Best HITRUST Consultants and Assessors (2026): 7 Firms Compared
Updated
Reviewed by CyberWave GRC's lead auditor (CISA, CISM, CCISO, HITRUST CCSFP & CHQP, ISO/IEC 27001 & 42001 Lead Auditor)
Comparing HITRUST consultants and assessors? This guide looks at seven firms side by side: readiness consultants and HITRUST Authorized External Assessors, what each publicly says about its services, and how to choose the right partner for e1, i1 or r2.
How we compared these firms
We looked at what each firm publicly says about:
- The services it offers for this framework (readiness, implementation, audit or assessment)
- Who issues the final certificate, report or assessment
- The other frameworks it supports
- Where it operates, especially India and the USA
- Whether it offers VAPT, and whether it states CERT-In empanelment
- Anything distinctive it publishes, such as pricing, accreditations or specialisms
We don't rank the firms by score. The right choice depends on your scope, industry, budget and the report or certificate your customers ask for.
Comparison table
| Firm | Base | HITRUST role | Assessments | Other credentials or services | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CyberWave GRC (publisher) | India and USA | Readiness, gap assessment, remediation and implementation support. Validated assessments performed by our partner Huduku AI, a HITRUST Authorized External Assessor | e1, i1, r2 readiness | SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001 programs with common control mapping | Not an External Assessor itself; separates preparation from assessment |
| A-LIGN | USA (offices include Tampa); India office in Gurugram | Authorized External Assessor and readiness (firm states) | e1, i1, r2 | Licensed CPA firm, ISO certification body, FedRAMP 3PAO, PCI QSA (firm states) | Firm states 1,400+ HITRUST assessments |
| Coalfire | USA | External Assessor and advisory (firm states) | e1, i1, r2 validation and certification | CMMC C3PAO (firm states) | Firm states it is an original HITRUST External Assessor |
| Schellman | Tampa, Florida | HITRUST CSF Assessor (firm states) | i1, r2 | Licensed CPA firm; ISO certification body accredited by ANAB and UKAS; PCI QSA; FedRAMP 3PAO | Firm states it issues 2,000+ SOC reports a year |
| BARR Advisory | Kansas City (remote-first) | Authorized External Assessor since 2020 (firm states) | Not stated | PCI QSA; ISO 27001 and SOC 2 audits (firm states) | Remote-first delivery |
| Clearwater | USA (Nashville, per its press releases) | Readiness and validated assessment services (firm states) | Not stated | Healthcare cybersecurity consulting and software | Healthcare-only focus |
| Accorian | East Brunswick, New Jersey; India office | Readiness advisory and HITRUST assessments (per its press materials) | Not stated | SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA assessments | Firm states 500+ HITRUST assessments |
The firms in detail
CyberWave GRC
- Readiness, gap assessment, remediation and implementation support for e1, i1 and r2, from teams in India and the USA.
- Validated assessments performed by our partner Huduku AI, a HITRUST Authorized External Assessor.
- Huduku AI is a separate company and performs validated assessments under HITRUST's independence requirements.
- SOC 2, HIPAA and ISO 27001 programs with common control mapping, so shared controls are built once.
- Best for: organisations that want hands-on readiness help alongside SOC 2 or HIPAA.
A-LIGN
- USA-based (offices include Tampa), with an India office in Gurugram.
- Authorized External Assessor and readiness services (firm states), across e1, i1 and r2.
- Also a licensed CPA firm, ISO certification body, FedRAMP 3PAO and PCI QSA (firm states); firm states 1,400+ HITRUST assessments.
- Best for: companies that want many frameworks from one large provider.
Coalfire
- USA-based External Assessor and advisory firm (firm states).
- e1, i1 and r2 validation and certification; also a CMMC C3PAO (firm states).
- Firm states it is an original HITRUST External Assessor.
- Best for: larger enterprises running several compliance programmes.
Schellman
- Tampa, Florida; HITRUST CSF Assessor (firm states) covering i1 and r2.
- Licensed CPA firm; ISO certification body accredited by ANAB and UKAS; PCI QSA; FedRAMP 3PAO.
- Firm states it issues 2,000+ SOC reports a year.
- Best for: organisations that want HITRUST and SOC reporting under one assessor.
BARR Advisory
- Kansas City-based and remote-first.
- Authorized External Assessor since 2020 (firm states).
- Also a PCI QSA offering ISO 27001 and SOC 2 audits (firm states).
- Best for: cloud-based technology companies that prefer remote delivery.
Clearwater
- USA-based (Nashville, per its press releases).
- Readiness and validated assessment services (firm states).
- Healthcare cybersecurity consulting and software.
- Best for: healthcare organisations that want a healthcare-only focus.
Accorian
- East Brunswick, New Jersey, with an India office.
- Readiness advisory and HITRUST assessments (per its press materials).
- Also offers SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS and HIPAA assessments; firm states 500+ HITRUST assessments.
- Best for: companies that want several assessments from one provider.
Can the same firm do readiness and the validated assessment?
Sometimes, within limits. HITRUST's Assessment Handbook allows assessor firms to provide readiness and gap assessments, policy consulting and testing. But anyone who implemented or operated in-scope controls in the previous 12 months can't work on the validated assessment, and a separate team must be used. Many organisations keep preparation and assessment with different firms for a clean separation.
Source: HITRUST Assessment Handbook, independence requirements
Where CyberWave GRC fits
We're a good fit if you want hands-on help getting ready for e1, i1 or r2, especially alongside SOC 2 or HIPAA. We do the preparation and remediation work, and validated assessments are performed by our partner Huduku AI, a HITRUST Authorized External Assessor.
How to choose
- Is the firm listed in HITRUST's official assessor directory, and as what type?
- Which assessment do you need: e1, i1 or r2?
- Who does readiness, and who does the validated assessment?
- How does the firm handle HITRUST's independence rules?
- Can you inherit controls from your cloud provider?
- Will you need SOC 2 or HIPAA evidence from the same work?
Frequently asked questions
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