Most cybersecurity professionals know that cyber breaches increase each year. So it’s no surprise that the cybersecurity insurance business also keeps growing briskly. According to data from Markets and Markets and Polaris Market Research, the cyber insurance market swelled to $11.9 billion worldwide in 2022, up from $10.1 billion the previous year, and is projected to grow to more than $29 billion by 2027.
In an interesting twist, new data hints that organizations with cyber insurance may be relying on it too much, instead of shoring up security to ensure attacks never succeed. Cyber insurance should be seen as an absolute last resort and shouldn’t be seen as a sure thing (in terms of a claim payout).
As cyber-attacks become more sophisticated and frequent, businesses are turning to cyber insurance policies as a means of protection. Increasingly, CISO’s and Board of Directors are eager to take advantage of “risk transference” as part of a holistic cyber risk management strategy. However, the cost of such policies can often be a significant concern for organizations.
A data breach may not only damage your computer system or IT infrastructure, but it may also destroy your brand reputation. The consequences of a data breach may be very horrific, which may lead organisations, whether they be large companies or small businesses, to bankruptcy.
The expanding attack surface of an increasingly interconnected digital world comes with a high degree of risk due to ransomware, phishing attempts, supply chain attacks, data breaches, and other cyber incidents. And while many organizations recognize the need for cyber insurance, a recent Forrester Research report found that only 55% of organizations in North America have purchased cyber insurance. 1
The rapid escalation of cyberattacks around the world has increased the number of prerequisites to qualify for a cyber insurance policy. If a business faces a cyberattack involving a data breach, it may find it hard to recover without additional support or resources. And this is just one example.
As cyber insurers become more experienced in what kinds of claims are being presented, and the threat action details therein, specific types of coverages are no longer being included. I’ve written quite a few times about specific cyber insurance claim cases that required going to court to settle. And in most of them, the courts sided with the insurer because the wording in the cyber insurance policy made certain it was covering specific use cases.
As more and more businesses and individuals rely on technology and the Internet, cyber threats such as data breaches, malware attacks, and cyber extortion are becoming increasingly common. Overall, cyber insurance can help mitigate the financial, legal, and reputational risks associated with cyber incidents.
