Health IT

HITRUST and Trend Micro launch new cybersecurity-focused partnership

HITRUST and Trend Micro have joined forces to create the HITRUST Cyber Threat Management and Response Center, which will add to the capabilities of the HITRUST Cyber Threat XChange.

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The Health Information Trust Alliance, or HITRUST, and Trend Micro have banded together to form the HITRUST Cyber Threat Management and Response Center.

The center, which will be available starting October 1, will augment the existing capabilities of the HITRUST Cyber Threat XChange, a platform that collects and analyzes potential cyberattacks on the healthcare industry. Organizations can make use of its abilities via a subscription.

Most recently, the CTX allowed HITRUST to report on WannaCry and distribute threat indicators nearly two weeks before the first organization was impacted. Yet numerous systems and companies were not able to utilize the indicators and information to prevent ramifications.

Through the new partnership between HITRUST and security company Trend Micro, the Cyber Threat Management and Response Center will be able to offer a number of new features, including access to additional vulnerability information and more sensors to gather indicators of compromise. Additionally, organizations will be able to make use of community engagement resources and more detailed analysis tools.

Preparing for the center has been no easy feat. HITRUST has spent the past year and a half increasing its number of indicators of threat and compromise via its Enhanced IOC Collection Program.

Gathering IOCs for the center isn’t the only task HITRUST has been up to. The Frisco, Texas-based organization has had hopes for a partnership like this for a long time.

“We have been committed to partnering with industry and government for many years to collectively improve the industry’s cyber defenses and resilience,” HITRUST CEO Daniel Nutkis said in a statement. “We see this latest development as continued validation of the private sector’s commitment and will continue to evaluate areas for improvement and taking action where appropriate.”

As for Trend Micro, its interest in the collaboration came from its knowledge of HITRUST’s information sharing capabilities and framework.

“We believe our combined effort will make a positive difference in improving cyber defenses for organizations of all sizes and for our nation’s overall cybersecurity posture,” Mike Gibson, Trend Micro’s vice president of threat research, noted in a statement.

HITRUST’s commitment to cybersecurity stems deeper than a sole focus on large-scale organizations.

Around this time last year, it launched HITRUST CyberAid, a set of services and products designed for medical practices with fewer than 75 employees. The program is intended to be easy to afford, deploy and operate. At the time of its launch, the bundle included a Trend Micro network security appliance, malware monitoring and technical support.

Photo: roshi11, Getty Images

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