Get HITRUST CSF Ready with a Clear Plan
HITRUST is a common requirement when you sell into healthcare or handle Protected Health Information (PHI). Buyers use it to reduce risk when sensitive data touches your systems.
HITRUST work is not only security controls. It is scoping, evidence, and a validated assessment process with strict submission rules. Neutral Partners helps you choose the right assessment type, implement and document controls, and organize evidence the way assessors validate.
At a Glance
- Best for: healthcare SaaS, payers, providers, business associates, and vendors handling PHI or patient data
- Assessment options: e1 (Essentials), i1 (Implemented), r2 (Risk based)
- Outcome: validated assessment results and HITRUST certification when required
- What slows teams down: over scoping, weak evidence mapping, and gaps in operational proof
If a deal is waiting on HITRUST, start with scope and assessment selection.
Schedule a Discovery SessionWhat Is the HITRUST CSF?
The HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF) is a certifiable, integrated security framework that helps organizations manage risk and meet multiple regulatory and industry requirements through a single, harmonized approach.
It was built on ISO/IEC 27001 as a foundational standard and incorporates requirements from major frameworks and regulations, including:
- HIPAA and HITECH
- PCI DSS
- NIST standards and guidance
- SOC expectations
- COBIT
- ISO/IEC standards
- GDPR concepts where applicable
HITRUST’s goal is often described as “One Framework, One Assessment.” Instead of managing overlapping requirements across multiple standards, organizations use HITRUST CSF as a unified framework and assessment approach.
Why Organizations Choose HITRUST
HITRUST is often pursued because it provides a structured way to show security assurance to healthcare buyers, procurement teams, and risk reviewers.
According to recent trust reporting shared in HITRUST updates, organizations pursue HITRUST because it is positioned as:
- Quantifiable assurance: measurable, risk based validation rather than a light attestation
- Reduced breach risk: reporting has cited very high breach free rates among certified organizations
- Repeatable improvement: repeat certifications can reduce corrective actions over time
- Buyer confidence: a recognized program for vendor risk decisions in healthcare ecosystems
If you need a framework that aligns multiple requirements and holds up to third party scrutiny, HITRUST is designed for that outcome.
What Makes HITRUST Different?
- Integrates multiple frameworks into one: reduces duplicate work across overlapping requirements
- Tailors controls to risk and size: scope and requirements adjust based on your environment
- Requires validated, third party assurance: a formal assessment and quality assurance review
- Uses measurable scoring: maturity and implementation expectations are evaluated
- Drives continuous improvement: supports an ongoing program, not a one time document push
In simple terms, HITRUST CSF is a comprehensive, scalable, certifiable cybersecurity framework that helps organizations manage risk and demonstrate compliance through one unified assessment process.
Assessment Types: e1, i1, and r2
HITRUST offers multiple assessment types so organizations can choose a level of assurance that matches risk and complexity.
e1 (Essentials)
An entry level, one year certification focused on foundational cybersecurity hygiene. It assesses implementation of a smaller set of key organizational controls and emphasizes access control and baseline technical security.
i1 (Implemented)
A one year certification that provides a streamlined, threat adaptive assessment with a moderate level of assurance. It is deeper than e1 and is often used when buyers want stronger proof without the full r2 scope.
r2 (Risk Based)
A comprehensive security and privacy assessment across HITRUST domains. It is typically a two year certification and is used for higher risk or more complex environments.
How to choose
Start with buyer requirements and data sensitivity. Then choose the minimum assessment type that satisfies the deal requirement without over scoping the work.
Who Needs HITRUST
HITRUST shows up most often when healthcare data is in scope, but it also appears in adjacent industries.
- Healthcare SaaS vendors: platforms that store or process PHI on behalf of providers or payers
- Payers and insurers: organizations handling large volumes of member and claims data
- Providers and health systems: hospitals, clinics, and networks needing validated security assurance
- Pharma and life sciences: companies handling trial data, research data, and patient information
- Digital health ecosystems: connected services that interact with patient workflows and sensitive data
- Service providers to healthcare: billing, analytics, customer support, and hosting providers
Key Characteristics of HITRUST CSF
Comprehensive and structured
- 19 control domains with a broad security and privacy scope
- Control specifications that expand into detailed requirements depending on scope
- Controls are tailored based on organizational size, risk profile, regulatory environment, and data sensitivity
Maturity based expectations
HITRUST uses five implementation maturity levels for controls:
- Policy
- Process
- Implemented
- Measured
- Managed
Scalable assessment options
HITRUST provides three assessment types so organizations can adopt the framework at the right depth for their environment:
- e1: foundational baseline for lower risk organizations
- i1: moderate assurance for organizations with stronger buyer requirements
- r2: comprehensive assurance for higher risk and complex environments
Certification Lifecycle
The HITRUST certification process commonly takes 6 to 12 months depending on scope and maturity.
Scope
- Define systems, environments, and data in scope
- Align scope to buyer needs to reduce cost and timeline
- Confirm the assessment type that fits the requirement
Access MyCSF
- Set up the assessment in HITRUST MyCSF
- Map controls and prepare evidence structure
- Plan how policies and artifacts will be uploaded and referenced
Self assessment
- Score controls and identify gaps
- Create remediation plans tied to requirements
- Start collecting dated operational proof
Validated assessment
- Performed by an approved external assessor
- Controls should be operating for a sustained period (commonly 90 days)
- Testing and validation occur over a defined window with QA review before decision
Ongoing testing and maintenance
- Maintain evidence and operational routines year round
- Plan for a required interim review after year one
- Prepare for full revalidation at the end of the certification cycle
Need a HITRUST plan built for real deadlines?
We will confirm scope, align the assessment type, and build the evidence plan that reduces surprises during validation.
Schedule a Discovery SessionHITRUST Today
Originally healthcare focused, HITRUST is now widely adopted across industries that need strong assurance for sensitive data protection, including:
- Finance
- Cloud services
- Technology
- Retail
- Government
Many organizations view HITRUST as a gold standard assurance program for cyber risk management.
HITRUST and AI
HITRUST has expanded into AI assurance and AI driven compliance support within MyCSF, including capabilities such as automated document review, automated control mapping, and tailored remediation recommendations.
HITRUST also describes AI assurance programs such as:
- AI security assessment and certification
- AI risk management assessment
For organizations deploying AI systems in regulated environments, these programs can support governance and risk management expectations.
How Neutral Partners Helps
Neutral Partners supports organizations throughout the full HITRUST lifecycle. We help you align HITRUST certification with broader security and business objectives so the framework strengthens your governance strategy instead of complicating it.
What we deliver
- Scoping and assessment selection: choose e1, i1, or r2 based on the deal requirement and data risk
- Readiness and remediation: implement controls, fix gaps, and build operational routines
- Evidence structure and mapping: organize artifacts so validation is efficient and defensible
- Validation support: manage requests, clarify evidence, and close findings quickly
- Ongoing readiness: build a cadence that keeps evidence current between cycles
Proof matters. Since 2017, we have maintained a 100% audit success rate across more than 700 successful audits and assessments.
HITRUST FAQs
How do we choose between e1, i1, and r2?
Start with buyer requirements. If a contract requires a specific assessment type, match it. If not, base the decision on data sensitivity, environment complexity, and the level of assurance you need to provide.
How long does HITRUST certification take?
Timelines vary based on scope and maturity, but many teams plan for 6 to 12 months. The most common delays come from late scoping decisions and evidence that is not mapped cleanly.
What will assessors test most aggressively?
Access control, vulnerability management, logging and monitoring, incident response, and governance evidence. Assessors look for repeatable execution, not one time screenshots.
Does SOC 2 replace HITRUST?
SOC 2 can help with shared controls and evidence, but it does not replace HITRUST when buyers require HITRUST certification. You still need to meet HITRUST requirements and follow the validated assessment process.
What is the biggest risk that causes rework?
Over scoping and weak evidence discipline. If controls are not operating consistently and evidenced on a cadence, findings and follow up requests increase quickly.
Key Resources
Make HITRUST a Growth Lever
HITRUST is about buyer confidence. When evidence is clean and controls operate consistently, vendor reviews shorten and renewals get easier.
Start with a short working session. We will map your scope, your assessment type, and the next three moves.