#WaveStrong Advisory
HITRUST
In today’s data-driven world, protecting sensitive information is non-negotiable—especially in industries like healthcare. HITRUST (Health Information Trust Alliance) offers a globally recognized framework to manage cybersecurity and compliance risks effectively. It integrates standards like HIPAA, NIST, and PCI-DSS into a certifiable Common Security Framework (CSF), ensuring organizations safeguard data while meeting regulatory demands.
WaveStrong brings decades of cybersecurity expertise to guide you through HITRUST certification. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, vendor, or tech firm, our tailored services help you achieve and maintain compliance, building trust with stakeholders. Ready to secure your data? Let’s explore how WaveStrong makes HITRUST work for you.
Comprehensive HITRUST
HITRUST CSF is a robust, scalable framework designed to streamline compliance and risk management. It offers three assessment levels – e1 (basic), i1 (intermediate), and r2 (advanced) – tailored to your organization’s risk profile and needs. From foundational cybersecurity hygiene (44 controls in e1) to comprehensive risk-based protection (up to 2,000+ controls in r2), HITRUST ensures a consistent approach to securing sensitive data.
WaveStrong’s HITRUST services cover readiness assessments, gap analysis, and full certification support. We help you navigate the process, from scoping to validation, ensuring compliance with multiple standards in one streamlined effort.
Understanding HITRUST: A Deeper Dive
HITRUST isn’t just about checking boxes – it’s a strategic tool for aligning security with business goals. It harmonizes diverse regulations into a single, prescriptive set of controls, reducing audit fatigue. WaveStrong enhances this by assessing your environment, recommending tailored controls (e.g., encryption, access management), and integrating tools like SIEM for real-time monitoring. This proactive approach mitigates risks like ransomware or breaches, offering a clear path to certification and ongoing compliance, all customized to your industry and operations.
Why HITRUST Matters
HITRUST is a game-changer for organizations handling sensitive data:
- Regulatory Compliance: Meets HIPAA, GDPR, and more in one framework.
- Risk Reduction: Strengthens defenses against cyber threats.
- Market Trust: Signals to clients and partners your commitment to security.
- Efficiency: Consolidates multiple audits into a single process.
- Competitive Edge: Often a requirement for healthcare contracts.
Without HITRUST, you risk penalties, lost business, and reputational damage. WaveStrong ensures you stay compliant and secure.
Key Features of WaveStrong HITRUST Services
WaveStrong’s HITRUST services stand out with:
WaveStrong’s HITRUST services are designed to simplify compliance and strengthen your cybersecurity posture. Here’s what makes our offerings exceptional:
- Expert Assessments: Our certified professionals conduct thorough evaluations of your current security controls, policies, and processes. We align your environment with HITRUST CSF requirements, identifying risks like weak encryption or inadequate access controls to ensure a solid foundation for certification.
- Custom Scoping: We tailor the HITRUST assessment level—e1, i1, or r2—to your organization’s size, risk profile, and industry needs. Whether you need basic cybersecurity (44 controls) or advanced risk management (2,000+ controls), we define the scope to optimize effort and cost.
- Remediation Support: After pinpointing gaps, we provide detailed, actionable plans to address them. This includes implementing technical solutions (e.g., multi-factor authentication, data loss prevention) and refining policies to meet HITRUST standards, ensuring you’re audit-ready.
- Technology Integration: We deploy cutting-edge tools like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) for real-time threat monitoring, Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) for streamlined incident handling, and endpoint protection to fortify your defenses—all aligned with HITRUST requirements.
- Training and Awareness: Compliance isn’t just tech—it’s people too. We offer customized training for your team on HITRUST controls, incident response, and best practices, empowering them to maintain security standards and reduce human error risks.
- Validation Preparation: We guide you through the rigorous HITRUST validation process, conducting mock audits and ensuring all evidence (e.g., logs, documentation) meets assessor expectations. This minimizes delays and boosts certification success rates.
Ongoing Guidance: Post-certification, we provide continuous support for interim assessments, control updates, and recertification every 1-3 years. Our proactive approach keeps you compliant as regulations and threats evolve.
How Does HITRUST Work?
WaveStrong’s HITRUST process is clear and effective:
- Readiness Assessment: We start by evaluating your current security posture—reviewing systems, policies, and procedures against HITRUST CSF requirements. This includes analyzing controls like data encryption, access management, and incident response to establish a baseline and determine your target assessment level (e1, i1, or r2).
- Gap Analysis: Next, we identify discrepancies between your existing setup and HITRUST standards. For example, we might find missing audit logs or inadequate network segmentation. We then prioritize these gaps based on risk and compliance impact, providing a clear roadmap for remediation.
- Control Implementation: With gaps identified, we guide you through deploying tailored solutions. This could mean integrating SIEM for real-time monitoring, enforcing multi-factor authentication, or updating policies to align with HIPAA and NIST. Our team ensures every control is practical, effective, and meets HITRUST’s rigorous criteria.
- Validation: We prepare you for the official HITRUST assessment by conducting internal testing and mock audits. This step verifies that all controls are functioning—e.g., ensuring logs capture required events or that staff follow incident protocols. We then support you through the external validation process with a HITRUST-approved assessor.
- Maintenance: Certification isn’t the end—it’s the beginning. We provide ongoing support for annual interim reviews, control updates, and recertification (required every 1-3 years). This includes adapting to new threats, like ransomware, and evolving regulations, ensuring your compliance remains rock-solid.
From start to finish, we ensure your HITRUST certification is achieved efficiently and aligns with your goals.
Why Choose WaveStrong?
WaveStrong is your trusted HITRUST partner:
- Proven Track Record: Over 20 years securing 500+ organizations.
- Industry Leaders: Partnerships with IBM and Symantec for top-tier solutions.
- Tailored Expertise: Customized strategies for your unique needs.
- Client Focus: Dedicated support at every step.
With WaveStrong, you gain a partner committed to your cybersecurity success.
Customer Reviews
Clients rave about WaveStrong’s HITRUST services:
- “WaveStrong made HITRUST certification seamless. Their expertise saved us months!”
— Owen, CISO, Healthcare Provider - “Their gap analysis was spot-on. We’re now compliant and confident.”
— Hazel, IT Director, Tech Vendor - “WaveStrong’s team guided us to r2 certification effortlessly. Top-notch service!”
— Lucas, Compliance Officer, Insurance Firm - “The ongoing support keeps us ahead of risks. WaveStrong is exceptional.”
— Charlotte, CTO, SaaS Company - “Thanks to WaveStrong, we won a major contract with HITRUST compliance.”
— Julian, CEO, Startup
FAQs
Answers to the top 5 HITRUST questions:
- What is HITRUST?
HITRUST is a certifiable framework combining standards like HIPAA and NIST to manage cybersecurity and compliance risks. WaveStrong helps you achieve certification tailored to your needs. - Why pursue HITRUST certification?
It ensures compliance, reduces breach risks, and builds trust with clients—often a must for healthcare contracts. WaveStrong streamlines the process for you. - How long does HITRUST certification take?
It varies: e1 takes 3-6 months, i1 6-12 months, and r2 12-18 months. WaveStrong accelerates this with expert guidance. - What’s the difference between e1, i1, and r2?
e1 (44 controls) is basic, i1 (180+ controls) is intermediate, and r2 (200-2,000+ controls) is advanced. WaveStrong helps you choose the right level. - How does WaveStrong assist with HITRUST?
We assess, remediate, and validate your controls, ensuring certification success and ongoing compliance with minimal hassle.
Secure Your Future Today
Ready to achieve HITRUST certification and protect your data? Contact WaveStrong now for expert guidance. Call us today—your compliance journey starts here!