HITRUST CSF Penetration Testing Requirements Guide
This guide explains HITRUST penetration testing requirements, including assessment types, control mappings, pentest scope, assessor expectations, remediation requirements, and what organizations need to prepare for successful certification.
Key Takeaways
- Understand the differences between HITRUST e1, i1, and r2 assessments.
- Learn why HITRUST r2 explicitly validates penetration testing during assessment reviews.
- See how penetration testing maps to HITRUST control domains and maturity requirements.
- Understand assessor expectations for pentest reports, remediation evidence, and retesting.
- Learn what systems should typically be included in HITRUST pentest scope.
- Understand vulnerability management, network segmentation, access control, and data protection testing requirements.
- Learn how inheritance impacts cloud environments and pentest scope.
- Prepare for Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) related to pentest findings and evidence gaps.
Contents
Quick Summary
What Security Leaders Need to Know
HITRUST CSF (Common Security Framework) is the most comprehensive certifiable security framework in healthcare and increasingly across SaaS and enterprise technology. Unlike frameworks that imply penetration testing, HITRUST r2 assessments explicitly require it as part of the on-site validation process. The framework's three assessment tiers — e1, i1, and r2 — have meaningfully different penetration testing expectations:
What Is HITRUST CSF?
Background and Context
The HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF) is a certifiable, risk-based security framework developed by the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST). First published in 2007 and now on version 11.7.0, HITRUST CSF helps organizations demonstrate compliance through a single comprehensive assessment — rather than separate audits for HIPAA, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI DSS.
The key differentiator of HITRUST relative to SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other frameworks is its prescriptive, measurable control maturity model. Where SOC 2 asks "do you have a control?", HITRUST r2 asks "how mature is your control across five dimensions?". This produces:
| Term | Plain English Meaning |
|---|---|
| HITRUST CSF | The master control library with 14 categories, 19 domains, 49 objectives, and 2,000+ requirement statements. |
| myCSF | HITRUST's online portal for managing assessments, uploading evidence, and submitting scores for QA review. |
| External Assessor | A HITRUST-authorized firm that conducts validated assessments. Required for all three types. |
| Control Reference | A specific HITRUST control (e.g., 09.ab). The atomic unit of the CSF. |
| Maturity Level | One of five dimensions: Policy, Procedure, Implemented, Measured, Managed. |
| CAP | Required remediation when a control scores below threshold — must be resolved before certification. |
| Inheritance | Reusing a certified third party's controls to reduce your assessment scope. |
| Interim Assessment | Required at the 12-month mark — confirms controls are still operating effectively. |
| TEFCA | US national health information exchange framework requiring HITRUST r2 for QHIN designation. |
The Three Assessment Types: e1, i1, and r2
Choosing the Right Assessment and How Pentest Requirements Differ
HITRUST CSF v11 offers three validated assessment paths. Each provides a different level of assurance, requires a different number of controls, and has meaningfully different penetration testing and security testing expectations. Organizations often progress from e1 to i1 to r2 as their security program matures and customer requirements increase.
| Attribute | e1 — Essentials | i1 — Implemented | r2 — Risk-Based (2-Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Foundational cybersecurity hygiene — entry level | Moderate assurance — current/emerging threat focus | Highest assurance — comprehensive risk-based |
| Controls in scope | ~44 controls (43 in v11.7+) | 182 controls | 200–800+ tailored controls (from 2,000+ library) |
| Certification period | 1 year | 1 year (rapid recertification yr 2) | 2 years + interim at 12 months |
| Maturity levels tested | Implemented only | Implemented only | Policy, Procedure, Implemented (+ opt. Measured, Managed) |
| Penetration testing required? | Not explicitly required | Not explicitly required | YES — validated during on-site r2 assessment |
| Vulnerability scanning required? | Basic controls included | Yes — in-scope controls | Yes — documented cadence and remediation SLAs |
| Assessor on-site testing | Limited | Moderate | Full on-site assessment including pentest evidence review |
| Who chooses this | Low-risk orgs, early-stage startups | Mid-market orgs, moderate risk | High-risk orgs, healthcare, enterprise contracts |
| Average CAPs required (2024) | ~25% need remediation | ~89% need at least one CAP | ~8.6 CAPs average per assessment |
| Breach-free rate (2024) | 99.41% HITRUST overall | 99.41% HITRUST overall | 99.62% breach-free (2025) |
For e1 and i1 assessments, penetration testing may contribute evidence for certain control statements, but it is not explicitly evaluated during the assessor's on-site review. For r2, the on-site assessment explicitly includes penetration testing evidence review as part of the validation process — alongside interviews, documentation sampling, and vulnerability scan results. If your organization is pursuing r2 certification, an annual penetration test with documented remediation is a practical requirement — not an optional best practice.
The r2 assessment evaluates five maturity levels for each control. A minimum score of 3 (Implemented) across all three mandatory levels — Policy, Procedure, and Implemented — is required for certification. The Measured and Managed levels are optional for r2 but increase the maturity score.
| Maturity Level | What It Means | Pentest Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Policy | Formal documented policies exist, communicated to staff. 'Shall' and 'will' language. | Pentest policy and scope definition. Rules of engagement documentation. Testing authorization policy. |
| 2 — Procedure | Step-by-step implementation procedures. Operational runbooks current. | Pentest methodology documented. Remediation SLA procedures. Retest procedures. |
| 3 — Implemented | Controls consistently implemented. Evidence of operation required. Minimum level. | Active pentest program with scan results, remediation evidence, retest confirmation. |
| 4 — Measured | Effectiveness quantified — metrics, KPIs, trend data. (Optional for r2.) | Pentest trend analysis, SLA compliance metrics, vulnerability density tracking. |
| 5 — Managed | Continuous improvement from measurement data. Executive reporting. (Optional for r2.) | Executive reporting on pentest findings. Risk treatment records. Program improvement evidence. |
The 19 HITRUST Domains
Control Domain Overview
The HITRUST CSF assessment is organized into 19 domains aligned with common IT and security process areas, containing 135 security controls (plus 14 privacy controls). The r2 assessment tailors which domains and controls apply based on an organization's risk profile, system type, and regulatory requirements.
| Domain | Name | Pentest Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Information Security Management Program | Pentest policy, risk register, program governance |
| 02 | Endpoint Protection | Endpoint exploitation, lateral movement, AV bypass |
| 03 | Portable Media Security | Data exfiltration via media, DLP control validation |
| 04 | Mobile Device Security | Mobile app testing, MDM bypass, remote access security |
| 05 | Wireless Security | Wireless testing, rogue AP detection, WPA2/3 validation |
| 06 | Configuration Management | Configuration review, hardening validation |
| 07 | Vulnerability Management | Primary pentest domain — scanning evidence, findings and remediation SLAs |
| 08 | Network Protection | External/internal network pentest, segmentation testing, IDS validation |
| 09 | Transmission Protection | TLS/SSL testing, cleartext detection, VPN security testing |
| 10 | Password Management | Credential testing, MFA bypass, brute force resistance |
| 11 | Access Control | Access control testing, privilege escalation, orphaned accounts |
| 12 | Audit Logging and Monitoring | Detection validation, log bypass testing, SIEM coverage |
| 13 | Education, Training and Awareness | Social engineering simulation, phishing testing |
| 14 | Third Party Assurance | Third-party API testing, supplier security validation |
| 15 | Incident Management | IR trigger testing, incident response simulation |
| 16 | Business Continuity and DR | Backup security testing, DR system access control |
| 17 | Risk Management | Risk analysis incorporating pentest findings |
| 18 | Physical and Environmental Security | Physical penetration testing (where in scope) |
| 19 | Data Protection and Privacy | Data exfiltration testing, classification enforcement |
Control Domains and Pentest Mapping
Specific HITRUST Control References with Testing Relevance
The HITRUST CSF uses a numbered control reference system (e.g., 09.ab) tied to control categories and objectives. The controls below are the most directly relevant to penetration testing programs. Control references reflect the HITRUST CSF v11 structure used across current assessments.
Domain 07 is the primary vulnerability management domain and the strongest regulatory anchor for penetration testing in HITRUST. Control 07.a (Technical Vulnerability Management) explicitly requires documented penetration testing as part of the vulnerability identification and assessment process. For r2, auditors validate: documented pentest scope and methodology, pentest reports within the assessment window, evidence of remediation tracking, retest results, and a risk-based remediation SLA program.
| Control Reference | Pentest Testing Requirement |
|---|---|
| 07.a — Technical Vulnerability Management | Requires timely identification, evaluation, and remediation of technical vulnerabilities. Penetration testing is explicitly listed in ISO 27002 implementation guidance referenced by HITRUST. r2 assessors validate pentest reports and remediation evidence. |
| 07.b — Patch Management Controls | Patch management effectiveness is validated by pentest — unpatched systems discovered during testing represent direct 07.b findings. SLA compliance for critical/high patches must be demonstrated. |
| Control Reference | Pentest Testing Requirement |
|---|---|
| 08.a — Network Controls | Network security controls must be validated through testing. External and internal network pentests directly satisfy this control's implementation maturity evidence requirement. |
| 08.b — Security of Network Services | Network service security testing — validation of network service agreements with providers and testing of network service security features. |
| 08.c — Segregation of Networks | Network segmentation testing validates that VLAN boundaries, DMZ controls, and environment isolation are enforced. Lateral movement testing is the primary technique. |
| 08.d — Electronic Messaging | Secure messaging and email security testing — relevant to phishing simulation and email gateway security validation. |
| Control Reference | Pentest Testing Requirement |
|---|---|
| 09.aa — Audit Logging | Logging systems must be tested to confirm they capture security-relevant events — including pentest activity. Failure of SIEM to alert during pentest is a direct 09.aa finding. |
| 09.ab — Monitoring System Use | Detection and monitoring validation — do monitoring systems detect adversarial behavior? Pentest provides the evidence. |
| 09.s — Information Exchange Policies | Data transmission security testing — TLS validation, secure file transfer testing, API transport security. |
| 09.y — On-Line Transactions | Web application and API security testing for transactional systems. Directly maps to web application pentest scope. |
| Control Reference | Pentest Testing Requirement |
|---|---|
| 10.a — Information Access Restriction | Access control technical testing — validates that access restrictions are enforced at the system level, not just in policy. |
| 10.f — Password Management System | Password policy enforcement testing — validates complexity, lockout, history, and MFA controls. Brute force and credential stuffing resistance testing. |
| 10.g — Key Management | Cryptographic key management testing — validates secure key storage, rotation, and access controls. Hardcoded keys and exposed secrets are in scope. |
| Control Reference | Pentest Testing Requirement |
|---|---|
| 11.a — Access Control Policy | Technical access control enforcement is validated through penetration testing — policy alignment with technical implementation. |
| 11.b — User Registration and De-registration | Orphaned account testing — validates that terminated users and deprovisioned accounts cannot access systems. Access lifecycle management. |
| 11.c — Privilege Management | Privilege escalation testing — validates that standard users cannot gain administrative access through misconfiguration or application flaws. |
| 11.d — User Password Management | Password testing for privileged and standard accounts — validates enforcement of password policy at the system level. |
| 11.i — Teleworking | Remote access security testing — VPN security, remote desktop protocols, cloud access security, split tunneling risks. |
r2 Deep Dive: Penetration Testing Requirements
What the r2 Assessment Specifically Requires
The HITRUST r2 (Risk-Based, 2-Year) assessment is the most rigorous cybersecurity certification for organizations handling sensitive data, and the only HITRUST assessment where penetration testing is explicitly validated on-site.
In an r2 validated assessment, the external assessor conducts a comprehensive on-site evaluation that explicitly includes:
HITRUST r2 assessors do not conduct the penetration test themselves. They review and validate evidence that your organization has conducted an appropriate pentest program. Evidence must demonstrate all three required maturity levels:
Policy (Level 1): Penetration testing policy exists, is formally documented, and covers scope, frequency, methodology, authorization, and remediation SLAs.
Procedure (Level 2): Step-by-step operational procedures exist for executing the pentest program — from scope definition through findings tracking and retest confirmation.
Implemented (Level 3): Active evidence — pentest reports dated within the assessment window, vulnerability scan logs, remediation tracking records, and retest confirmation reports. Controls must have been operational for at least 90 days before the assessment submission.
Annual pentest: covers all in-scope systems; evidence must fall within the assessment window. Post-change testing: significant changes (new apps, infrastructure migrations) typically require targeted testing. High-risk systems: externally exposed systems may warrant semi-annual or quarterly testing. Interim assessment (12 months): updated pentest evidence expected. Vuln scanning: authenticated scanning monthly or quarterly with documented SLAs. Remediation SLAs: Critical 15–30 days; High 30–60 days; Medium 90 days; Low 180 days.
One of HITRUST's most important mechanisms is the Corrective Action Plan (CAP). When a control scores below the certification threshold during an r2 assessment, a CAP is issued and the organization must remediate before certification is granted. Penetration testing findings directly feed the CAP process:
| CAP Scenario | What It Means |
|---|---|
| No pentest evidence in assessment window | CAP issued for Domain 07 — must conduct and document pentest before certification can proceed |
| Pentest scope incomplete (missing key systems) | CAP issued — scope must cover in-scope systems per ISMS/assessment boundary |
| Critical findings not remediated | CAP issued — critical and high findings must be resolved with retest evidence before certification |
| No documented remediation SLAs | CAP issued for procedure maturity — policy alone is insufficient without operational procedures |
| Scan coverage gaps identified by assessor | CAP issued — authenticated scanning must cover all in-scope assets with documented results |
| Recurring findings across assessment cycles | Potential Managed maturity finding — absence of systemic improvement is a program gap |
Nearly 70% of r2 assessments in 2024 leveraged inheritance — reusing certified controls from cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Infrastructure-level controls (physical security, hypervisor isolation, data center controls) can often be inherited from a provider's HITRUST-certified environment. Important: Inheritance reduces scope but does not eliminate it. The application layer, configuration of cloud services, access management, and data flows remain in scope for your pentest — the inherited controls only cover what the provider has certified. Confirm what is and is not inheritable before scoping.
| Dimension | e1 / i1 | r2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pentest required? | Not explicitly — may support controls but not validated | YES — explicitly reviewed and validated by HITRUST assessor |
| Maturity levels | Implemented only | Policy + Procedure + Implemented (minimum) |
| Evidence scope | Lighter package — implemented controls demonstrated | Full documentation — policies, procedures, scan logs, pentest reports, remediation records, retest evidence |
| CAP risk | Lower — fewer, more binary controls | High — missing pentest evidence = direct CAP against Domain 07 |
| Vuln scanning | Required controls in scope | Authenticated scanning, documented cadence, SLA-tracked remediation |
| Report requirements | Standard report sufficient | Must document scope, methodology, severity, remediation evidence, retest confirmation — mapped to HITRUST controls |
Highlighted Control Areas
Security Topics with HITRUST Domain Mappings
The following control areas map to specific HITRUST domains and include testing guidance for both standard and r2 assessments.
HITRUST Domain 10 contains explicit password management controls including system-enforced complexity, MFA requirements, and privileged account controls. The framework maps to HIPAA SS164.308(a)(5)(ii)(D), NIST SP 800-53 IA controls, and ISO 27001 A.8.5 simultaneously — satisfying multiple standards at once.
| Testing Area | HITRUST Domain / Control |
|---|---|
| Password complexity, history, and lockout enforcement | Domain 10 — Password Management; 10.f |
| Multi-factor authentication implementation and bypass | Domain 10, Domain 11 — MFA for remote and privileged access |
| Default credentials on systems and network devices | Domain 06 — Configuration Management; Domain 10 |
| Privileged account credential controls | Domain 11 — Access Control; 11.c Privilege Management |
| Service account and API key exposure testing | Domain 11; Domain 07 — Vulnerability Management |
| Password reset and recovery security | Domain 10 — Password Management |
Domain 11 is one of the most control-rich domains in HITRUST, containing identity lifecycle management, least privilege enforcement, privileged access controls, and remote access security. HITRUST maps these to HIPAA SS164.308(a)(4), NIST AC controls, and ISO 27001 A.5.15/A.8.2 simultaneously.
| Testing Area | HITRUST Domain / Control |
|---|---|
| Least privilege enforcement and role-based access control | Domain 11 — 11.a Access Control Policy; 11.c Privilege Management |
| Privilege escalation — vertical and horizontal | Domain 11 — 11.c Privilege Management |
| Broken authorization in applications and APIs (IDOR/BOLA) | Domain 11 — 11.a; Domain 09 — 09.y Online Transactions |
| Orphaned accounts — terminated employee and service account testing | Domain 11 — 11.b User Registration and De-registration |
| Remote access security — VPN, RDP, cloud console access | Domain 11 — 11.i Teleworking |
| Third-party and vendor access validation | Domain 14 — Third Party Assurance |
Domain 07 is the core vulnerability management domain and the primary HITRUST control anchor for penetration testing. For r2, this is the domain where missing pentest evidence directly results in a CAP. HITRUST maps Domain 07 to HIPAA SS164.308(a)(8), NIST RA-5, and ISO 27001 A.8.8.
| Activity | Domain / Control Reference |
|---|---|
| Annual penetration test (r2: validated evidence required) | Domain 07 — 07.a Technical Vulnerability Management |
| Authenticated vulnerability scanning program | Domain 07 — 07.a; frequency and SLAs documented |
| Risk-based remediation with SLAs by severity | Domain 07 — 07.b Patch Management Controls |
| Retest confirmation after remediation | Domain 07 — 07.a; required before CAP closure in r2 |
| Post-change testing after significant environment changes | Domain 07 — 07.a; re-evaluate after major changes |
| Third-party component vulnerability assessment | Domain 07; Domain 14 — Third Party Assurance |
Domain 08 is the primary network security domain covering firewalls, DMZ, segmentation, and intrusion detection. HITRUST maps these to HIPAA physical and technical safeguards, NIST SC controls, and ISO 27001 A.8.20/A.8.22. Network segmentation is not optional for r2 — it is a required and validated control.
| Testing Area | HITRUST Domain / Control |
|---|---|
| Network segmentation — VLAN boundary testing and lateral movement | Domain 08 — 08.c Segregation of Networks |
| Firewall rule review and bypass testing | Domain 08 — 08.a Network Controls |
| DMZ architecture validation | Domain 08 — 08.a, 08.c |
| Production vs. dev/test environment isolation | Domain 06 — Configuration Management; Domain 08 |
| Cloud VPC, security group, and subnet configuration | Domain 08 — Network Controls (maps to cloud environments) |
| Intrusion detection effectiveness testing | Domain 08 — 08.a; Domain 12 — Audit Logging and Monitoring |
Domain 09 covers transmission protection — TLS, VPN, secure protocols, and encryption of data in transit. HITRUST maps these directly to HIPAA SS164.312(e) technical safeguards, NIST SC-28, and ISO 27001 A.8.24. Encryption testing is one of the most consistently found weaknesses in HITRUST assessments.
| Testing Area | HITRUST Domain / Control |
|---|---|
| TLS/SSL configuration — cipher suites, protocol versions, certificate validity | Domain 09 — Transmission Protection; 09.s |
| Cleartext data detection in transit (internal and external) | Domain 09 — 09.s Information Exchange Policies |
| API encryption validation — HTTPS enforcement, payload encryption | Domain 09 — 09.y Online Transactions |
| VPN security testing — tunnel configuration, split tunneling | Domain 09; Domain 11 — 11.i Teleworking |
| Encryption key management and exposure testing | Domain 10 — 10.g Key Management |
| Database and backup encryption validation at rest | Domain 07; Domain 19 — Data Protection |
Domain 19 is HITRUST's data protection and privacy domain. Combined with Domain 11 access controls, it governs how sensitive data is classified, protected, accessed, and disposed of. For healthcare organizations, ePHI data segregation is a core assessment focus.
| Testing Area | HITRUST Domain / Control |
|---|---|
| Multi-tenant data isolation — cross-tenant data access testing | Domain 11 — Access Control; Domain 19 — Data Protection |
| ePHI access boundary testing — who can reach patient data? | Domain 11; Domain 19; mapped to HIPAA SS164.312(a)(1) |
| Data exfiltration path testing — can sensitive data leave the boundary? | Domain 19 — Data Protection; Domain 08 — Network controls |
| Non-production data masking validation | Domain 19 — Data Protection; Domain 06 — Configuration |
| Storage and file share access control testing | Domain 11 — Access Control; Domain 19 |
| Audit trail integrity — can ePHI access logs be tampered with? | Domain 12 — Audit Logging and Monitoring |
Domain 14 requires that third-party relationships are assessed and managed. HITRUST maps this to HIPAA SS164.314 Business Associate requirements, NIST SA controls, and ISO 27001 A.5.19–A.5.23. Pentesting firms accessing in-scope environments are subject to Domain 14 controls — BAAs and vendor security assessments apply to testing firms as they would any other service provider.
| Testing Area | HITRUST Domain / Control |
|---|---|
| Third-party API and integration security testing | Domain 14 — Third Party Assurance |
| Supplier access path testing — VPNs, portals, shared credentials | Domain 14; Domain 11 — Access Control |
| Pentesting firm BAA / vendor security assessment | Domain 14 — required for vendors with system access |
| Cloud provider inherited controls validation | Domain 14; r2 inheritance model — what is covered vs. your responsibility |
| Software supply chain component scanning (SCA) | Domain 07 — Vulnerability Management; Domain 14 |
Pentest Scope for HITRUST
What Should Be In Scope?
HITRUST pentest scope is defined by the assessment boundary — the systems, applications, and infrastructure included in the HITRUST assessment object in myCSF. In practice, any system that processes, stores, or transmits data covered by the assessment (ePHI, PII, payment data, or other sensitive information) should be included.
| Component | Typical Testing Focus | Relevant Domains |
|---|---|---|
| External network perimeter | Public-facing IPs, services, boundary controls, DNS, certificate management | Domain 08, 07 |
| Web applications and APIs | Authentication, authorization, business logic, injection, OWASP Top 10, FHIR APIs | Domain 09, 11, 07 |
| Internal network | Segmentation, lateral movement, inter-segment access, internal services | Domain 08 |
| Cloud infrastructure | AWS/Azure/GCP IAM, storage, misconfigs, inherited vs. non-inherited controls | Domain 08, 07, 14 |
| Identity and access management | SSO, MFA, directory, privilege escalation, lifecycle management | Domain 11, 10 |
| Endpoints and workstations | Endpoint protection, hardening, lateral movement from workstations | Domain 02, 06 |
| Database systems containing PHI/PII | Access controls, encryption at rest, SQL injection, query auditing | Domain 11, 19, 12 |
| Medical devices (IoMT) | Default credentials, network isolation, firmware vulnerabilities | Domain 02, 08, 07 |
| Backup and DR systems | Access controls, encryption validation, backup system security | Domain 16, 19 |
| Logging and monitoring systems | Detection capability, log integrity, SIEM alert coverage | Domain 12 |
What Assessors Expect in Practice
Evidence Requirements for HITRUST Validated Assessments
Scope definition referencing the HITRUST assessment boundary and myCSF object. Methodology (NIST SP 800-115, PTES, or OWASP) documented and justified. Findings mapped to HITRUST control domains and references. CVSS severity ratings with HITRUST-relevant business impact (PHI/PII at risk, regulatory exposure). Proof of exploitation — screenshots, request/response captures, attack chains. Remediation guidance tied to specific control references. SLA tracking in a centralized risk register. Retest confirmation (before-and-after evidence for critical and high findings). Control Process Documentation traceable for HITRUST QA review. Tester qualifications (OSCP, CREST, CEH) and independence from the assessed organization.
Unlike SOC 2 or ISO 27001, HITRUST conducts its own Quality Assurance (QA) review of every validated assessment before issuing certification. HITRUST's QA team reviews the assessor's work and can reject or require additional evidence. This makes the evidence package quality critically important. Pentest reports submitted to myCSF must be thorough, current (within the assessment window), and demonstrate actual remediation — not just findings. HITRUST QA has rejected assessments where pentest evidence was incomplete, out of window, or where critical findings had not been addressed.
Resources
HITRUST CSF and Pentesting References
Official source for HITRUST framework, assessment options, and certification information. Access the myCSF portal.
Official HITRUST r2 assessment page. Covers r2 requirements, controls, and the two-year certification cycle including interim assessment expectations.
Overview of the HITRUST CSF including the threat-adaptive engine, control library structure, and mapping to 60+ authoritative sources including HIPAA, NIST, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS.
Annual report on HITRUST certification outcomes including breach statistics, CAP rates, and assessment trends.
Explains how NIST SP 800-115 relates to HITRUST and other compliance frameworks. Useful for methodology documentation in your myCSF evidence package.
The most widely accepted pentest methodology standard, referenced by HITRUST CSF. Free and authoritative.
HIPAA is the primary regulatory framework HITRUST maps to for healthcare. Understanding HIPAA Technical Safeguards (SS164.312) helps prioritize HITRUST pentest scope.
Official HHS/ONC page for the Trusted Exchange Framework. Confirms HITRUST r2 as the required certification pathway for Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN) designation.
Industry-standard web application security testing methodology. Directly applicable to Domain 09 and Domain 11 web-layer controls.
Details on HITRUST's inheritance model. Nearly 70% of r2 assessments used inheritance in 2024.
