Are you thinking about pursuing HITRUST certification but unsure of the value? You’re not alone. The biggest question for organizations considering HITRUST certification is: Is HITRUST worth it?

Many organizations face mounting compliance demands, complex security frameworks, and escalating expectations from customers and regulators. In that environment, certification decisions can feel like a cost center. But a new independent study by Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) suggests otherwise — and the numbers may surprise you.

What is the ROI on HITRUST?

A new economic validation report from ESG reveals that HITRUST certification is not just a benchmark of security excellence, but also a powerful business enabler. ESG’s model demonstrates a 464% return on investment (ROI) on HITRUST for organizations adopting the certification.

Drawing on interviews with organizations that have HITRUST certifications and rigorous economic modeling, ESG analyzed the business impact and value of HITRUST certification across operational efficiency, risk management, and growth. The findings reveal a very different story from the traditional checkbox narrative.

“We’ve doubled our revenue since getting HITRUST certified,” one participant told ESG. Another called it “a critical enabler for expanding into regulated markets.”

Whether you’re actively evaluating HITRUST or trying to build the business case internally, this study gives you the independent validation and economic clarity to move forward with confidence while understanding the ROI on HITRUST.

Final thoughts: Is HITRUST worth it?

If you or anyone in your organization is wondering, “Is HITRUST worth it?” download the full ESG Economic Validation Report to explore the in-depth analysis and understand the value of HITRUST certification.

Get the full report to learn

• What’s driving measurable ROI from HITRUST certification?
• How are organizations using it to reduce risk and win new business?
• Why it's viewed as a strategic lever, not just a compliance requirement?

Download the report now.

AI cybersecurity risks are becoming one of the most urgent threats organizations must address today. As AI reshapes business operations and decision-making processes, it also introduces complex vulnerabilities that cybercriminals are increasingly eager to exploit. Understanding the scope of these risks is critical to defending sensitive systems and data.

The growing role of AI in modern organizations

How AI is transforming industries

AI technologies are transforming how industries operate, from automating mundane tasks to enhancing decision-making and predicting consumer behavior. In healthcare, AI supports diagnostics and patient care. In finance, it enables fraud detection and algorithmic trading. Supply chains, manufacturing, and customer service are also being redefined by machine learning and predictive analytics.

Benefits of AI adoption

With benefits such as increased efficiency, cost savings, and advanced insights, AI adoption is accelerating across sectors. But this increased reliance also opens new pathways for AI cyber risk if appropriate controls aren't in place.

Major AI security risks every organization should be aware of

Data privacy and confidentiality threats

AI systems rely on vast datasets to function effectively. When these datasets include personal or sensitive information, organizations face heightened data privacy risks. Improper data handling or unsecured AI pipelines can lead to breaches and regulatory noncompliance.

Adversarial attacks on AI models

Adversarial attacks involve manipulating input data to deceive AI models. For example, slightly altering a medical image might cause an AI diagnostic tool to miss a tumor. Such attacks compromise AI integrity and lead to harmful outcomes, especially in critical sectors.

AI model manipulation and bias

AI algorithms can inherit biases from training data or be manipulated to favor certain outcomes. This not only damages trust but can also result in discriminatory practices and reputational harm. Biased or manipulated models represent a significant AI cybersecurity risk.

Addressing AI security risks: Best practices for organizations

Robust AI governance frameworks

Implementing governance frameworks that cover data sourcing, model validation, and ethical use is foundational for AI in cybersecurity. Clear accountability structures and documented controls can reduce exposure to emerging threats.

Enhancing AI model security

Organizations must protect AI models throughout their lifecycles. This includes securing model training environments, using version control, and applying anomaly detection to flag suspicious AI cybersecurity risks.

Privacy-preserving AI practices

Techniques like federated learning, differential privacy, and encryption can help protect personal data while still allowing AI systems to learn and adapt. These approaches limit the risk of data leakage while maintaining performance.

The role of compliance standards and regulations in AI security

AI security standards for healthcare

In highly regulated sectors like healthcare, compliance with frameworks that account for AI-specific risks is essential. Organizations need tailored guidance to manage the unique risks of AI in healthcare. HITRUST’s AI assurance solutions help organizations evaluate their AI cyber risk management programs and secure AI technologies in critical areas.

Emerging AI regulations and what they mean for organizations

From the EU AI Act to U.S. federal guidelines, regulatory scrutiny around AI is intensifying. Organizations that adopt proactive, standards-based AI cyber risk management will be better positioned to comply and lead.

The future of AI security: What to expect

Innovations in AI security

As threats evolve, defenses need to evolve, too. Expect to see continued innovation in AI-specific security tools, from secure model architectures to threat-intelligence-integrated training environments.

Building a secure AI ecosystem

A secure AI ecosystem depends on collaboration between IT, compliance, and business units. Certifications and assessments provide a benchmarkable path forward. Learn more about AI assurance strategies designed to promote long-term security and trust.

Conclusion: Safeguarding your organization against AI security risks

The importance of proactive AI cyber risk management

Mitigating AI cybersecurity risks requires forward-thinking, not reactive fixes. By incorporating security into the development and deployment of AI systems, organizations reduce the chance of high-impact breaches and ensure regulatory alignment.

The role of continuous monitoring and adaptation

Given the dynamic nature of AI and cyber threats, continuous monitoring, reassessment, and adaptation are vital. The AI risk management assessment and AI security assessment from HITRUST provide structured, scalable approaches to managing this evolving risk landscape.

Stay ahead of AI security threats. Learn how HITRUST can help your organization safeguard against emerging AI cybersecurity risks and secure your future.

Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) is no longer a niche function reserved for compliance or security teams. It's a business-critical discipline. Yet in many organizations, the path to effective TPRM is riddled with obstacles, and one of the most persistent is internal stakeholder misalignment. When too many stakeholders with competing priorities are involved, the result is often gridlock, delay, or, worse, an outright failure in risk management. 

At the heart of the issue is the reality that each stakeholder group has valid concerns, but these concerns are rarely aligned. Business owners are under pressure to move quickly, onboard new vendors, generate revenue, and meet time-sensitive operational goals. The CISO, meanwhile, is rightly focused on minimizing risk exposure and ensuring compliance with security protocols. Procurement wants to follow a structured sourcing process that ensures consistency and due diligence. Finance leaders, such as the CFO, may prioritize cost control and efficiency. Legal, privacy, compliance, and other departments bring their own lenses as well. 

This complexity can put TPRM in a difficult position. It becomes the bottleneck, caught between urgency and caution, cost and control. Too often, it is deprioritized — not because it lacks importance, but because it lacks consensus. 

When everyone owns a piece of the process but no one owns the outcome, risk management suffers. Decision-making slows to a crawl. Third parties are onboarded without proper due diligence, or the opposite occurs — critical partnerships are delayed or dropped entirely due to unresolved internal friction. The organization ends up either accepting too much risk or losing opportunities. 

To fix this, organizations need to shift from competing priorities to collaborative ownership. Effective TPRM depends on clear communication, shared goals, and defined roles. Rather than treating risk as a blocker, it must be framed as a shared responsibility and enabler of smart business. 

Here are four strategies that help.  

• Establish a Governance Framework – Create a steering committee or working group with representation from all key stakeholders. This formalizes stakeholder collaboration, creates space for discussion, and provides a mechanism for resolving disputes. 
• Define and Communicate the Value of TPRM – TPRM should be positioned not just as a gatekeeper, but as a partner that helps the business grow safely. Highlight how good risk management accelerates decision-making and protects long-term value. 
• Standardize and Streamline the Process – Build workflows that integrate the priorities of security, procurement, legal, and the business into a cohesive onboarding journey. Use technology to automate the routine and elevate the strategic plan. 
• Utilize HITRUST – HITRUST can be positioned as a unifying standard that helps break through stakeholder gridlock by offering pre-vetted assurances and trusted, consistent assessments that speak to everyone's concerns — security, compliance, procurement, and even financial prudence. 

When internal politics and misalignment are the biggest risks to your TPRM program, it's time to treat stakeholder collaboration as a risk domain of its own. By building bridges instead of silos, organizations can turn a fractured process into a competitive advantage where security, speed, and strategy coexist.