A cyber-security insurance policy was developed to help companies offset potential losses related to a data-security compromise or other event by offsetting expenses and costs involved in incident recovery. Most cyber security policies available on the market now provide a combination of two key kinds of insurance coverage:
The first party is the insurer or the policyholder who issues the cyber-security insurance policy. This is the individual or the company that has the computer system that is being hacked into. In the event of a security breach, this is the person or company whose data has been compromised. The insurer will then reimburse the cost of any data lost as well as any expenses incurred as a result of the data breach. In most cases, the reimbursement is from the first party only – from the company that made the investment in the system in the first place. While you may be relieved from these expenses and up to some extent some of your own losses, there are often significant surcharges that are added to the actual expense of the breach.
In addition to the actual expense involved in the data breach, there is also likely to be a charge or fee assessed to the customer or business for their negligence in preventing the breach in the first place. The cost of this potential penalty varies greatly. If the cyber-security insurance policy was canceled at the last minute because of an insufficient advance in the notification process, the potential charges would be significantly higher. In addition, there could be potential fees for the collection of data breaches, repair of the damage, and counseling of customers whose data may have been compromised. There is also likely to be potential charges for attorneys who represent customers whose data was compromised. For example, if a business owner does not take reasonable steps to prevent the breach while knowing that someone else did, they could be liable for negligence.
Cyber Security Insurance Policy
Beyond possible legal ramifications of a cyber-security insurance policy, there are also the financial implications of having inadequate coverage. If a customer’s information has been compromised, they may not be able to pay for charges associated with having their information stolen. Further, they may not be able to find other companies that have the same type of coverage. In addition, if they have their information stolen and cannot verify the date of the breach, they will not be able to file claims.
While some people may see cyber security insurance policies as a nuisance, there are many benefits of such policies. First, it offers protection against a number of different types of damages including those directly caused by the breach itself. Additionally, these types of policies offer protections against loss that is unrelated to the original breach itself. Finally, there are often reimbursements available for expenses incurred due to data breaches. These reimbursements can be significant and, in many cases, require the filing of additional claims.
When choosing a cyber-security insurance policy, make sure that the coverage reflects the specific needs of your business. There are a number of elements that need to be considered including the type of data that is at stake, the potential cost of a breach, and the amount of time it could take to fix the problem. You should consider the amount of liability that will be faced as well as any possible reimbursements for business interruption and lost revenue. Lastly, always remember to carefully review the fine print. Nothing should be overlooked because even the smallest detail can become an issue if there is a problem.
Tags: cyber security insurance policy, vulnerabilities, applications, vulnerability assessment, dark-side hackers
Raymond Dunn is the founder and driving force behind Hackateer.com, a premier source for cybersecurity news and tutorials since 2009. With a mission to empower both novices and experts in the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, Raymond has built Hackateer into a trusted platform renowned for its comprehensive industry insights, hands-on tutorials, and expert analysis.
