Rapid7 and HITRUST have announced a strategic partnership aimed at transforming how organizations demonstrate their security posture and regulatory compliance. The bold goal is to move from one-off audits filled with spreadsheets to a “continuous compliance” model based on real-time data.
The integration combines Rapid7’s platform — specifically its Surface Command solution, focused on attack surface visibility — with HITRUST’s certification program and control framework, widely adopted in regulated sectors such as healthcare, finance, and technology services.
From annual audits… to living evidence every day
Until now, many companies faced security audits once a year (or even less frequently), manually gathering screenshots, reports, and technical evidence that quickly became outdated within months. This static snapshot increasingly conflicts with an environment where threats evolve daily and regulatory requirements become more stringent.
With this partnership, the idea is quite the opposite: Rapid7’s platform continuously monitors technical controls (configurations, vulnerabilities, external exposure, etc.) and automatically maps them against HITRUST’s requirements. This allows organizations to demonstrate at any time — not just during audits — their current security status relative to that standard.
According to HITRUST itself, its Trust Report 2025 concludes that organizations implementing its framework and controls report an average breach rate of only 0.59% annually, well below the industry average.
Less audit burden, more focus on risk reduction
The Rapid7–HITRUST partnership is centered around several key benefits for organizations adopting this approach:
- Real-time compliance visibility. Surface Command continuously checks for control drift — that is, when a security configuration or measure no longer meets the standard — referencing the updated HITRUST requirements. This allows security teams to see on a dashboard where alignment is weakening before it becomes an audit issue.
- Proactive risk mitigation. By linking vulnerability management, exposure, and threats with compliance obligations, companies can prioritize remediation efforts that address actual risks, not just those that look good on a report.
- Reduced effort for audits and evidence collection. Automating the gathering and mapping of technical evidence shortens the time security and compliance teams spend preparing for audits. Organizations can extend the intervals between formal certifications without losing traceability, as evidence is generated continuously.
- Improved cyber insurance position. A demonstrable record of active, continuously monitored controls can help negotiate better premiums and policy renewals, an increasingly important aspect for large enterprises.
Executives from both companies emphasize that this collaboration aims to transform what is currently a cumbersome, periodic process into an automated, day-to-day security operation aligned with ongoing business needs.
HITRUST as a “common language” for security
In recent years, HITRUST has established itself as one of the most comprehensive frameworks for demonstrating cybersecurity and compliance, especially in sectors like healthcare and finance in the United States. Its framework integrates requirements from over 60 regulations and standards (such as HIPAA, NIST, ISO 27001), effectively becoming a “meta-framework” that unifies controls and evidence into a single program.
For many organizations, achieving or maintaining HITRUST certification involves significant time and resource investments. The value of this partnership lies precisely in shifting part of that effort from manual work to automation within the Rapid7 platform.
Strategically, this integration sends a clear message: if companies can continuously demonstrate compliance with demanding frameworks like HITRUST, they not only reduce the risk of sanctions or breaches but also gain a competitive advantage when negotiating with partners and vendors seeking solid security guarantees.
From static snapshots to continuous cybersecurity video
The Rapid7–HITRUST partnership aligns with a broader trend in cybersecurity: moving from “point-in-time” snapshots to continuous monitoring. As with observability or application monitoring, compliance and audits are shifting toward near real-time data updates.
This shift is driven not only by evolving threats but also by regulatory and market pressures. Regulators, insurers, partners, and clients demand evidence that controls are not only in place but are active, effective, and regularly reviewed.
Through this partnership, Rapid7 and HITRUST aim to offer a concrete response to this demand, combining technical visibility of the attack surface with a globally recognized trust framework.
It remains to be seen how widely organizations will adopt these continuous assurance models and how they fit into broader risk management strategies, but the core message is clear: compliance cannot be an annual project; it must become a living process.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Rapid7–HITRUST partnership
What exactly is HITRUST, and how does it differ from other standards like ISO 27001 or NIST?
HITRUST is a security and compliance framework that integrates requirements from more than 60 norms and regulations into a unified control scheme, widely used in regulated sectors like healthcare and financial services. Unlike ISO 27001 or NIST, which are standalone frameworks, HITRUST acts as a “translator” that consolidates and certifies compliance across multiple references within a single program.
What practical benefit does integrating Rapid7 with HITRUST provide to a company?
The main advantage is moving from point-in-time audits to a continuous compliance model. Rapid7’s platform monitors configurations, vulnerabilities, and exposures, and automatically maps them against HITRUST controls, reducing manual evidence gathering, shortening audit durations, and enabling early detection of deviations.
Is this solution only for large enterprises, or is it also suitable for regulated SMEs?
While HITRUST has traditionally been popular among large organizations, its framework adapts requirements based on size, risk, and regulatory obligations. The automation provided by Rapid7 can be especially helpful for regulated SMBs with limited internal resources, as it decreases manual effort for evidence collection and control tracking.
How does this “continuous compliance” model impact cyber insurance negotiations?
Having up-to-date evidence of active, monitored controls aligned with strict frameworks like HITRUST and managed through Rapid7 can demonstrate mature risk management to insurers. This often results in better policy terms, more competitive premiums, and simpler renewal processes.
via: rapid7