Amid a rising number of high profile mega data breaches—most recently at eBay, Target and Neiman Marcus—government is stepping up its scrutiny of cyber security. This is leading to increased calls for legislation and regulation, placing the burden on companies to demonstrate that the information provided by customers and clients is properly safeguarded online.

Despite the fact that cyber risks and cyber security are widely acknowledged to be a serious threat, many companies today still do not purchase cyber risk insurance. However, this is changing. Recent legal developments underscore the fact that reliance on traditional insurance policies is not enough, as companies face growing liabilities in this fast-evolving area.

Specialist cyber insurance policies have been developed by insurers to help businesses and individuals protect themselves from the cyber threat. Market intelligence suggests that the types of specialized cyber coverage being offered by insurers are expanding in response to this fast-growing market need.

There is also growing evidence that in the wake of the Target data breach and other high profile breaches, the number of policies is increasing, and that insurance has a key role to play as companies and individuals look to better manage and reduce their potential financial losses from cyber risks in future.

For an analysis of the state of cyber risk and the insurance industry, download the full White Paper below.

Please click on the file name below to view the white paper in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the file.

Download paper_cyberrisk_2014.pdf

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Cyber Risks: The Growing Threat” http://www.iii.org website. Accessed August 5, 2014. http://www.iii.org/white-paper/cyber-risks-the-growing-threat

© Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.