Fortrex Technologies Achieves HITRUST Common Security Framework Assessor Status

FREDERICK, Md., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Fortrex Technologies Inc., a trusted security and risk management advisor to its clients throughout the world, today announced it has achieved Common Security Framework (CSF) Assessor status from the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST).  As a CSF Assessor, Fortrex is now approved to perform readiness assessment, remediation and certification work associated with the CSF, the standard for protecting health information that harmonizes the requirements of existing standards and regulations, including federal (HIPAA, HITECH), third-party (PCI, COBIT) and government (NIST, FTC).

HITRUST and its supporting resources, programs and services are geared toward moving the healthcare industry forward with respect to security controls.  CSF Assessors are the only organizations approved by HITRUST to deliver services under the HITRUST CSF Assurance program, which leverages the CSF and provides healthcare organizations and their business associates with a common approach to managing security assessments and reporting compliance.  By participating in the program, organizations can work toward ensuring the appropriate information protection safeguards are in place and legal and compliance requirements are met.  This enables the healthcare industry to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of sensitive information.

Fortrex is uniquely positioned to assist healthcare organizations in improving efficiencies and ensuring security safeguards.  For the past eight years, Fortrex has offered Payment Card Industry (PCI) assessments to its customers.  Fortrex has worked closely with customers to help them proactively protect account data and has assisted hundreds of customers conform to the strict security standards instituted by the PCI Security Standards Council.  

"As the healthcare industry increases its adoption of technology and enhances its strategy for health information protection, organizations are looking for assistance in identifying resources to aid them in complying with information and security regulations.  Through our extensive work assisting service providers and merchants conform to the stringent security standards for the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, we understand the importance of adhering to security standards.  We are very pleased to add this new offering to our portfolio and to assist healthcare organizations in improving efficiencies and ensuring the appropriate security safeguards are in place," said Chris Konrad, SVP Client Services, Fortrex Technologies.

By leveraging a best practice-based security framework that normalizes existing security requirements, CSF Assessors are able to assist organizations in reducing the inefficiencies and complexities associated with managing security on their own.  Organizations are challenged with protecting health information and CSF Assessors are uniquely qualified to aid these organizations and their business associates as they seek to comply with a myriad of requirements and avoid enforcement actions at the federal and state levels.

"We are pleased to welcome Fortrex to the growing list of CSF Assessors," said Daniel Nutkis, Chief Executive Officer, HITRUST. "With the increasing adoption of the CSF, we are experiencing greater demand from organizations needing the aid of CSF Assessors to fully realize the benefits from the CSF and the CSF Assurance program."

For additional information about Fortrex and CSF Assessors, visit www.fortrex.com or http://www.hitrustalliance.net/assessors.

About Fortrex Technologies, Inc. (www.fortrex.com)

Since 1997, Fortrex Technologies has served as a trusted security and risk management advisor to its clients throughout the world.  Fortrex focuses exclusively on IT and healthcare security, operational risk and regulatory compliance and helps organizations throughout the world identify, assess, remediate and manage their operational risks through consulting, audit, vendor management and human capital assistance.  By providing expert technical assessments, Fortrex ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and systems through world-class, enterprise-wide information security services and solutions.  Powered by a team of security and risk management experts and the industry's leading technology, Fortrex's in-depth risk assessments and solutions ensure that its client's information assets remain safe and secure.

About HITRUST

The Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) was born out of the belief that information security should be a core pillar of, rather than an obstacle to, the broad adoption of health information systems and exchanges. HITRUST, in collaboration with healthcare, business, technology and information security leaders, has established the Common Security Framework (CSF), a certifiable framework that can be used by any and all organizations that create, access, store or exchange personal health and financial information. Beyond the establishment of the CSF, HITRUST is also driving the adoption of and widespread confidence in the framework and sound risk management practices through awareness, education, advocacy and other outreach activities. For more information, visit HITRUSTalliance.net.

SOURCE Fortrex Technologies Inc.