Resource Guide

What Does Cyber Insurance
Actually Require?

Cyber insurance requirements have gotten much stricter. Here's what underwriters are looking for and how to make sure you qualify.

Why Cyber Insurance Got Harder to Get

Between 2019 and 2022, cyber insurance claims exploded. Ransomware alone caused billions in losses. Insurers responded by tightening requirements dramatically. Many businesses that thought they had coverage found out after a claim that their policy didn't pay because they hadn't implemented the controls they said they had on their application.

Today, cyber insurance underwriters conduct real technical reviews. They use tools that scan your environment from the outside. They ask detailed questions. And they deny claims, or cancel policies, when the security posture doesn't match the application.

Here's what you need to have in place to qualify for a reasonable policy and actually be covered when you need it.

Security Controls Cyber Insurers Now Require

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Required on all remote access (VPN, email, cloud apps). This is now nearly universal. Insurers will often deny claims if MFA wasn't in place.

Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)

Basic antivirus is no longer sufficient. Insurers want behavioral EDR tools that detect threats even when antivirus signatures haven't been updated.

Email Security

Spam filtering, phishing protection, and often domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Business Email Compromise (BEC) is the leading cyber loss, so insurers take this seriously.

Privileged Access Management

Limiting admin rights to only those who need them. Too many businesses give everyone admin access, which makes ransomware much worse when it hits.

Backup & Recovery

Tested, offline or immutable backups. Insurers want to know your backup can't be encrypted alongside your live data, and that you've actually tested restoring from it.

Security Awareness Training

Documented, regular employee training on phishing and security hygiene. Annual training is the minimum; monthly simulations are increasingly expected.

Patch Management

Evidence that critical patches are applied promptly. Unpatched systems are the entry point for many ransomware attacks.

Incident Response Plan

A documented plan for what to do when, not if, a cyber incident occurs. Insurers want to see you have a process, not just a reaction.

Common Reasons Claims Get Denied

MFA was not enforced on remote access or email

Security controls listed on the application didn't actually exist

The attack exploited a vulnerability that hadn't been patched for months

No documented security policies were in place

Backup was encrypted alongside live data (no offline/immutable copy)

How to Prepare for Cyber Insurance Renewal

Audit your current security controls against what your policy requires

Document your security policies (written policies are required by most insurers)

Enforce MFA everywhere, especially on email and remote access

Test your backup restoration and document when you did it

Run a phishing simulation and document your training program

Work with your IT provider to produce an evidence package for your broker

We Help Businesses Prepare for Cyber Insurance

SimplifIT works with businesses in Lexington, Frankfort, Louisville, and Central Kentucky to implement the security controls that cyber insurers require and document them in a way that satisfies underwriter questionnaires.

Are You Cyber Insurance Ready?

We'll review your current security posture against what your insurer requires and identify gaps before they become denial reasons.

What Does Cyber Insurance Actually Require?