By The Numbers: 6 Reasons Why HITRUST Should Be On Your Compliance Roadmap

The HITRUST CSF is a comprehensive, threat-adaptive, and globally recognized standard designed to help organizations strengthen their security postures and build trust with stakeholders.

According to Steve Ryan, senior manager and head of healthcare services at BARR Advisory, HITRUST is “considered the gold standard for healthcare organizations.” But it’s not just healthcare providers that should consider adding HITRUST to their organization’s compliance roadmap.

“We have retail organizations that are getting HITRUST certified,” Ryan said in a recent webinar.

Here are six research-backed data points that show why HITRUST is a smart business move for organizations across all sizes, industries, and stages of growth.

1. Fewer Breaches in HITRUST-Certified Environments

According to HITRUST’s latest Trust Report, “99.41% of HITRUST-certified environments did not report a security breach to HITRUST in 2024.”

In other words, less than 0.6% of organizations with a valid HITRUST certification experienced a data breach last year.

This is a testament to the framework’s focus on real-world risk rather than checkbox exercises. HITRUST helps organizations build security programs that actually work—not just ones that look good on paper.

2. Stronger Security with Continuous Improvement

Organizations that commit to HITRUST don’t stop at certification. The framework encourages companies to build stronger, more resilient security programs with every assessment cycle.

According to HITRUST’s 2025 Trust Report, organizations that underwent a repeat HITRUST assessment in 2024 saw measurable improvement over their previous audits, including:

32% fewer corrective actions in their next r2 Assessment
54% fewer corrective actions in their next i1 Assessment

This reflects HITRUST’s focus on continuous improvement and its commitment to keeping pace with the evolving threat landscape. Organizations that achieve HITRUST certification aren’t just passing a single audit; they’re improving their security posture year over year.

3. Meaningful Return on Investment

A newly released study from ESG shows that HITRUST certification isn’t just good for security—it’s also good for business. According to the research, organizations that achieve HITRUST certification see a return on investment (ROI) of up to 464%.

“We’ve doubled our revenue since getting HITRUST certified,” one individual who was interviewed for the study told ESG.

First-hand reports like these can help security leaders make the business case for adding HITRUST to their existing compliance programs. HITRUST doesn’t just reduce risk—it helps organizations close more deals and maintain trust with long-time customers.

4. Sets the Stage for Success in Future Audits

For growing organizations aiming to mature their security and compliance programs, pursuing HITRUST compliance lays a strong foundation by helping to streamline future audits. For example, because ISO 27001 auditors cannot provide guidance on how to fix issues or mitigate gaps, HITRUST is a great option to serve as a risk assessment ahead of your ISO 27001 audit.

Working with a HITRUST Authorized External Assessor like BARR Advisory to remediate security gaps before you begin the ISO 27001 certification process can help you avoid potential nonconformities and make for a smoother certification process.

A HITRUST certification can also help satisfy the requirements of other security assessments, including SOC 2, PCI DSS, and FedRAMP.

5. Designed to Mitigate Real-World Threats

Part of the reason why HITRUST is so effective in mitigating risk is that the framework is constantly updated to stay one step ahead of cyber criminals. In fact, the latest version of the HITRUST CSF maps to 100% of threats that can be mitigated using controls from the MITRE ATT&CK framework.

More specifically, HITRUST notes in its 2025 Trust Report that account compromise is the most common starting point for cyberattacks. The HITRUST e1 Assessment, which is often a first step for start-ups and companies with lower levels of risk, includes controls that address 30% of known threats tied to this vector.

By adapting in real time, HITRUST empowers organizations to stay ahead of emerging threats and make informed decisions about where to focus their security efforts.

6. Trusted Across All Industries

While HITRUST is commonly associated with healthcare, the framework’s reach extends far beyond the healthcare field. In fact, HITRUST’s 2025 Trust Report revealed that more than one-third (37.3%) of organizations that achieved HITRUST certification in 2024 were SaaS or tech firms—more than any other industry.

Healthcare organizations made up a quarter (25.9%) of HITRUST certifications in 2024. Meanwhile, business services firms accounted for roughly 19% of HITRUST certifications.

The report revealed that HITRUST was also a popular compliance framework for organizations in industries such as:

Financial services (9.3%)
Retail and distribution (1.6%)
Government (1.3%)
Manufacturing (1.2%)
Consumer goods and services (1.1%)

These numbers make clear that HITRUST has become the common language of trust for organizations, regardless of their industry.

The Bottom Line

The data speaks for itself: Regardless of size or industry, HITRUST provides a scalable, structured way for organizations to strengthen their security posture and demonstrate that they’re taking the right steps to manage risk. Whether you’re a FinTech startup, a healthcare provider, or a growing SaaS firm, HITRUST can help you meet the rising expectations of customers, partners, and stakeholders.

At BARR Advisory, we help organizations navigate the HITRUST journey from readiness to certification.

“We work side by side with your team to help you build a security program that’s compliant, practical, and scalable,” Teddy VanGalen, senior consultant at BARR, said. “Our goal isn’t just to put you on the path to certification—it’s to help you implement effective controls that reduce risk and support long-term growth.”