Privacy Rule
Controls how PHI can be used and disclosed, gives patients rights over their health information
Frameworks
HIPAA Framework
Healthcare data protection isn’t optional. Meet federal compliance requirements with a security program that protects patient information and keeps you audit-ready.
What Is the HIPAA Framework?
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a US federal law that requires healthcare organizations to protect patient health information. If you’re a healthcare provider, health plan, clearinghouse, or business associate handling Protected Health Information (PHI), HIPAA compliance isn’t optional – it’s the law.
The framework includes three main rules:
Unlike SOC 2 or ISO 27001, HIPAA isn’t a certification you achieve. It’s ongoing compliance with federal regulations enforced by the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
What TrustedCISO Can Do for Your HIPAA Compliance
Building a HIPAA-compliant security program from scratch means understanding complex regulations and translating them into practical safeguards. We guide healthcare organizations through the entire process.
You work directly with our well-seasoned experts who understand healthcare operations.
What's included:
- Risk assessment
Identify threats to ePHI and document vulnerabilities across your environment - Policies and procedures
Develop the administrative safeguards HIPAA requires (privacy policies, security policies, incident response) - Physical safeguards implementation
Secure facilities, workstations, and mobile devices handling PHI - Technical controls
Implement access controls, encryption, audit logging, and secure transmission - Business Associate Agreements
Create HIPAA-compliant BAAs with vendors accessing your PHI - Workforce training
Train staff on privacy practices and security procedures - Breach response planning
Prepare for potential incidents with documented response procedures - Ongoing compliance support
Maintain HIPAA readiness with regular risk assessments and policy updates
Our Packages
Versatile Packages That Support Your Goals
Clear pricing. No surprises. Pick the package that matches your stage or contact us for a consultation.
Launch
Accelerate Your First Compliance Journey
TrustedCISO gets you audit-ready for a single framework, without the guesswork, rework, or delays.
Best For
- High-growth companies that are ready to move fast.
Supported Frameworks
- SOC 2, ISO 27001, CMMC, FedRAMP, GovRAMP, or HIPAA
What's Included
- Ongoing compliance for one framework
- US-based compliance team
- Expert-led gap assessment & risk analysis
- Customized policy creation
- GRC platform support & task management (Vanta, Drata, etc.)
- Audit preparation and coordination
- Trust Center configuration and support
- Sales and infosec support
- Accelerated audit readiness
Optional Add-ons
- Additional framework support
- Internal audit
- Penetration testing
- Vulnerability scanning
Timeline
3–12 months
Pricing
Starts at $5,000/month
Sustain
Stay Audit-Ready. Year-Round
TrustedCISO handles ongoing compliance, security questionnaires, and continuous program improvement, so you stay audit-ready.
Best For
- Companies that have completed LAUNCH or are already compliant.
Supported Frameworks
- SOC 2, ISO 27001, CMMC, FedRAMP, GovRAMP, or HIPAA
What's Included
- 10 hours of expert support monthly
- Ongoing compliance for one framework
- US-based compliance team
- GRC platform support & task management (Vanta, Drata, etc.)
- Audit preparation and coordination
- Trust Center maintenance
- Security questionnaire response
- Advanced CNAPP+ tool for cloud*
- Vulnerability scanning for cloud
Optional Add-ons
- Additional framework support
- Internal audit
- Penetration testing
- Vulnerability scanning
- Backup solution
- Endpoint Detection &
- Response (EDR)
- SIEM 24×7 SOC
- DNS whitelisting/blacklisting
Timeline
Annual
Pricing
Starts at $3,000/month
* One cloud account license included
Learn More About SustainAscend
Compliance + Cybersecurity
Whether you need a full vCISO or fractional expertise, ASCEND scales to match your growth and complexity.
Best For
- Organizations investing in strategic security leadership, multi-framework compliance, and technical program maturity.
Supported Frameworks
- SOC 2, ISO 27001, CMMC, FedRAMP, GovRAMP, or HIPAA
What's Included
- 20 hours/month of hands-on vCISO
- Multi-framework compliance management
- US-based compliance team
- CISO advisory or full program leadership
- Secure-by-design architecture consulting
- Cloud and infrastructure security assessments
- Vendor risk management program
- Incident response planning & testing
- Security questionnaire and exec reporting support
- Roadmap to cyber resilience
- Advanced CNAPP+ tool for cloud*
- Vulnerability scanning for cloud
Optional Add-ons
- Additional framework support
- Internal audit
- Penetration testing
- Vulnerability scanning
- Backup solution
- Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)
- SIEM 24×7 SOC
- DNS whitelisting/blacklisting
- Zero Trust
Advanced vendor management tool
Timeline
Multi-year
Pricing
Starts at $4,500/month*
* Flexes based on services
Learn More About AscendWhy Choose TrustedCISO for HIPAA Compliance
Documentation That Satisfies Regulators
“5 out of 5 stars for knowledge, professionalism, and responsiveness. She helped us understand what issues to remediate and the cloud monitoring aided in this process.” – Verified Google Review
If OCR investigates, you’ll need documented evidence. We create the risk assessments, policies, training records, and incident response plans that demonstrate due diligence.
Healthcare-Focused Expertise
We understand healthcare operations, legacy systems, and the challenge of balancing patient care with security requirements. Your compliance program fits your actual workflow.
Risk-Based Approach That Scales
HIPAA is flexible by design. Small practices don’t need enterprise-level controls. We implement reasonable safeguards appropriate for your size and risk profile.
Business Associate Agreement Expertise
Most healthcare organizations work with dozens of vendors. We help you identify which ones need BAAs and ensure those agreements include required HIPAA provisions.
Transparent Pricing
We’re upfront about costs. No waiting for a sales call to learn what you’ll actually pay.
Resources
Industry Insight from the Experts
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does HIPAA compliance take?
Initial compliance typically takes 3-6 months, depending on your starting point. Organizations with nothing in place take longer than those with basic security measures already implemented. HIPAA compliance is ongoing – you’ll need regular risk assessments, continued workforce training, and updated policies as your operations change.
Do I need HIPAA compliance if I use an EHR system?
Yes. Using a HIPAA-compliant EHR is just one piece of the puzzle. You still need policies, risk assessments, workforce training, physical safeguards, Business Associate Agreements, and incident response procedures. The EHR vendor is your business associate, not your compliance solution.
What's the difference between HIPAA and HITRUST?
HIPAA is federal law with basic security requirements. HITRUST is a voluntary certification program with more rigorous controls combining HIPAA, NIST, and other frameworks. Healthcare organizations serving large enterprise clients often pursue HITRUST, but most smaller providers only need HIPAA compliance.
How much does HIPAA compliance cost?
Our HIPAA compliance service runs $5,000 per month for 3-6 months to establish your initial compliance program. Ongoing compliance support runs $2,500/month for regular risk assessments, policy updates, and training maintenance. This is significantly less than potential OCR penalties or data breach costs.
What happens if we have a data breach?
You must notify affected individuals and HHS within 60 days. Breaches affecting 500+ people require public notification and media alerts. Having documented incident response procedures, conducting regular risk assessments, and maintaining compliance efforts demonstrates due diligence, which OCR considers when determining penalties.
Do we need a HIPAA Security Officer?
The Security Rule requires you to designate a security official responsible for developing and implementing security policies. This doesn’t need to be a full-time position – many small practices assign this to an existing staff member. We can serve as your external security resource while your designated official maintains internal oversight.
Can business associates be fined for HIPAA violations?
Yes. Since the HITECH Act, business associates face the same penalties as covered entities for HIPAA violations. If you’re a software company, billing service, or cloud provider handling PHI for healthcare organizations, you must comply with HIPAA Security Rule requirements.