Cyber Insurance: The Questionnaire Has Become an Audit
Not so long ago, taking out cyber insurance fit on a single page. Today, the questionnaire looks like a full security audit. After years of costly claims, insurers have tightened their requirements, and they now verify what you declare.
The consequence is direct: without certain measures in place, your premium goes up, your deductible rises, or your application is simply denied.
What Insurers Require Today
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
This has become non-negotiable, especially for remote access, email, and administrator accounts. Many insurers refuse to cover a company that has not deployed MFA on these accesses.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR or MDR)
EDR (endpoint detection and response), or its managed version, MDR, increasingly appears among the conditions. Insurers want a real ability to detect and contain an ongoing attack, not just a traditional antivirus.
Tested and Isolated Backups
You will be asked whether your backups are offline or immutable, and how often you test your restores. A vague answer, or a restore that has never been verified, is costly on the day of a claim.
Employee Training and an Incident Plan
Phishing awareness, a documented response plan, regular patch management: all of these are elements the insurer reviews and that weigh on your premium.
Beware of False Declarations
Checking a box out of optimism is a risky bet. If a claim arises and the insurer finds that the measure was not really in place, your payout may be reduced, or even denied. Answer the questionnaire honestly, and keep on hand the evidence that supports each answer.
Turning the Renewal Into an Opportunity
The good news: insurers' requirements line up with good security practices. By complying with them, you reduce both your premium and your actual risk.
Prepare your renewal several weeks in advance. You will have time to spot the gaps and close them before the deadline, rather than scrambling to patch together answers at the last minute.
Want to approach your next renewal from a position of strength? Contact us and we will confirm the measures your insurer expects.
