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Prepared for cyber insurance

What insurers look for, and how to meet their requirements. Businesses with strong security pay less. Those without adequate controls may not get coverage at all.

8Common control areas BetterRates & terms EvidenceDocumented for claims HonestAnswers, no surprises

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, and they price policies accordingly. Businesses with strong security pay less. Those without adequate controls may not get coverage at all.

You answer their questions. We make sure the answer is yes.
What insurers want
§01

Common requirements for coverage.

The questionnaire

Most cyber insurance applications now ask about these specific controls.

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.

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.

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, and good backups reduce payouts.

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.

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.

Evidence of regular staff training on security threats. Some insurers require phishing simulations. Documented training programmes demonstrate a security-conscious culture.

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.

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. Misrepresenting on applications creates worse outcomes than higher premiums.

How we help
§02

Getting you ready for coverage.

Assessment to evidence
01 / Assess
Assessment & gap analysis
We review your current controls against common insurer requirements, so you know exactly where you stand and what needs attention before applying. No surprises when you complete the application.
02 / Implement
Implementation & documentation
We deploy and configure the required controls, then help document the policies, procedures and evidence insurers want, done right the first time.
03 / Maintain
Ongoing compliance support
Requirements must be maintained, not just achieved once. As your managed service provider, we keep controls effective through your policy period, so renewal is straightforward.

What the assessment covers

The assessment covers all the areas insurers care about. You get a clear picture of your readiness across every control they ask about.

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

Beyond insurance coverage

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. A 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.

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. Our role is ensuring you can answer their questions confidently.

Improve your
insurance position.

Let us assess your current state and identify the gaps before you apply. A discovery & security session that names the real risks and gets you ready for coverage.

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