If you’re still accepting SOC 2 reports from your vendors as your primary assurance mechanism, it’s time to take another look. SOC 2 was once considered a strong security indicator for many organizations. However, it has now become little more than a check-the-box exercise. 

Why SOC 2 isn’t enough 

The threat landscape has evolved. Data breaches have become harder to detect. Cyberattacks have become more sophisticated. Bad actors are finding new ways to target weak vendors and gain access to sensitive data from multiple organizations. Not just that, ransomware attacks have also increased, disrupting business continuity and causing major reputational and financial damages.     

The problem? SOC 2 has not evolved to tackle these new-age challenges. Instead, it has been trivialized to the point where it no longer signifies robust assurance. 

Automation, inconsistency in auditing practices, and vendor-scoped control selection result in many SOC 2 reports providing limited insight into a vendor’s actual security posture. Often, they also miss critical control areas, like third-party risk management (TPRM) and email security, putting your organization at risk of inherited vulnerabilities. 

In a time of escalating ransomware attacks and increased regulatory scrutiny, the assurance mechanisms you rely on need to do more than just say that your vendor is secure. They need to prove it. 

That’s where HITRUST certification comes in. 

Why HITRUST is a better alternative  

HITRUST offers an effective, standardized approach to vendor risk management.  

Unlike SOC 2, HITRUST  

• Stays ahead of emerging threats with threat intelligence data  

• Uses a comprehensive, prescriptive framework aligned with 60+ standards 

• Delivers proven results as 99.41% of HITRUST-certified environments remained breach-free in 2024 

• Offers scalable assessment options based on business needs and vendor’s risk profile 

• Streamlines managing large volumes of vendors and reduces manual effort 

• Encourages continued risk tracking and remediation  

But what does this mean for your vendor risk management strategy? And how can you adopt this effective TPRM approach? 

To explain this, we’ve created a concise eBook to help you evaluate SOC 2’s limitations and explore why modern organizations are replacing it with HITRUST certification as their new TPRM baseline. 

Read the eBook now to learn more: Why It’s Time to Rethink SOC 2 in Third-Party Risk Management

It’s time to move from traditional, checkbox compliance to proven cybersecurity assurance that can truly reduce risk and help protect your business. Choose HITRUST certification over SOC 2 reports to strengthen your TPRM program.  

Texas has passed a new law effective September 1, 2025, providing small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) with fewer than 250 employees a safe harbor against exemplary (punitive) damages in the event of a data breach if they implement and maintain a recognized cybersecurity program, such as HITRUST certification. 

What This Means for Your Business 

If you have 100-249 employees and your business maintains a cybersecurity program that aligns with an industry-recognized framework, you can significantly reduce your legal risk if a breach occurs, even if sensitive data is compromised. The law encourages proactive investment in cybersecurity while providing legal protection and peace of mind. 

What Qualifies as a Recognized Framework 

The Texas safe harbor law recognizes frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and the HITRUST CSF. These frameworks help businesses implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect sensitive information. 

Why HITRUST Certification Makes Sense 

HITRUST certification aligns with the HITRUST CSF, a comprehensive framework that integrates and harmonizes standards such as NIST, HIPAA, and ISO into a single, prescriptive, and scalable approach to security and compliance.  

HITRUST certification 

• Demonstrates that your organization aligns with a recognized cybersecurity framework 

• Can qualify your business for Texas safe harbor protection under the new law 

• Provides evidence of reasonable security practices to customers, insurers, and regulators 

• Offers the only assurance proven to reduce risk, as 99.41% certified environments remained breach-free in 2024  

• Allows you to choose from different types based on your organization size, risk maturity, and business needs  

Is HITRUST Certification Right for Your Business? 

Regardless of your industry, adopting HITRUST helps you reduce legal risk, improve your cybersecurity, maintain compliance, and demonstrate your commitment to protecting your data and your business. HITRUST offers multiple certification types (e1, i1, r2), allowing you to start with foundational, validated security practices and scale your assurance program as your business grows. 

Next Steps

If you would like to learn how HITRUST can help your organization align with the Texas safe harbor law and strengthen your cybersecurity program, please contact us. We can help you understand which certification type fits your current security posture and business needs. 

Certification and compliance in cybersecurity are no longer optional — they are foundational. Cybersecurity certification is pivotal for organizations aiming to build trust, manage risk, and maintain a competitive advantage.

Why certifications build trust with stakeholders

Certification and compliance in cybersecurity directly impact how stakeholders, including regulators, customers, and partners, perceive your organization. Certification provides an objective measure of your cybersecurity posture, showcasing a tangible commitment to safeguarding sensitive information.

Compliance vs. certification: Key distinctions

Compliance involves meeting baseline regulatory requirements, whereas certification elevates that compliance by undergoing rigorous, independent validation. Cybersecurity trust certification signals to stakeholders that an organization has surpassed stringent standards and actively maintains a robust cybersecurity posture.

How assurances support risk management and business outcomes

Cybersecurity trust certification provides clarity, consistency, and confidence. When an organization achieves a certification, stakeholders gain assurance that thorough evaluations were completed to reduce uncertainty and potential vulnerabilities. This trust directly enhances business outcomes, including accelerated vendor selection, improved customer retention, increased revenue opportunities, and streamlined regulatory interactions.

What makes HITRUST unique among cybersecurity assurances

HITRUST certification uniquely addresses cybersecurity needs by offering a comprehensive, standardized assurance program that harmonizes multiple regulatory requirements and adapts with emerging threats. Unlike other assurance programs, HITRUST combines flexibility, depth, and prescriptiveness, catering specifically to complex industries.

The HITRUST certification lifecycle

Readiness assessment

The HITRUST certification process starts with an optional readiness assessment, helping entities identify gaps and align cybersecurity practices with the HITRUST framework. This initial phase ensures that teams are well-prepared for the rigorous demands of subsequent evaluation stages.

Validated assessment and assurance report

Following the readiness phase, the validated assessment involves independent examination by an authorized assessor. This step produces an assurance report — an authoritative document clearly communicating the organization’s cybersecurity posture to external stakeholders.

Ongoing monitoring and recertification

Cybersecurity is dynamic. HITRUST ensures continuous improvement through ongoing monitoring and periodic recertification, keeping pace with evolving threats and regulatory changes. Organizations with HITRUST certifications demonstrate sustained commitment to cybersecurity trust and excellence. As per the HITRUST 2025 Trust Report, repeat HITRUST customers saw up to 54% fewer corrective actions in 2024.

How cybersecurity trust certifications drive risk assurance and confidence

Consistency and transparency in third-party risk evaluation

Third-party risk management (TPRM) demands standardization through certification and compliance in cybersecurity. The HITRUST assurance mechanism provides a consistent, transparent method for evaluating vendors and partners, significantly streamlining risk assessments and reducing redundancies.

Trust signals for regulators, partners, and boards

HITRUST certification acts as a clear signal to regulators and partners, highlighting an organization’s proactive approach to cybersecurity. This clear communication of security maturity helps build trust with boards, facilitating strategic alignment and smoother governance processes.

When HITRUST certification is the right strategic choice

Industry drivers: Healthcare, finance, technology, and more

Industries heavily regulated or entrusted with highly sensitive information, such as healthcare, finance, and technology, derive significant value from HITRUST certification. It addresses compliance challenges and demonstrates rigorous cybersecurity practices tailored to these high-risk environments. However, the HITRUST certification is not restricted to just a few industries. It applies to all industries, business needs, and organizational sizes. With HITRUST’s scalable assessment options, organizations with varying risk profiles can choose their certification type based on their needs.

Organizational maturity and audit complexity

HITRUST certification is advantageous for organizations with complex regulatory environments and audit demands. Its comprehensive approach simplifies audit processes, aligns disparate compliance standards, and provides clear benchmarks for continuous improvement.

Key benefits of HITRUST certification

Reduced risk and proven results

HITRUST certification reduces cybersecurity risks and has empirically demonstrated effectiveness. A mere 0.59% of organizations with HITRUST certifications reported breaches in 2024, in contrast to the industry’s double-digit breach rate.

Consolidated compliance

The HITRUST framework uniquely consolidates numerous compliance standards, effectively mapping overlapping requirements. This comprehensive approach eliminates redundant efforts, saving valuable resources and time. Organizations can opt for Insights Reports to demonstrate compliance with HIPAA, GovRAMP, NIST SP 800-171, and more.

Reduced audit burden and faster procurement

Certification significantly reduces the burden associated with audits. With HITRUST, procurement processes are streamlined, accelerating vendor onboarding and increasing operational efficiency.

Improved internal security alignment and risk Governance

Adopting the HITRUST framework aligns internal security strategies, enhances risk governance, and encourages organization-wide cybersecurity awareness. This unified approach fosters a culture of continuous security improvement and accountability.

Additionally, achieving HITRUST certification signals to the broader market that your organization prioritizes security and compliance as core operational competencies. This not only differentiates your business from competitors but also positions it strategically for growth opportunities. Thus, companies with HITRUST certification often experience enhanced brand reputation, resulting in improved customer acquisition.

Trust, compliance, and the future with HITRUST

Certification and compliance in cybersecurity, particularly through HITRUST, are strategic assets. HITRUST certification goes beyond baseline compliance to reduce risk, enhance cybersecurity trust, improve audit readiness, and boost business outcomes. With cyber threats continuously evolving, organizations must proactively pursue rigorous cybersecurity certifications to reassure stakeholders and fortify their defenses.

Where to begin

Learn more about the HITRUST assessments and certifications to take a step toward positioning your organization securely at the forefront of industry standards and demonstrating your commitment to stakeholders.