The HITRUST CSF® (Common Security Framework) is a certifiable, risk-based cybersecurity and privacy framework developed by the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST). It was created to help organizations manage compliance across a wide range of global regulations and standards, including HIPAA, ISO/IEC 27001, NIST SP 800-53, PCI DSS, and GDPR, by integrating them into one harmonized and prescriptive control framework.

 This unified approach eliminates the need for conducting multiple, redundant audits, enabling organizations to demonstrate compliance and manage risks through a single, streamlined assessment. The framework is especially valuable for sectors with heightened regulatory demands, such as healthcare, financial services, energy, and insurance.

The HITRUST CSF is structured around:

1. 14 Control Domains

2. 49 Control Objectives

3. Hundreds of individual requirements

These elements are dynamically adjusted based on the organization's type, system, risk factors, and regulatory obligations, ensuring the assessment is always relevant and proportionate to the risk landscape.

Types of HITRUST Validated Assessments

HITRUST offers multiple validated assessment types to support organizations at various risk levels:

1. i1 (1-Year Validated Assessment): A fixed control set aligned with cybersecurity best practices. Ideal for organizations with moderate risk exposure.

2. r2 (2-Year Validated Assessment): This tailored, risk-based assessment includes maturity modeling. It is best suited for high-risk organizations needing deep assurance.

3. e1 (Essentials): A basic assessment focused on foundational cybersecurity controls.

All HITRUST assessments undergo a rigorous QA review and are stored in the HITRUST Results Distribution System (RDS), which enables the secure and efficient sharing of assurance results with internal and external stakeholders.

Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) with HITRUST

Third-party vendors, cloud providers, and partners increase operational efficiency and expand the attack surface. HITRUST urges organizations to treat third-party security as an extension of their programs.

Key Principles of HITRUST TPRM

1. Risk-Based Vendor Tiering:- Classify vendors by data sensitivity and service criticality.

2. Standardized Control Evaluation:- Require vendors to align with HITRUST CSF for comparable assessments.

3. Inheritance & Reciprocity:- Accept inherited controls from vendors with HITRUST assessments to reduce redundant audits.

4. Transparency via RDS:- Use the HITRUST Results Distribution System to securely share i1 and r2 certifications with stakeholders.

This approach reduces manual work, maintains consistency, and meets regulatory compliance more efficiently.

Domain 05: Third-Party Assurance (TPA) – A Deep Dive

The Control Domain 05: Third-Party Assurance (TPA) is dedicated to managing vendor and supply chain risk. It applies to any third party accessing sensitive or critical information systems.

Key Requirements in Domain 05:

1. Third-Party Risk Governance

• Establish a formal policy for assessing, approving, monitoring, and offboarding vendors.

• Define risk thresholds, classification criteria, and due diligence timelines.

2. Due Diligence Before Engagement

• Evaluate vendors for compliance history, certifications, and operational integrity before procurement.

3. Contractual Controls

Vendor agreements must include:

• Encryption & access control obligations

• Audit rights and incident reporting

• Data protection standards

4. Monitoring and Oversight

• Conduct continuous monitoring and periodic reassessments

• Track corrective action plans (CAPs) when gaps are found.

5. Use of Validated HITRUST Certifications

• For high-risk vendors, rely on HITRUST i1 or r2 certifications.

• Inherit controls where applicable, but maintain responsibility for oversight.

6. Management of Subsurface Organizations

• Evaluate any subcontractors or outsourced entities to ensure end-to-end supply chain security.

Domain 05 is especially critical in healthcare, finance, insurance, and energy, where third-party risk faces heightened regulatory scrutiny.

Implementing HITRUST Domain 05 Controls

1. Establish a Governance Program

• Develop a vendor risk policy approved by executive leadership.

• Assign a centralized team or committee to manage TPRM operations.

2. Identify and Tier Vendors

• Catalog vendors and assess them based on the following:

• Type of data accessed (PII, PHI, financial)

• Operational criticality

• Regulatory exposure

3. Align Procurement with HITRUST

• Update onboarding workflows to include HITRUST-aligned requirements.

• HITRUST certification is required before onboarding critical vendors.

4. Include Security Clauses in Contracts

Ensure vendor contracts are defined:

• Breach notification timelines (24–72 hrs)

• Required frameworks (e.g., HITRUST, NIST)

• Right to audit and terminate for non-compliance

5. Leverage MyCSF for Control Inheritance

• Use MyCSF to inherit validated controls from HITRUST-certified vendors.

6. Perform Continuous Monitoring

• Schedule reassessments by vendor tier.

• Use tools to detect breaches, certification lapses, and control failures.

7. Maintain Complete Audit Trails

• Document every vendor interaction.

• Use dashboards and logs to show due diligence.

How Genesis Platform Simplifies HITRUST TPRM Compliance

The Genesis Platform is designed to automate and streamline every aspect of Third-Party Risk Management while aligning fully with the HITRUST CSF.

Tailored Features for HITRUST TPA Compliance:

1. Control Inheritance Automation

Genesis automatically detects and maps inherited controls from HITRUST-certified vendors, reducing reassessment time and ensuring that shared responsibilities are clearly defined.

2. Risk Classification Engine

The platform classifies vendors based on business impact, data access levels, and service type—automatically determining whether a HITRUST i1 or r2 assessment is required.

3. Smart Questionnaire Builder

Using AI, Genesis builds assessment questionnaires that align with Control Domain 05 and adjusts them in real time based on previous answers and vendor risk.

4. Real-Time Compliance Dashboard

Visualize your vendor ecosystem's HITRUST status, open corrective actions, audit logs, and expired or missing certifications all in one place.

5. Continuous Breach and Control Monitoring

Genesis integrates external intelligence to monitor vendor breaches, dark web exposure, and vulnerability disclosures, keeping your third-party risk posture current.

6. Evidence Collection and Audit Readiness

Vendors can upload control documentation, attestations, and certifications. Genesis indexes everything and generates on-demand audit reports for internal and regulatory reviews.

With Genesis, organizations can enforce a scalable, transparent, and HITRUST-aligned TPRM program, saving hundreds of hours annually and reducing assessment friction across departments.