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Understanding cyber insurance:
An overview

Written by Daya KannanMFA2 min read

On this page
  • What is cyber insurance?
  • Why is cyber insurance necessary?
  • Cyber insurance benefits
  • Things to keep in mind before selecting a cyber insurance provider
  • The role of IAM in cyber insurance
  • Fortify your cyberdefense with ADSelfService Plus

What is cyber insurance?

Cyber insurance, also known as cyber liability insurance, is an insurance policy designed to help organizations mitigate the financial risks associated with conducting business online. This kind of insurance provides cyberattack financial protection against potentially adverse cyber incidents, like data breaches and ransomware attacks. It enables businesses to mitigate the financial impact of a cyberattack, including the costs of legal fees, customer notifications, system repairs, and managing public relations.

Why is cyber insurance necessary?

In today's digital age, businesses are run almost entirely online, resulting in a significantly larger attack surface. Having robust data breach insurance policies in place along with ransomware attack coverage is crucial for organizations of all sizes in defending against today's sophisticated cyberattacks. The financial and reputational damage caused by a cyberattack can be devastating, making cyber insurance benefits a vital component of any risk management strategy.

Cyber insurance benefits

  • Financial protection: Acquiring data breach insurance provides organizations with cyberattack financial protection, covering expenses such as legal fees, forensic analysis costs, and costs incurred to mitigate reputational damage.
  • Data recovery: Policies often include data recovery insurance, covering the costs of recovering and restoring compromised customer data.
  • Business interruption protection: Business interruption insurance covers the loss of income due to a cyberattack that disrupts business operations.
  • Regulatory compliance: Acquiring cyber insurance ensures compliance with various regulatory requirements related to data breaches and cybersecurity incidents.
  • Peace of mind: Knowing that there is a safety net in place allows businesses to focus on their core operations without the constant fear of cyberthreats.

Things to keep in mind before selecting a cyber insurance provider

When selecting a cyber insurance policy, businesses should consider the following:

  • Coverage limits: Understand the maximum payout limits for various types of incidents.
  • Exclusions: Be aware of what is not covered, such as ransomware attack coverage, preexisting vulnerabilities, or insider threats.
  • Premium costs: Be aware that premiums may vary based on the company’s size, industry, and security posture.
  • Policy terms: Ensure that the terms and conditions of the policy align with the company’s risk management strategy​.

The role of IAM in cyber insurance

Implementing strong IAM practices, such as MFA, user behavior analytics, and role-based access control, and maintaining stringent cyber hygiene practices, such as regular patching, network monitoring, and employee training, not only prevent cyber incidents but also demonstrate a commitment to security. This proactive approach is beneficial during cyber liability insurance analyses, as it can lead to better policy terms and lower premiums.

Fortify your cyberdefense with ADSelfService Plus

Enhancing security through robust measures includes deploying identity security solutions like ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus. This tool enforces strong security practices, including securing resources with adaptive MFA and implementing endpoint security to secure vulnerable endpoints.

Adaptive MFA

Adaptive MFA, also called risk-based MFA, adjusts authentication factors based on users' login risk levels, which are derived from contextual data such as consecutive login failures, geolocation, device type, time of access, or IP address. The authentication factors presented to users change according to the calculated risk levels.

Adaptive MFA
Fig. 1: Adaptive MFA flow in ADSelfService Plus

For example, if a user logs in to their device at an unusual time or from a different place, they may be asked to verify their identity with additional authentication factors. If the user's login activity continues to appear suspicious, they will be denied access. Conversely, to enhance the user experience, the MFA process may sometimes be skipped for users when no risk is detected.

Endpoint security

ADSelfService Plus secures your endpoints by providing adaptive MFA for a wide range of devices and network connections, including Windows, Mac, and Linux machines, and logins to VPN, OWA, and cloud applications. It provides robust security with support for 20 different authentication methods, including biometric authentication, FIDO passkeys, RSA SecurID, and QR code authentication.

Endpoint security
Fig. 2: Endpoint MFA with ADSelfService Plus

This comprehensive protection meets compliance standards such as the NIST's Cybersecurity Framework, the GDPR, HIPAA, and other trusted regulators. Deploying the solution can enhance an organization’s resilience, safeguard against potential cyberattacks, and lower insurance costs.

Overall, cyber insurance benefits, such as financial protection, data recovery insurance, and business interruption insurance, are critical for businesses in this digital age, providing peace of mind against the ever-present threat of cyberattacks.

Maximize cyber insurance savings with ADSelfService Plus' modern security controls
 

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