is updated daily to keep healthcare organizations up to date on new regulations and security threats. It is the most frequently updated security framework, with periodic updates and annual audit revisions. This ensures that those who follow the HITRUST CSF(Common Security Framework) work tirelessly to ensure their safety.
Some large payers need HITRUST. On February 8, 2016, five major healthcare payers assured their business associates that they would comply with the HITRUST CSF within two years. As a result, companies must consider “what HITRUST entails” and “what changes are needed to be made to achieve and maintain certification.”
HITRUST Certification has the strictest requirements with high-risk data that can demonstrate that an entity is a leader in compliance because they have the certification to back it up.
Is HITRUST worth it?
HITRUST Certification won’t be easy.
Many business associates will find it challenging to obtain HITRUST CSF certification because the vast majority may be unprepared and caught off guard. This is due to the fact that many organizations, especially smaller vendors, lack the resources to complete HITRUST CSF Certification. Organizations must not only meet the CSF criteria, but a third party must also audit them before being approved, and they must be recertified every other year.
Several businesses are taken aback by the HITRUST certification. Why?
- Firstly, the cost of assessment and assessor services are high. Budgets are often tight, and data protection may be a substantial investment as the cost might be too steep for small and medium enterprises, and HITRUST might be perceived as more expensive. For enterprises, HITRUST Certification could be seen as an investment rather than an expense
- Many customers are hesitant to invest in HITRUST because they fear failing
- A company choosing to get HITRUST certified, must first adopt the HITRUST CSF (Common Security Framework) which is updated regularly with multiple versions. You need to stay on top of the update, use the right protocol and technologies to be able to use it effectively. This may be a daunting task for many companies
- Assessment may include up to 400 control criteria and take upto 8 weeks depending on the scope and complexity of the company. This may be severely time consuming
The HITRUST Certification Fee
If you’re looking for a ballpark figure, the best guess will be $50,000 to $200,000, not including ongoing recertification costs. However, the range is so wide that it is ineffective for your business.
It depends on the assessment’s reach and the organization’s size, the state of its information system, and the steps taken to plan for a HITRUST assessment.
What exactly is included in this price?
Costs directly related to:
– The HITRUST MyCSF® gateway and services are made available
– Companies can take a readiness assessment and rating it
– Conducting a difference analysis, administering and rating a validated evaluation
Indirect costs incurred as a result of:
– Employee time spent on participation
– Security data recording and updating
– Initial setup
– Developing corrective action plans and remediation initiatives
– Assistance in locating and submitting necessary documents
Why is HITRUST Certification more expensive than other security certifications?
One must factor in the detail-oriented approach, thoroughness, and dependability.
A thorough examination
Depending on the company’s risk profile, a single HITRUST assessment may include up to 400 control criteria. This is in addition to the three forms of protection required by HIPAA regulations, the 12 PCI DSS compliance standards, COBIT’s five domains, 37 processes, and the 80-100 controls included in a SOC 2 audit.
The HITRUST CSF blends these and other regulatory standards into a single, overarching risk management and enforcement program, which is one of the most tangible benefits of the framework. It combines information management, financial services, technology, and healthcare standards. As a result, businesses will streamline their enforcement processes, resolve security concerns in all sectors, and reduce the time and expense associated with maintaining compliance with multiple standards.
Detail-oriented approach
Each control in your organization’s assessment must be reported, assessed, checked, and verified by an accredited external assessor before being evaluated by HITRUST. In addition, each control must be assessed using the HITRUST Maturity Model, which has five levels.
The HITRUST CSF certification process covers much more ground than any other security evaluation. In most cases, 2,000-2,500 separate data points are examined. Throughout this phase, an average of 1.5 hours per control is spent, with the number of controls assessed varying depending on the organization’s size, risk profile, and scope.
Dependability
The HITRUST CSF system was created to give enforcement programs more structure and continuity. Recent enhancements have also increased scoring accuracy over time and between internal and external assessors.
HITRUST has strict standards for the assessor firms and experts involved in its commitment to solid assurance. Firms must apply for and receive approval from HITRUST to conduct assessments and services related to the CSF Assurance Program and work hard to retain that status.
Certified CSF Practitioners (CCSFP) are HITRUST Approved External Assessors responsible for assessing and validating security controls. They must complete a training course, pass an exam, and retain certification through regular refresher courses. HITRUST helps organizations ensure the evaluation and certification process is accurate through service.
Can you have a data breach after a HITRUST Certification?
While HITRUST released a statement in its defense that “the healthcare payer did not have a breach in any system or area of the organization that was within the scope of its HITRUST CSF Certification,” some security experts did question the significance “what did it mean to be HITRUST certified?” given the scale and sheer magnitude in the numbers.
HITRUST Alternatives
The HITRUST CSF is a certifiable and widely accepted security framework with a list of prescriptive controls to demonstrate HIPAA compliance. However, as alternatives to HITRUST, several SMEs comply with other security governance frameworks like the National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST], HIPAA, SOC Reports – SOC 1, 2, and 3 Form 1 and 2 and ISO 27001 Certification.
NIST is a set of voluntary guidelines, and processes that companies use to reduce the risk of a cybersecurity threat. It aims to improve security and resiliency by implementing 108 security controls to achieve NIST compliance.
Many HIPAA requirements may not be understood in accordance with their intended objectives. HITRUST aims to provide an integrated and holistic approach to demonstrate compliance with HIPAA security requirements.
HIPAA is a federal law with national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.
Based on the certification goals and requirements of our clients, we offer alternative frameworks NIST, ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certifications. Different certifications involve different costs and levels of efforts, so it is imperative to consider your size, requirement and budget before you seek certification. IF you company falls under a broad range of industries or comes under a regulated industry, SOC 2 may be the best option. If your company processes electronic health information, HITRUST may be the better option.
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databrackets certified privacy and security professionals could help your organization comply with a range of Certifications and Compliances that include HIPAA/HITECH, PCI Data Security, CCPA, OSHA, GDPR, Penetration Testing, FDA CFR Part 11, ISO 27000, Cloud Security Management, NIST Framework, Cybersecurity Framework, SOC Certification, Third-party Assessment, NYDPS Cybersecurity Series, ISO 17020, and ISO 27001.
databrackets assists organizations in developing and implementing practices to secure sensitive data and comply with regulatory requirements. By leveraging databracket’s SaaS assessment platform, awareness training, policies, and procedures, and consulting expertise, you can meet the growing demand for data security and evolving compliance requirements more efficiently.
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databrackets has been accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) as a Cybersecurity Inspection Body for ISO/IEC 17020:2012 vide its Certificate Number: 5998.01.
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