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Prepared for cyber insurance

What insurers look for and how to meet their requirements. Get coverage at better rates.

Cyber insurance has become essential for many businesses. It transfers some of the financial risk from breaches, ransomware, and data loss. But insurers have become selective. Applications that were rubber-stamped a few years ago now face detailed questionnaires and technical requirements.

Insurers have learned from paying claims. They know which security controls actually reduce risk. They price policies accordingly. Businesses with strong security pay less. Those without adequate controls may not get coverage at all.

What Insurers Want

Common requirements for coverage

Most cyber insurance applications now ask about these specific controls.

Multi-factor authentication
Required for email, VPN, and remote access. Increasingly mandatory for all cloud services and administrative access. Insurers view MFA as a baseline control. Without it, coverage may be declined or premiums significantly increased.
Endpoint detection and response
Traditional antivirus is no longer sufficient. Insurers want EDR tools that detect and respond to sophisticated threats. Managed detection services score better than self-administered tools.
Backup and recovery procedures
Tested backups that are isolated from your main network. Insurers ask about backup frequency, offsite storage, and when you last tested a restore. Ransomware claims are expensive; good backups reduce payouts.
Patch management
Regular patching of operating systems and applications. Insurers may ask about your patch cadence and how quickly critical updates are applied. Unpatched systems are frequent breach causes.
Email security
Phishing protection, spam filtering, and email authentication. SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration. Email remains the primary attack vector, so insurers pay close attention to these controls.
Security awareness training
Evidence of regular staff training on security threats. Some insurers require phishing simulations. Documented training programs demonstrate a security-conscious culture.
Incident response planning
Written procedures for responding to security incidents. Who to contact, what to do, how to contain damage. Insurers want to know you can respond effectively when something goes wrong.
Access control and privilege management
Restricted administrative access, regular access reviews, prompt removal of leaver accounts. Insurers assess whether you control who can access sensitive systems and data.

Insurance requirements vary by provider and coverage level. Higher coverage limits typically require stronger controls. Some industries face additional requirements based on regulatory expectations or historical claim patterns.

The good news: these requirements align with good security practice. Meeting insurance requirements improves your actual security posture. You are not just checking boxes; you are reducing real risk.

Honesty matters

Application questions must be answered truthfully. Claims can be denied if insurers discover you misrepresented your security controls. If you cannot answer yes to a requirement, address the gap before applying. Lying on applications creates worse outcomes than higher premiums.

How We Help

Getting you ready for coverage

We work with you to meet insurer requirements and improve your security posture.

Assessment and gap analysis

We review your current controls against common insurer requirements. This reveals exactly where you stand and what needs attention before applying for coverage. No surprises when you complete the application.

The assessment covers all the areas insurers care about: authentication, endpoint protection, backup procedures, patching, email security, and access controls. You get a clear picture of your readiness.

Assessment covers

  • MFA deployment status
  • Endpoint protection
  • Backup configuration
  • Patch management
  • Email security
  • Access controls

Implementation and documentation

We deploy and configure the required controls. MFA across your environment. EDR on your endpoints. Proper backup procedures with tested recovery. The technical work to meet requirements, done right the first time.

Insurers want evidence. We help document your policies, procedures, and controls. Written incident response plans, training records, configuration documentation. Everything you need to support your application and any future claims.

Ongoing compliance support

Requirements must be maintained, not just achieved once. As your managed service provider, we ensure controls remain effective throughout your policy period. When renewal comes around, you can answer those questions confidently again.

The Benefits

Beyond insurance coverage

Meeting insurance requirements delivers broader value.

Strong controls demonstrate lower risk, and insurers reward this with better rates. The cost of implementing proper security controls often pays for itself in premium savings within the first year or two. Lower premiums are the obvious benefit, but they are just the start.

Well-prepared applicants negotiate better policy terms. Higher limits, lower deductibles, fewer exclusions. Organisations with weak security get restrictive coverage with carve-outs that limit protection when they need it most. Strong security posture gives you leverage.

Perhaps most importantly, these requirements exist because they work. Meeting them genuinely reduces your chances of a successful attack. You are less likely to need that insurance in the first place. And when incidents do occur, documented controls and procedures speed claims processing and avoid coverage disputes.

Already a managed services client? Many of these controls are part of your service. We can provide documentation and evidence to support your insurance applications. Ask your account manager about insurance readiness support.

Cyber insurance is not a substitute for security. It is a complement. Insurance cannot prevent breaches, restore your reputation, or recover the disruption to your business. Good security reduces risk. Insurance transfers the financial impact of residual risk.

We recommend working with an insurance broker who specialises in cyber coverage. They understand the market, know which insurers suit your situation, and can negotiate on your behalf. Our role is ensuring you can answer their questions confidently.

Ready to improve your insurance position?

Let us assess your current state and identify gaps before you apply.