HITRUST CSF

HITRUST Common Security Framework consolidates HIPAA, ISO 27001, NIST CSF, and other healthcare security standards into a single certifiable control framework.

What is HITRUST CSF?

HITRUST CSF (Common Security Framework) is a certifiable healthcare-industry security framework that consolidates HIPAA, HITECH, ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, PCI DSS, and several other standards into a single set of controls organized into 19 domains. It was created by the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) in 2007 and is the de facto baseline for vendors selling into U.S. healthcare.

r2 vs e1 vs i1

HITRUST offers three certification levels: e1 (essential, 1-year, ~44 controls — entry-level), i1 (implemented, 1-year, ~182 controls), and r2 (risk-based, 2-year, scaled to organization size and threat profile, often 200-400+ controls). r2 is the version healthcare enterprise buyers expect from mature SaaS vendors. The certification is awarded by HITRUST after an Authorized External Assessor reviews the controls.

HITRUST vs SOC 2 in healthcare

Many healthcare buyers will accept either, but HITRUST is more healthcare-specific and includes HIPAA-mapped controls SOC 2 does not. A vendor selling to hospitals and payers ideally holds HITRUST r2; a vendor selling broader SaaS into healthcare can usually get away with SOC 2 Type II + a HIPAA gap analysis. Ask which the vendor holds, when it expires, and what the scope statement covers.