HIPAA
U.S. regulation protecting PHI privacy, security, and breach response
HITRUST CSF
Certifiable framework harmonizing 60+ security standards
Quick Verdict
HIPAA mandates privacy/security rules for US healthcare PHI, enforced by OCR penalties. HITRUST CSF offers voluntary certification harmonizing 60+ standards for broader assurance. Organizations adopt HIPAA for legal compliance, HITRUST for market differentiation and multi-framework efficiency.
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
Key Features
- Mandates risk analysis for ePHI safeguards
- Enforces minimum necessary PHI use principle
- Requires presumption-of-breach notifications within 60 days
- Imposes direct liability on business associates
- Grants individuals PHI access and amendment rights
HITRUST CSF
HITRUST Common Security Framework
Key Features
- Harmonizes 60+ frameworks for unified assessments
- Risk-based tailoring via organizational/system factors
- Five-level maturity scoring model per control
- Certifiable tiers (e1, i1, r2) with MyCSF
- Cloud inheritance reduces 60-85% of scope
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
HIPAA Details
What It Is
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) is a U.S. federal regulation setting national standards for protecting protected health information (PHI). It includes the Privacy Rule, Security Rule, and Breach Notification Rule, employing a flexible, risk-based approach for covered entities (providers, plans, clearinghouses) and business associates to enable care while safeguarding privacy.
Key Components
- Privacy Rule (45 CFR Part 164 Subparts A,E): Permitted/authorized uses, minimum necessary, TPO exceptions, individual rights.
- Security Rule (Subpart C): Administrative, physical, technical safeguards for ePHI; required risk analysis.
- Breach Notification Rule (Subpart D): Presumption-of-breach, 60-day notifications.
- Seven pillars: scope, BA governance, enforcement via OCR. No certification; compliance through audits/settlements.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandatory for regulated entities; mitigates fines (up to $2M/year), builds trust, enhances cyber resilience, enables secure data flows. Strategic: operational efficiency, vendor oversight, market access.
Implementation Overview
Phased: assess risks/inventory, implement safeguards/training/BAAs, monitor/audit continuously. Scalable for all sizes in U.S. healthcare; OCR enforces via investigations, corrective actions.
HITRUST CSF Details
What It Is
HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF) is a certifiable, threat-adaptive control framework that consolidates requirements from 60+ standards including HIPAA, NIST SP 800-53, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and GDPR. It employs a risk-based, maturity-driven approach for security and privacy assurance across industries.
Key Components
- Hierarchical structure: 19 domains, 14 categories, 49 objectives, ~156 specifications
- Five-level maturity model (Policy, Procedure, Implemented, Measured, Managed)
- Tiered assessments: e1 (44 controls), i1 (182), r2 (tailored, highest rigor)
- MyCSF platform for scoping, evidence, certification
Why Organizations Use It
- Enables "assess once, report many" for multi-regulatory compliance
- Provides credible third-party assurance and certification
- Reduces TPRM costs, breach risk (99.4% breach-free reported)
- Drives market access, insurance benefits, competitive differentiation
Implementation Overview
- Phased: scoping/gap analysis, remediation, validated assessment, monitoring
- Targets healthcare/finance; scalable by size via tiers
- Requires Authorized Assessors; 6-18 months typical (word count: 178)
Key Differences
| Aspect | HIPAA | HITRUST CSF |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | PHI privacy, security, breach notification for ePHI | Harmonized controls from 60+ frameworks across 19 domains |
| Industry | US healthcare covered entities and business associates | Healthcare primary, industry-agnostic global adoption |
| Nature | Mandatory US federal regulation with OCR enforcement | Voluntary certifiable framework with centralized QA |
| Testing | Risk analysis, internal audits, OCR investigations | Validated assessments by authorized assessors, maturity scoring |
| Penalties | Civil monetary penalties up to $2M annually, criminal liability | Loss of certification, no direct legal penalties |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about HIPAA and HITRUST CSF
HIPAA FAQ
HITRUST CSF FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...
The DORA 'Hot Seat' Blueprint: Preparing Leadership and the Management Body for Regulatory Interviews
Prepare your Board & Management Body for DORA audits. Master the human element: demonstrate active oversight & accountability in regulatory interviews. Get the
CMMC Level 2 Implementation Guide for Small DIB Contractors: First 5 Steps to C3PAO Certification with Infographic
Actionable CMMC Level 2 guide for small DIB contractors: 5-step roadmap to C3PAO certification with infographic on timelines, costs & POA&Ms. Achieve DoD compli
NIST CSF 2.0 Supply Chain Risk Management: Complete Playbook with Profiles, Tiers, and Vendor Assessment Templates
Master NIST CSF 2.0 ID.SC supply chain risk management with vendor assessment templates, profile gap analysis, and tier strategies. Mitigate third-party threats
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
IFS Food vs SQF
IFS Food vs SQF: Compare GFSI audits, governance, scoring & controls. Discover key differences to choose the best for food manufacturing safety. Certify smarter!
Mastering ISO 27701 Annexes: Controller vs. Processor Controls with GDPR Mapping and Benchmarks
Master ISO 27701 Annex A controls for PII controllers & processors. Features GDPR Article crosswalks, DSAR/response benchmarks, & checklists to select, justify,
ITIL vs ISO 14064
Discover ITIL vs ISO 14064: ITIL 4's agile ITSM framework with SVS & 34 practices vs ISO 14064's GHG standards for Scopes 1-3 reporting. Compare benefits, choose wisely!