How to choose the right HITRUST external assessor
Achieving HITRUST CSF certification requires a validated assessment performed by a HITRUST authorized external assessor. These assessors are approved by HITRUST to conduct assessments using the HITRUST Framework (HITRUST CSF) and methodology. They guide you through the initial certification process and the required interim assessment to confirm your controls continue to operate effectively.
While dozens of firms are approved by HITRUST, not all offer the same value. Because certification is complex and collaborative, choosing the right assessor is a critical first step.
Start by considering these four factors when selecting a HITRUST external assessor:
1. How does the HITRUST assessor help you prepare? Do they offer a readiness assessment?
Achieving HITRUST CSF certification is a complex, multi-step process. Many organizations begin with a HITRUST self-assessment to better understand the HITRUST framework, the validated assessment process and the HITRUST scoring rubric. This early step can improve your HITRUST readiness and increase your chances of success in the validated assessment.
But that’s not the only way to prepare. Some HITRUST external assessors offer readiness assessments to help you evaluate your current performance against HITRUST requirements. A readiness assessment provides insight into the types of questions you’ll face, the evidence you’ll need to provide and how your organization measures up to the HITRUST scoring rubric.
The right HITRUST assessor will assign you an experienced professional — ideally, someone with HITRUST certified CSF practitioner credentials. They should be comfortable guiding you through readiness activities, answering your HITRUST certification questions and preparing you for a successful HITRUST assessment.
2. How experienced is your HITRUST assessor?
Experience matters when choosing a HITRUST external assessor. Your assessor should have deep expertise in the HITRUST CSF framework, the HITRUST assessment process, and the HITRUST scoring rubric. They need to understand how to assess your security, privacy and compliance controls — and how to help you strengthen them.
A qualified HITRUST assessor should be able to answer your questions clearly — and bring up questions you didn’t think to ask. Assessors with a long track record of performing validated assessments across industries can help you uncover gaps.
It’s important to know that HITRUST reviews and validates the work of its authorized external assessors to ensure assessments meet strict quality standards. Choose a partner whose work is consistently accepted by HITRUST without requiring rework or clarification. You want to work with an assessor that knows how to apply the HITRUST framework correctly and efficiently.
3. Does the HITRUST assessor offer additional services to help you prepare or mitigate risk?
A HITRUST readiness assessment often reveals gaps in your organization’s security and compliance controls. Once identified, it’s up to your organization to remediate them before you proceed with the HITRUST assessment.
Customers and vendors may expect assurance beyond HITRUST certification. They may ask you to conduct penetration testing or vulnerability scans, or develop and maintain policies for incident response, risk management, disaster recovery or business continuity. Many organizations lack the in-house expertise to develop these programs in a way that meets HITRUST certification requirements and a strong security posture.
Working with a HITRUST external assessor who offers cybersecurity services can make this process more efficient. Because they already understand your organization’s environment and controls, they’re well-positioned to help you close gaps, manage risk and meet customer expectations. Look for a partner who can provide a comprehensive, long-term security and compliance strategy.
4. Does the HITRUST assessor provide policy and procedure templates to support HITRUST certification?
Policies and procedures are critical to meeting HITRUST requirement statements and successfully achieving HITRUST CSF certification. It’s not enough to have policies — they must be fully documented, implemented and mapped to the HITRUST framework.
Policies and procedures can differ wildly between organizations. And many organizations struggle with outdated, incomplete or inconsistent documentation. Policy information may be spread across multiple documents, while others may not align with HITRUST requirements at all.
The right HITRUST external assessor can make this easier by providing policy and procedure templates that are regularly updated to reflect the latest HITRUST CSF standards. These templates can then be modified to fit your environment, giving you a strong starting point.
If your organization lacks in-house expertise for writing policies and procedures, look for a firm that offers support. They can help collect information from your subject matter experts and translate it into HITRUST-compliant policies and procedures.
Even if you have internal expertise, starting with HISTRUST-aligned templates can streamline the documentation process and improve your overall readiness.
Ready to choose a HITRUST assessor?
Don’t let the complexity of HITRUST CSF certification overwhelm you. The right partner can help you break the HITRUST scoring rubric into actionable components, so you understand your roles and responsibilities and get started on the right foot.
Wipfli has helped organizations achieve HITRUST certification since 2013 — and we were one of the first firms to become an authorized HITRUST external assessor. We’re also a member of the HITRUST Authorized External Assessor Council, helping ensure that HITRUST CSF continually evolves to meet modern standards for integrity, effectiveness and efficiency. Learn how Wipfli can add value to your organization as your HITRUST assessor, or continue reading on:
