Organizations evaluating security frameworks often compare HITRUST and SOC 2. While HITRUST emerged from healthcare, its comprehensive approach makes it relevant across industries.
Why it matters: Osterman Research found that 80% of Organizations fell victim to an email security breach in the past 12 months and that 75% of Cybersecurity Threats arrive through email, and yet the recently published 2024 Trust Report shows that less than 1% of HITRUST-certifications experienced a breach over the past two years.
That's why Paubox is HITRUST certified.
Paubox CEO Hoala Greevy explained, "since getting our first HITRUST CSF certification in 2019, we have successfully renewed every year since, with no gaps in coverage."
Understanding how HITRUST compares with SOC 2 helps organizations make strategic decisions about security certifications, especially when not bound by specific regulatory requirements.
Key framework differentiators:
- HITRUST combines multiple security standards (HIPAA, NIST, ISO) into a unified framework with 200+ controls and maturity ratings (1-5)
- SOC 2 focuses on trust services criteria, offering flexible control selection based on business needs
Assessment rigor:
- HITRUST requires external validated assessments, typically taking 9-12 months
- SOC 2 offers Type 1 (point-in-time) or Type 2 (6-12 month period) assessments by CPA firms
By the numbers:
- HITRUST certification valid for 2 years with interim assessments
- SOC 2 reports typically cover 12 months
The bottom line: While HITRUST's comprehensive approach requires more resources, its maturity model provides clear security progression paths. SOC 2's flexibility suits organizations needing to demonstrate security controls for specific business requirements.
Leith Khanafseh, Managing Partner at Thoropass, said, "...HITRUST r2 was — and remains — a gold standard in demonstrating infosec posture, maturity, and compliance." He explains, "On average, a SOC 2 audit can have anywhere between 45–60 controls," while HITRUST r2 has up to 250 controls.
HITRUST states, "Every submitted r2 Assessment undergoes an exhaustive evaluation by highly trained, independent External Assessors who use consistent methodologies to assess, test, verify and score customer environments using the prescriptive HITRUST methodology. Additionally, HITRUST's Quality Team reviews and validates all submitted assessments and scores the organization's control strength and maturity using the PRISMA maturity model. No other assessment uses such a rigorous, comprehensive, and centralized approach to deliver assurance results that are accurate, consistent, and reliable."
Go deeper: HITRUST's maturity approach often results in stronger security practices compared to pass/fail models, making it attractive for organizations prioritizing security excellence regardless of industry.
HITRUST's targeted coverage includes NIST SP 800-53, HIPAA, FedRAMP, NIST CSF, AICPA TSC, PCI DSS, GDPR, and a full range of others, potentially satisfying requirements across multiple frameworks simultaneously.
HITRUST is the strictest for broad compliance across multiple security and regulatory standards. Paubox is proud to be HITRUST certified at the highest levels of certification.
Dean Levitt
