U.S. HICP (Large Practice) — Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices

Overview

U.S. HICP (LargePractice) — Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices is acybersecurity framework that assists large healthcare organizationsin identifying, managing, and mitigating key cybersecurity threats.Its primary goal is to provide actionable, industry-vetted practicesthat bolster the security and resilience of health sector operationsand safeguard sensitive health information.

Developed by theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in collaborationwith industry and government partners, HICP is tailored for entitieswith more than 500 employees. The framework addresses focus areassuch as threat mitigation, security controls, data protection, andrisk management, with specific guidance on topics like phishing,asset management, and medical device security.

Organizationsadopt HICP by integrating its recommended cybersecurity practicesinto daily operations, risk management programs, and regulatorycompliance efforts such as HIPAA. It is commonly used alongsideframeworks like NIST and HITRUST to strengthen internal controls,facilitate incident response planning, and support audit readinesswithin the healthcare sector.

Why it Matters

HICP (LargePractice) provides comprehensive cybersecurity practices tailored tohealthcare organizations, helping to mitigate evolving cyber threatsand regulatory risks.

Key benefitsinclude:

•  Support compliance obligations

Helporganizations address HIPAA and regulatory mandates by aligningtechnical and administrative controls with best practices.

•  Enhance threat detection and response

Enable promptidentification and remediation of cyber incidents to minimize theimpact of ransomware and other threats.

•  Strengthen data protection measures

Reduce the riskof unauthorized access and breaches involving protected healthinformation through robust security guidelines.

•  Promote operational continuity

Mitigate risksto clinical operations by improving preparedness and recoverycapabilities during cyber incidents or disruptions.

•  Increase audit readiness

Provide a clearframework for documenting security efforts, supporting successfulcompliance assessments and external audits.

How it Works

The U.S. HealthIndustry Cybersecurity Practices (HICP) framework for Large Practicesstructures its guidance around five key cybersecurity threats facinghealthcare organizations: e-mail phishing, ransomware, loss or theftof equipment, insider accidental or malicious data loss, and attacksagainst network-connected medical devices. HICP organizes mitigationrecommendations into ten cybersecurity practice areas, mapping theseto specific technical and organizational safeguards relevant forlarge healthcare settings.

Organizationsimplement U.S. HICP (Large Practice) by adopting security controlsand policies aligned with the ten identified cybersecurity practices.Typical implementation activities include performing risk assessmentsto determine threat relevance, customizing recommended safeguards tolocal environments, training workforce members on identified threats,and integrating HICP recommendations into existing compliance andrisk management programs. Regular monitoring, incident responseexercises, and ongoing refinement of safeguards underpin effective,practical adoption.

SmartSuiteenables healthcare organizations to operationalize U.S. HICP byproviding control libraries mapped to HICP practices, centralizingrisk registers, and automating evidence collection for auditreadiness. Policy governance modules support the development, review,and dissemination of HICP-aligned procedures, while compliancetracking and remediation workflows assist in demonstrating ongoingadherence and addressing gaps. Reporting dashboards offer aconsolidated view of security posture and regulatory compliancestatus.

Key Elements

•  Cybersecurity Practice Categories

Organizessecurity measures into device security, identity protection, networkmanagement, and data protection areas.

•  Threat and Vulnerability Safeguards

Specifiescontrols and strategies for recognizing, evaluating, and addressingmalicious activities and technical weaknesses.

•  Workforce Cybersecurity Awareness

Establishesexpectations for staff education and regular training oncybersecurity responsibilities and best practices.

•  Incident Response Management

Describesrequired procedures for early detection, communication, andmitigation of security incidents and breaches.

•  Medical Device Security Controls

Outlinessafeguards specifically for protecting networked medical equipmentand supporting clinical infrastructure.

•  Access and Authentication Management

Defines methodsfor ensuring authorized access to sensitive systems, applications,and medical information.

•  Governance Structure and Accountability

Provides aframework for leadership oversight, policy development, and ongoingcompliance evaluation.

Framework Scope

U.S. HICP (LargePractice) is adopted by large healthcare providers, hospitals, andhealthcare delivery organizations responsible for protectingelectronic health information and clinical systems. It governscybersecurity practices across patient data systems, medical devices,and supporting infrastructure, and is typically implemented toenhance cyber risk management, fulfill regulatory obligations, andsupport assurance programs.

Framework Objectives

U.S. HICP (LargePractice) promotes a comprehensive approach to managing cybersecurityrisks in large healthcare organizations.

•  Strengthen cybersecurity governance and oversight acrossclinical and operational environments

•  Enhance healthcare data protection and privacy safeguards toreduce breach risks

•  Support compliance with regulatory requirements by applyingrobust security controls

•  Improve risk management practices to address evolving healthcarecyber threats

•  Enable operational resilience to minimize disruptions andmaintain patient care

•  Demonstrate audit readiness through consistent implementation ofcybersecurity best practices HICP (Large Practice) aligns with NISTCybersecurity Framework, HIPAA Security Rule, and HITRUST CSF,providing tailored cybersecurity practices for healthcare entities.Large healthcare organizations implement HICP to enhancecybersecurity resilience, support HIPAA compliance, and align withindustry best practices, especially for addressing regulatoryrequirements and improving operational security posture.

Common Framework Mappings

HICP (LargePractice) is often mapped to other widely adopted cybersecurity andprivacy frameworks to streamline compliance, ensure comprehensiverisk management, and facilitate regulatory crosswalks withinhealthcare organizations.

Mappedframeworks include:

CIS CriticalSecurity Controls

COBIT

HITRUST CSF

ISO/IEC 27001

NISTCybersecurity Framework

NIST SP 800-53

PCI DSS

SOC 2

StateRAMP