Picture this: a small business owner, let's call her Jane, is running a successful online store selling artisanal soap. 

Jane prides herself on her attention to detail and dedication to quality, so when she receives an email from a customer complaining about a recent purchase, she's eager to make things right. 

But something about the email seems off to her. It's written in broken English, and the customer is asking for a refund even though they haven't returned the product. Jane decides to investigate further and discovers that her website has been hacked, and the attacker has stolen customer data and is using it to make fraudulent purchases.

Panic sets in as Jane realizes the extent of the damage. The cybercriminals have not only stolen personal information, but they've also locked her out of her website and demanded a hefty ransom to release it.  

How will she recover from this? 

Stories like Jane’s illustrate why cyber insurance is such a critical part of any business's cybersecurity plan. It's not just about protecting your finances but also your reputation and the future of your business. 

 Cyber insurance isn't just a safety net—it can be a lifesaver when you least expect it. 

So, let's dive into why cyber insurance is critical to any business's cybersecurity strategy.

What Is Cyber Insurance?

Cyber insurance is like a seatbelt for your business's digital journey. Just like a seatbelt keeps you safe in case of a car accident, cyber insurance provides financial protection in case of a cyber attack. And just like you wouldn't drive without a seatbelt, you shouldn't navigate the digital world without cyber insurance!

It's a policy that covers a range of expenses your business might incur if your data is compromised, including extortion payments from ransomware attacks, notifying customers of a security breach, legal fees and hiring computer experts to recover lost data. 

Although it can help your business recover from a cybersecurity incident, it's important to have proper cybersecurity measures in place to prevent an attack from happening in the first place. 

Think of cyber insurance as a backup plan rather than the main line of defense. So, invest in the right cybersecurity tools and practices to protect your business, and consider cyber insurance as an additional layer of protection. 

With that said, let's get into how cyber insurance works. 

How Does Cyber Insurance Work?

To get the right level of coverage, insurers will thoroughly vet cyber insurance applicants to understand their financial risk. 

This may include a security audit and review of security measures, a breach history check, an evaluation of data backup and disaster recovery plans, and an assessment of company policies and procedures.

By assessing all these factors, insurers can offer a policy tailored to your business's specific needs, ensuring you get the right level of coverage to protect your business from any potential cyber threats.

Why Consider Cyber Insurance?

If you fall victim to a cyber attack, the fallout can be devastating, and it's not just about losing data. 

You could face legal fees, lost income due to business interruption, and fines and penalties. With cyber insurance, you can protect yourself and your business from these costs. 

Cyber insurance can cover expenses related to investigating and mitigating the attack, recovering stolen data and notifying customers. It can even cover crisis management and public relations costs, ensuring that your business can recover as quickly as possible.

Common Cybersecurity Requirements

Insurers commonly require specific cybersecurity measures to be in place for a business to qualify for a policy when considering cyber insurance.

Typical requirements include having Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), providing Security Awareness Training to employees, implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), patching all High/Critical issues, and maintaining robust backups.

These measures can help reduce the risk of a cyber attack and improve your chances of qualifying for a cyber insurance policy.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is often a requirement for cyber insurance because it is a comprehensive endpoint security solution that can detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats. 

EDR works by continuously monitoring all devices in your network, collecting process data and analyzing it to identify any suspicious or malicious activity. If a threat is detected, EDR alerts security personnel, who can then respond and remediate the threat. 

By requiring EDR, insurers help ensure that your business has the necessary tools to detect and respond to cyber threats, which can help prevent costly data breaches and other security incidents. 

💡 In the market for an EDR solution? Check out our Ultimate Buyer's Guide to EDR.

Security Awareness Training

Just like a bullseye in a game of darts, employees can become prime targets for cyber attackers. 

Regular security awareness training teaches employees how to spot and avoid malicious content, which is crucial for any good defense.

Cyber insurers often require this kind of training to be implemented in businesses because it's important that all employees are well-equipped with the knowledge to help protect sensitive information.

Effective security awareness training should include educational content relevant to each employee's role, consistent training and messaging, testing to confirm understanding and measuring employee participation to ensure everyone is on board.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is another security measure that helps protect against cyber attacks. 

By requiring at least two forms of identification, MFA adds an extra layer of protection, making it more difficult for hackers and unauthorized users to access your sensitive information. This is why cyber insurance companies often stipulate it as a common and important requirement.

MFA ensures that even if a hacker gains access to one form of authentication, they will still need to provide another form of verification to gain access.

Patching High/Critical Issues

When it comes to patching known vulnerabilities or critical issues, time is of the essence. 

The longer you wait, the more vulnerable your systems are to be exploited by attackers who will capitalize on those vulnerabilities.

Hackers can use ransomware and other malware to attack your system through these vulnerabilities, putting your company and customer data at risk. 

By patching these vulnerabilities as soon as possible, you can reduce the window of opportunity for attackers and better secure your systems against potential breaches.

Robust Backups

Backups protect against human error, hardware failures, cyber attacks and other unforeseen events. 

The key here is to have a data backup policy in place and regularly check backups.

Moral of the Story

Cyber threats are on the rise, and businesses are sitting ducks.

Implementing strong cybersecurity measures and investing in cyber insurance can give your business a fighting chance against cyber threats.

Stay ahead of cyber threats and protect your business. Contact us today to learn more about implementing strong cybersecurity measures and investing in cyber insurance. Huntress is always here to help!