Regulatory changes to HIPAA and HITRUST will redefine healthcare compliance
Healthcare compliance and cybersecurity are more rigorous than in any other industry. You can’t change your medical record like you can change a credit card number, and you can’t just pause medical services in the event of a breach without major consequences to human life.
Maintaining strict compliance for healthcare data security and privacy protects patients and the integrity of the healthcare system on which we all rely so heavily. You face a constant barrage of sophisticated threats from adversaries who see immense value in protected health information (PHI), all while navigating a dense web compliance regulations for healthcare.
The challenge is immense. You are tasked with defending an expanding digital footprint that includes IoT medical devices, cloud-based electronic health records (EHRs), and telehealth platforms. At the same time, you must empower clinicians and researchers with the data they need to innovate and improve patient outcomes. Balancing security with accessibility is a delicate act, and a single misstep can have profound consequences.
This is why we created our healthcare compliance guide, Scaling Securely, Preparing for 2026 Compliance Changes. This is your actionable guide and roadmap to HIPAA and HITRUST updates, and governing AI Risk in 2026 and beyond.
What You’ll Find Inside the Guide
We built this resource to address the most pressing challenges you face daily. It moves beyond high-level advice to provide the technical depth and strategic insights needed to build a resilient and compliant security program. Think of it as your strategic partner in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare cybersecurity. Here’s a preview of what you will find in the guide.
Guide
Preparing for 2026 Regulatory Compliance Changes
A Message from Our CISO and Founder
This guide begins with an exclusive letter from our CISO and founder, Chris Bowen, who brings unparalleled expertise and a deep understanding of the latest healthcare regulatory and compliance movements.
His insights provide a unique perspective on tackling today’s challenges while preparing for the rapidly changing landscape ahead.
Proactive Compliance for Healthcare
This section reviews why a proactive stance on compliance is non-negotiable in the modern healthcare landscape. We explore the common risks organizations face when they delay preparation, including:
- Reputational Damage: Examining how data breaches and compliance failures erode patient trust and brand credibility, impacting long-term growth.
- Financial Penalties: Unpacking the steep costs associated with regulatory fines, legal fees, and operational downtime following an incident.
- Customer Demands: Highlighting that healthcare customers and partners demand the highest compliance standards, including certifications like HITRUST, as a prerequisite for doing business.
- Innovation Hurdles: Highlighting how a reactive security posture slows down the adoption of new technologies and hinders the ability to scale.
Best Practices for Safeguarding Sensitive Data
Protecting PHI is your prime directive. The guide provides proven, field-tested best practices for data protection across its entire lifecycle, from creation to archival. You will learn how to implement robust controls for encryption (both at rest and in transit), manage access with precision, and establish automated safeguards that enforce policy consistently across on-premises and multicloud environments.
An Overview of What’s Changing in HIPAA and HITRUST
This guide breaks down the latest updates to HIPAA and HITRUST, explaining how evolving requirements will impact your organization. It includes a detailed timeline to help you visualize key regulatory and standards changes so you can stay ahead of the curve. We also provide curated resources and expert analysis to help you interpret these changes and adapt your compliance strategy effectively.
Step-by-Step Strategies to Enhance Your Defenses
This guide is designed for action. It provides clear, step-by-step strategies for enhancing your security posture immediately. You will find actionable checklists and frameworks for:
- Conducting a thorough risk assessment.
- A template for policy and control gap matrix
- A Compliance partner readiness evaluation worksheet
- Additional details of HIPAA and HITRUST changes for 2026
An Essential Resource for a Dynamic Field
In healthcare cybersecurity, staying informed is not just an advantage—it is a necessity. New threats emerge, regulations evolve, and technologies advance at a relentless pace. Relying on outdated strategies is a direct path to a data breach.
Scaling Securely: Preparing for 2026 Compliance Changes, is your essential resource for staying ahead of the curve. It equips you and your team with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence to protect your organization’s most critical assets. It helps you move from a reactive security stance to a proactive one, enabling you to anticipate threats and build a culture of security that supports, rather than hinders, clinical innovation.
This post only scratches the surface. To gain a complete understanding of the threats, strategies, and best practices shaping modern healthcare security, the next step is to download the full guide.
You don’t have to navigate healthcare compliance and security alone. At ClearDATA, we are here to help you navigate the complexities of compliance and security so you can focus on your mission.
