Organizations across every industry face an urgent need for a skilled cybersecurity workforce. However, they make the mistake of expecting new hires to “hit the ground running,” hoping they’ll arrive fully equipped with the necessary skills to protect against complex threats. This approach may seem practical in the short term, but it often leads to burnout, skill gaps, and unmet security needs.

Organizations must prioritize developing effective training programs and focus on upskilling employees. Investing in continuous cybersecurity training is no longer optional — it’s essential.

Why Training Matters in Cybersecurity

The stakes are high. Breaches, data theft, and ransomware attacks can lead to devastating financial and reputational damage. These are only the external pressures. Internally, cybersecurity teams often face limited resources, high turnover, and a steep learning curve as new threats emerge constantly. It’s critical to provide ongoing, structured training that keeps cybersecurity professionals updated on the latest techniques and technologies.

Cybersecurity is not just about individual talent; it’s about teamwork, strategic problem-solving, and staying agile in an evolving landscape. Cybersecurity training programs help bridge the gap between the basics and advanced skills required in real-world scenarios, ensuring that professionals are prepared to respond quickly and effectively when incidents occur.

The Role of Upskilling in Cybersecurity

Upskilling current employees is just as important as onboarding new talent. Cybersecurity is a field that requires continuous learning. Organizations can build a resilient workforce with specialized skills tailored to their specific security needs by investing in the professional development of existing staff. Upskilling programs boost employee satisfaction and significantly reduce turnover, as employees are more likely to stay with organizations that support their career growth.

Organizations should consider developing pathways for team members to gain advanced certifications or to specialize in areas like threat intelligence, incident response, or ethical hacking.

Building Sustainable Cybersecurity Training Programs

An effective cybersecurity training program should go beyond offering online courses or certifications. Here are a few key elements for creating impactful programs.

• Hands-on training: Simulated attacks, tabletop exercises, and labs allow team members to apply their knowledge in realistic scenarios.
• Mentorship and peer learning: Experienced cybersecurity professionals can provide valuable insights, helping new and seasoned employees learn from each other.
• Regular updates and refresher courses: Cybersecurity evolves rapidly. So, it’s essential to keep training materials current with the latest trends, threats, and regulations.
• Soft skills development: Cybersecurity isn’t only about technical skills; communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking are equally essential.

Fostering the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Leaders

Organizations play a key role in developing future cybersecurity leaders. It’s not enough to focus solely on immediate needs. Cultivating talent and encouraging diverse perspectives can help build a pipeline of innovative thinkers who will shape the future of cybersecurity.

To gain more insights on this important topic, listen to the podcast episode, “Fostering the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Leaders” featuring M.K. Palmore, where he discusses attracting new talent, making cybersecurity careers more accessible, and preparing future leaders to handle the complexities of defending the digital frontlines.

The Path Forward

In a world where cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, the role of a skilled cybersecurity workforce cannot be overstated. Organizations must embrace a commitment to continuous learning and development. They can enhance their cybersecurity posture by doing so and, create a supportive environment that attracts, retains, and empowers top talent.

AI continues to transform industries at an unprecedented pace. However, it also brings unique security challenges that traditional cybersecurity frameworks can’t or don’t address in a practical and comprehensive way. That’s why HITRUST is launching a new solution: the HITRUST AI Security Assessment and Certification. This first-of-its-kind solution is tailored to meet the demands of AI technology, help organizations safeguard their AI systems, and build trust with customers and stakeholders.

What is the AI Security Assessment?

The HITRUST AI Security Assessment is a comprehensive framework designed to address AI security risks. It is built on a foundation of up to 44 highly prescriptive controls that address current AI threats. These AI-focused controls can seamlessly integrate with HITRUST’s core e1, i1, or r2 assessment requirements, allowing organizations to tailor their security approach based on specific AI deployment scenarios and inherent risks.

What does the AI Security Certification offer?

The HITRUST AI Security Assessment and Certification offers a practical, comprehensive model of AI security assurance for organizations looking to deploy and integrate AI into their products and services with confidence. It goes beyond compliance by providing clear, actionable control requirements that are easy to implement, and a proven methodology for defining, testing, and validating AI security programs. Organizations can earn trust and demonstrate the highest commitment to AI security, risk management, and threat mitigation with the HITRUST AI Security Certification.

Why should organizations choose HITRUST for AI security?

HITRUST has been a trusted leader in enterprise risk management, information security, and compliance assurances for over 17 years. HITRUST designed its framework to address specific AI security risks after extensive collaboration with AI experts and industry groups to evaluate the AI risk landscape and work on mitigation strategies. HITRUST studied more than two dozen key frameworks like ISO, NIST, and OWASP to harmonize and analyze the requirements against the HITRUST framework.

HITRUST provides the only measurable assurance mechanism proven to be reliable against threats. As per the HITRUST 2024 Trust Report, less than 1% of HITRUST-certified environments reported breaches over the last two years. Achieving the HITRUST AI Security Certification demonstrates an organization’s commitment to the highest level of AI security.

What are the key features of the HITRUST AI Security Assessment and Certification?

• Comprehensive control set: The assessment comprises up to 44 controls specifically tailored to AI, addressing everything from data privacy to the AI model resiliency, ensuring robust protection.
• Tailored control selection: Organizations can choose controls based on their specific AI deployment needs, enabling a flexible, risk-based approach to security.
• Independent validation: Organizations undergo rigorous independent testing and centralized reviews for their AI systems, adding a layer of trust to their security practices.
• Threat-adaptive updates: HITRUST updates its controls frequently to ensure they stay relevant in the ever-evolving threat landscape.
• Efficiency through inheritance: Organizations can inherit controls from their cloud service providers or other vendors that already have HITRUST certifications to make their assessment process more efficient. Major cloud service providers were involved in the development of this solution, making it easier for their customers to get certified.
• Practical solution: HITRUST harmonized controls from NIST, ISO, OWASP, and other standards into a single framework with prescriptive requirements that are easy to understand and implement.

Who should consider the HITRUST AI Security Assessment and Certification?

The HITRUST AI Security Assessment and Certification is ideal for any organization developing or deploying AI platforms. Organizations across industries and sizes can leverage this assessment to secure AI-powered applications and boost their competitive edge.

• Security teams: Establish and demonstrate a strong security posture tailored to AI.
• Sales and marketing leaders: Build customer confidence in AI-powered products with HITRUST certification.
• Third-party risk management program managers: Require and verify security standards for vendors with AI systems.
• CEOs, board members, and executives: Gain confidence that the AI systems are secured with the right controls.

A future-ready approach to AI security

With the HITRUST AI Security Assessment and Certification, organizations can confidently navigate the evolving AI landscape, backed by a framework that’s adaptable, reliable, and trusted. This certification helps mitigate AI security risks and provides a strong foundation for compliance, stakeholder trust, and operational resilience.

For more information on the HITRUST AI Security Assessment and Certification, visit the HITRUST website. 

Staying ahead of emerging threats is crucial for organizations looking to protect their data and systems. HITRUST assessments are designed to help organizations maintain strong defenses.

As part of our commitment to threat-adaptive requirements, we continually evaluate and refine our assessment framework to address trending and emerging attack methods. We recently examined the latest Q3 2024 threat data to ensure our requirements in the HITRUST i1 assessment remain effective and serve as a baseline for the rigorous r2 assessment.

We focused on the prominent cyberattack techniques and analyzed them using the MITRE ATT&CK Framework. This model allows us to map threat techniques to specific mitigations and tailor requirements that counteract real-world tactics.

If you are seeking to understand the technical depth of each requirement, read our detailed blog post: Q3 2024 Threat-Adaptive Evaluation for the HITRUST i1 and r2 Assessments.

Here are the quick highlights.

Top Trending Threats for Q3 2024

• Exfiltration Over Web Service (T1567): This technique involves cybercriminals stealing data using web services as a transfer medium. It is one of the top trending threats. Aligning with MITRE recommendations, the HITRUST i1 requires data categorization, protection of covered and confidential information, and restrictions on accessing certain websites and domains. These requirements help prevent unauthorized data from leaving the network by forcing traffic through secure, monitored pathways and restricting access where necessary.
• Browser Session Hijacking (T1185): This technique allows attackers to hijack active web sessions and gain unauthorized access to information. HITRUST i1 addresses this threat by requiring the implementation of strict user permissions, restricting high-integrity processes, and educating users on the importance of securely closing browser sessions.

Emerging Threat Techniques

In addition to trends, we track emerging threats that could grow in relevance. We focused on the following three techniques.

• Data From Network Shares (T1039): Attackers may attempt to access sensitive data stored on network shares, typically used for sharing within organizations. This cyberattack technique can be challenging to control because it abuses legitimate system features. HITRUST i1 mitigates this risk by advising organizations to carefully categorize data and restrict access to only authorized users, limiting potential exposure.
• Debugger Evasion (T1622): Attackers often attempt to avoid detection by bypassing debugging tools. Debugging tools are used by security teams to analyze malware, and evasion makes analysis harder. HITRUST i1 recommends proactive monitoring and regular reviews of potential malware signatures.
• Escape to Host (T1611): Containers are intended to isolate applications from the host environment, but some attackers try to break out of these isolated environments to access the broader system. HITRUST i1 addresses this by enforcing strict application and network control policies, alongside anti-malware protections that ensure containers remain separated from host systems.

Adaptive Requirements to Stay Prepared

The adaptive nature of HITRUST assessments is a critical feature that sets it apart from static compliance frameworks. As cyber threats evolve, so do our requirements, ensuring that organizations using the assessment benefit from a library of requirements that aligns with current threat intelligence. HITRUST i1 requirements are built to address the most common cyberattack techniques, covering over 99% of identified threats in the latest MITRE ATT&CK analysis. As an added benefit, these requirements also serve as the foundation for the HITRUST r2 assessment, a more advanced framework offering comprehensive protection for high-risk environments.

Our Q3 analysis underlines the effectiveness of HITRUST’s threat-adaptive requirement set, equipping organizations to navigate a complex and fast-changing cyber landscape. For a deeper dive into the technical details of requirements, explore our blog post: Q3 2024 Threat-Adaptive Evaluation for the HITRUST i1 and r2 Assessments.