HITRUST stands for “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996,” which is a law passed in 1996 that required insurance companies to provide certain information about their customers’ medical records and health information to help promote health insurance portability.
The HITRUST framework is not directly related to the law, but it does involve the use of “HIT” in its name. The “HIT” in HITRUST stands for “Health Information Technology,” which refers to the use of technology and data in the healthcare industry.
In the context of cybersecurity, the HITRUST framework is a set of best practices and guidelines for organizations to manage their cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities. It helps organizations to understand their security posture, identify and address the most critical security controls and practices, and improve their overall security posture.
Please note that the HITRUST framework is developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is used by federal agencies, state and local governments, and private sector organizations to assess and improve their cybersecurity posture.
The framework consists of 15 domains that cover various aspects of cybersecurity, including:
Security Leadership
Security Governance
Asset Management
Risk Management
Security Awareness and Training
Physical Security
Personnel Security
Third-Party Risk Management
Security Assessment and Authorization
System and Application Security
Communication and Network Security
Operational Security
Incident Response
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Privacy
Each domain covers various aspects of cybersecurity, including:
Security Leadership: Establish a comprehensive security program, with clear roles and responsibilities, and a security-focused organizational culture.
Security Governance: Implement a formal security governance structure, including policies, procedures, and roles, and regularly assess and monitor the effectiveness of the program.
Asset Management: Inventory and categorize all assets, including physical, logical, and virtual, and regularly update the asset inventory.
Risk Management: Identify, assess, and prioritize risks based on their likelihood and impact, and develop risk response plans and procedures.
Security Awareness and Training: Provide regular security awareness and training to employees, and regularly evaluate employee security awareness.
Physical Security: Implement physical security controls, such as access controls, surveillance, and security guards, and regularly monitor and maintain the physical security measures.
Personnel Security: Establish a personnel security policy, including background checks, termination procedures, and access controls, and regularly review and update the policy.
Third-Party Risk Management: Identify and assess the risks of using third-party services and products, and implement appropriate controls and procedures to manage those risks.
Security Assessment and Authorization: Conduct regular security assessments, identify vulnerabilities, and implement remediation measures. Authorize access to systems and networks based on the risk assessment.
System and Application Security: Implement strong security controls, such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and secure coding practices, to protect systems and applications from unauthorized access and attacks.
Communication and Network Security: Use secure communication channels, encrypt sensitive data in transit and at rest, and regularly monitor and update security controls for network communications.
Operational Security: Implement operational security controls, such as change management, incident response plans, and security incident reporting, to ensure the integrity and availability of systems and data.
Incident Response: Establish an incident response plan and procedures, and regularly test and update the plan to ensure its effectiveness.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery: Implement robust business continuity and disaster recovery plans, including backup and recovery procedures, and regularly test and update the plans to ensure their effectiveness.
Privacy: Implement privacy controls and procedures, such as data minimization, encryption, and access controls, to protect the privacy of individuals’ personal information.
The HITRust framework provides organizations with a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, helping them understand their security posture, identify risks, and implement effective security controls and practices.