Clearwater, the largest dedicated provider of cybersecurity and compliance solutions to the U.S. healthcare industry, has launched its new Enterprise Cyber Risk Management (ECRM) solution. This integrated offering brings together the company’s OCR-Quality Risk Analysis and a comprehensive NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 maturity assessment within a single engagement, aiming to address the growing complexity of cyber risk exposure and regulatory scrutiny across healthcare systems.
As ransomware incidents and HIPAA enforcement actions intensify nationwide, Clearwater’s ECRM offering provides a strategic model for health systems, hospitals, and digital health providers to gain comprehensive, framework-aligned visibility into cybersecurity risk and readiness.
Why Clearwater is introducing a new cyber risk platform for healthcare organizations
With the launch of the ECRM solution, Clearwater is addressing a surge in healthcare sector cybersecurity threats. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ransomware attacks have more than doubled since 2020, impacting not only patient privacy but also the operational continuity of health delivery organizations. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has stepped up enforcement under the HIPAA Security Rule, recently stating that a lack of risk analysis remains a common violation in data breach cases.
“Healthcare organizations are investing in cybersecurity—but many still lack a clear view of what matters most and where to focus,” said Steve Cagle, Chief Executive Officer of Clearwater. “Our new ECRM solution empowers leaders with comprehensive visibility into their risk landscape while also mapping to multiple frameworks.”
Clearwater’s ECRM platform leverages its IRM|Pro platform—an industry-specific information risk management system—and a consulting-led approach to deliver customized, board-ready cyber risk insights aligned to HIPAA, HICP, HHS Cybersecurity Performance Goals, and NIST CSF 2.0. The ECRM suite is designed to transform static compliance programs into dynamic cyber risk management engines.
How the Clearwater ECRM platform works and what it delivers
The ECRM model combines two historically distinct functions—OCR-Quality Risk Analysis and CSF-based maturity assessment—into one streamlined process. This integration enables a strategic, expert-guided view of cybersecurity risk across all critical systems and business functions.
Healthcare organizations using Clearwater’s ECRM solution will benefit from:
OCR-Quality® Risk Analysis: Structured around the nine mandatory elements required by the OCR for HIPAA compliance, the risk analysis operates at the asset and system level, ensuring detailed vulnerability assessments.
NIST CSF 2.0 Maturity Model: This provides a scorecard to measure current cyber posture, track remediation over time, and benchmark against industry best practices.
Cross-framework mapping: Organizations can align their cyber policies with a host of regulatory and advisory frameworks in a single engagement, including 405(d) Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices and the newly updated NIST CSF 2.0.
Interactive dashboards: ECRM’s tech-enabled reporting tools offer dynamic views of risk distribution, maturity status, and prioritized mitigation actions—customized for executive, compliance, and boardroom audiences.
Consultant-led prioritization: Clearwater experts provide tailored remediation strategies, board communication materials, and documentation that supports readiness for OCR or investor review.
Market adoption and credibility of Clearwater’s methodology
Clearwater’s OCR-Quality Risk Analysis methodology has been deployed successfully in 100% of OCR investigations where submitted, including in response to Corrective Action Plans and Resolution Agreements. The methodology has become a trusted standard among leading health systems, rural and community hospitals, telehealth providers, and private equity-backed physician groups, all of whom face heightened scrutiny from both regulators and investors.
The company’s IRM|Pro platform further differentiates its approach by supporting deep analytics, contextual remediation planning, and ongoing monitoring—all tailored specifically to the complex regulatory landscape of the healthcare sector.
Clearwater’s solution arrives amid a critical shift in federal policy. The Biden administration’s National Cybersecurity Strategy calls for a move toward outcome-based regulation, with emphasis on secure-by-design principles and accountability across digital infrastructure. ECRM’s ability to map to emerging benchmarks like HHS’s Cybersecurity Performance Goals is positioned to align closely with this policy trajectory.
How Clearwater is addressing sector-wide gaps in cyber governance
Healthcare CIOs, CISOs, and compliance leaders have long struggled with fragmented cybersecurity assessments—often forced to choose between HIPAA-focused audits and broader, non-sector-specific maturity reviews. Clearwater’s ECRM breaks down these silos by presenting a unified view that aligns compliance, risk governance, and strategic investment.
According to Clearwater, many health systems still rely on static spreadsheets or outdated tools to document cyber risk. This not only impedes board-level reporting but also weakens the organization’s defensibility in OCR investigations. By contrast, ECRM’s interactive reports, peer benchmarking, and role-based dashboards enable more strategic conversations between technical teams, executives, regulators, and investors.
Steve Cagle emphasized that the solution is not just a tech product, but a comprehensive engagement supported by expert consultants. “This is about changing how cyber risk is perceived, managed, and communicated in the healthcare enterprise,” he said.
Investor and analyst sentiment surrounding the ECRM launch
While Clearwater is privately held and does not disclose financial figures, the ECRM launch may resonate positively with the investor community backing digital health infrastructure providers, particularly those serving regulated sectors. Analysts in the cybersecurity space have noted that sector-specific risk platforms are gaining momentum, especially when they deliver measurable ROI through risk reduction, regulatory alignment, and improved insurer confidence.
As more private equity firms invest in multi-site physician practices and digital health startups, cybersecurity maturity is becoming a boardroom concern and a due diligence focal point. Clearwater’s platform enables these firms to assess the cyber resilience of portfolio companies using a repeatable, standards-aligned framework.
In addition, as cyber insurance markets harden and underwriting becomes more rigorous, platforms like ECRM may offer healthcare organizations a pathway to lower premiums or better coverage terms by demonstrating robust governance.
What’s next for Clearwater’s cybersecurity strategy
Looking ahead, Clearwater plans to expand adoption of ECRM through national webinars, working labs, and cross-sector partnerships. The company is hosting an “OCR-Quality® Risk Analysis Working Lab” on August 6, where prospective users can gain hands-on experience with the solution.
The company’s roadmap also includes enhancements to its IRM|Pro® platform that will allow for deeper integrations with incident response platforms, electronic health record systems, and cyber insurance readiness scoring tools.
As cyber risk becomes a core business risk in healthcare, Clearwater appears to be positioning ECRM not as a one-time compliance tool but as a continuously evolving enterprise asset. In an industry facing increased threats, shifting policies, and intensifying pressure from regulators and investors alike, Clearwater’s new platform may emerge as a foundational layer for resilient digital infrastructure.
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