ISO 42001 vs. HITRUST’s AI Frameworks: Which Standard is Right for Your Organization?

As more organizations leverage artificial intelligence to fuel growth and drive productivity, new cybersecurity frameworks have emerged to help businesses across all industries demonstrate to customers and partners that they’re using and managing AI safely and responsibly.

Let’s break down three of those frameworks and when it might be time to add one or more of them to your compliance program.

ISO 42001

Published in late 2023, ISO 42001 mandates controls for establishing, operating, monitoring, and continually improving an organization’s AI management system (AIMS). The standard integrates seamlessly with security frameworks like ISO 27001 and ISO 27701, and was designed to serve organizations of all sizes and across all industries that either use or develop AI products and services.

Compliance with this framework ensures that organizations have established effective processes for ensuring their use of AI is secure, ethical, and transparent. 

HITRUST AI Risk Management Assessment

Another option for AI-powered organizations is the HITRUST AI Risk Management (RM) Assessment. This assessment includes 51 risk management controls and serves as a roadmap to address gaps in your AI risk management strategy. 

The HITRUST AI RM assessment isn’t just for those with existing HITRUST certifications—it’s available to any organization looking for a scalable approach to managing AI risks. That said, the Risk Management Assessment doesn’t result in any certification. Organizations that produce or develop AI products and services and need a higher level of assurance should consider a more rigorous assessment, such as HITRUST’s new AI Security Certification.

HITRUST AI Security Assessment and Certification

The HITRUST AI Security Assessment is a comprehensive, threat-adaptive framework designed specifically for organizations that build or provide AI-powered systems to end users. Achieving HITRUST AI Security Certification allows businesses that offer AI products and services to demonstrate the highest level of AI security and risk management, beyond what is offered by other frameworks.

For example, ISO 42001 is a broad standard that encompasses many more AI-related risks than just cybersecurity. On the other hand, the HITRUST AI Security Assessment outlines 44 specific, highly tailored controls, tools, and methods for implementing, testing, validating, and reporting on AI security in particular. The HITRUST AI Security Assessment was built to be compatible with ISO 42001 and is a more targeted, prescriptive cybersecurity standard for organizations that provide AI technologies—not just use them.

Achieving this certification will allow your customers to feel confident about adopting your AI systems and show stakeholders that your organization sees data security as a top priority.

The Bottom Line

Nowadays, showing that your organization manages AI responsibly isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential for building trust with customers and partners. 

At BARR Advisory, we can help you figure out which combination of AI frameworks is best to help your team showcase your commitment to AI safety and security. Contact us today to get started.