Compliance Standards

Like going to the doctor for an updated checkup, healthcare companies need to know where they stand concerning cybersecurity on the regular. A HITRUST certification is like getting a booster shot that’s valid for two years and will protect you from a wide variety of cybersecurity concerns.

Healthcare organizations are some of the juiciest targets out there for malicious cybercriminals in search of someone to compromise. These entities hoard data that is both highly sensitive and highly identifiable, so breaches here can have serious repercussions on people’s privacy and general security alike. These breaches are not only expensive to fix but leave people feeling especially vulnerable.

The healthcare industry is understandably concerned with compliance and certification — there are lives on the line! The people operating various medical machinery should be fully certified to do so, and patients should see fully qualified doctors for the best outcomes. It’s just how they get the care they need.

But beyond ensuring these requirements are met (and that everyone’s hands are clean in the process), robust healthcare organizations need to be considering their approach to cybersecurity and data protection as well. Data stored by businesses in this category is especially appealing to cybercriminals for its dual nature — not only is it highly sensitive, but it’s highly identifiable as well.

When we see other drivers on the road, we tend to assume they’re all licensed, insured, and level-headed. Until they prove otherwise in front of us, we take it for granted that everyone’s an excellent driver — you know, like us.

But when we show up at a doctor’s office or share payment details for a recent medical procedure, we assume healthcare professionals are following all the best practices concerning the security of that data. But we go to the pharmacy because we need to fill a prescription, not because they’re reputed for their cybersecurity. How do businesses call attention to their cybersecurity mindfulness, and how do consumers make the best choice when it comes to matters of handling their personal data?

There’s a simple answer already out there: they look for HITRUST compliance.

Cybercriminals are already clearly established bad guys online, and it’s up to your cybersecurity tools and standards to keep you safe.

Top-of-the-line firewall and antivirus software might go a long way toward protecting the data on your own network, but how do you protect the most sensitive data when it lives somewhere else entirely? You surely need someone else’s help to protect your data when it lives in places you might not even be aware of. The healthcare industry stashes patient data all over the place, for example.

The ranks of compliance regulations continue to expand, making it confusing and time-consuming for companies to navigate the audit landscape. From PCI DSS to SOC 2 to NYDSF to SOX, companies face a growing list of standards and certifications but no central repository to aggregate, much less organize all these standards. To address this, the healthcare industry established the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST), which designed the Common Security Framework (CSF) assessment to consolidate the compliance process. 

Curious as to how often you need a HITRUST CSF assessment report to stay compliant? Read on to find out now!