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Cyber insurance is a crucial investment for businesses in the UK, providing protection against cyber threats and financial losses. The average cost of cyber insurance in the UK can range from £2,000 to £20,000 per year.
Businesses in high-risk sectors, such as finance and healthcare, may need to pay higher premiums, up to £50,000 or more per year. Cyber insurance can help mitigate the financial impact of a cyber attack, covering costs such as data recovery, legal fees, and reputational damage.
In the event of a cyber breach, businesses can expect to pay up to £1.5 million in costs, including notification and data protection fees. Cyber insurance can help cover these costs, ensuring businesses can recover quickly and minimize downtime.
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What to Expect
In the UK, you can expect to pay around £1,740 annually for cyber insurance, also known as cyber liability insurance or cybersecurity insurance. This average cost is based on the median premiums paid by businesses.
The cost of cyber insurance has actually increased over the years, with small businesses paying around £1,500 annually in 2019, compared to £1,740 in 2024. This reflects the growing cyber threats and the importance of this insurance.
Several factors can affect the cost of cyber insurance, including the size and revenue of your company, industry risk levels, types of data stored, level of protection required, cybersecurity measures in place, and your business's claims history.
To manage cyber insurance costs effectively, you'll need to balance your coverage limits and deductibles. Higher limits increase premiums, while higher deductibles reduce premiums but may raise out-of-pocket costs when claims occur.
Here's a quick breakdown of how deductibles can impact your costs:
Keep in mind that while a lower deductible may save you money on premiums, it could lead to higher out-of-pocket costs when claims occur.
Factors Affecting Cost
Cyber insurance costs in the UK can be influenced by a variety of factors, making it essential to understand what affects the price of your policy.
Your policy limits and deductible are two key factors that determine the cost of your cyber insurance. Businesses that face higher risks may choose to pay more for higher policy limits.
The amount of sensitive information handled by your business is another crucial factor. Companies that handle large volumes of sensitive data, such as healthcare and finance, pay more for cyber insurance due to their increased risk exposure.
The number of employees in your business also impacts the cost of cyber insurance. Larger companies with more employees typically face higher premiums due to their greater risk exposure.
A history of insurance claims can also affect the cost of your cyber insurance. A history of claims can lead to increased premium costs, while a reduction in claims can stabilize or even decrease premium costs.
Here are some key factors that affect the cost of cyber insurance:
- Your policy limits and deductible
- Cyber threats in your industry
- Amount of sensitive information handled
- Number of employees
- History of insurance claims
The type of cyber insurance you purchase can also impact the cost. Most businesses only need first-party cyber liability insurance, which pays for costs associated with a data breach at their own business.
Higher policy limits can result in higher premiums, while a higher deductible can result in lower premiums. However, it's essential to ensure you can afford the deductible in case of a claim.
Saving Money
Implementing strong cybersecurity programs and adhering to frameworks like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework can reduce insurance premiums.
A business with a history of minimal or no cybersecurity incidents may qualify for lower insurance rates.
Bundling insurance policies can lead to discounts and savings on cyber insurance costs.
Making annual payments can also result in discounts and savings on cyber insurance costs.
Cyber insurance costs vary based on several factors, including coverage limits and industry risks.
The median monthly premium for cyber insurance among small businesses in the UK is around £145, according to Insureon.
This amounts to slightly above £1700 annually.
Factors such as coverage limits and industry risks cause these costs to fluctuate.
To give you a better idea, here are some average costs for small businesses in the UK:
Keep in mind that these costs can escalate quickly, especially if your business is targeted by cybercriminals.
Why Choose Cyber Insurance
Choosing cyber insurance is a no-brainer, especially in the UK. Cyber attacks can cost a small business up to £75,000.
The cost of a cyber attack can be devastating, with some businesses facing fines of up to £17 million. This is a staggering amount that can put a small business out of operation.
In the UK, the average cost of a cyber attack is £1,046 per employee, which can add up quickly. This is why cyber insurance is a must-have for businesses of all sizes.
Protecting Your Business
Many small businesses assume they're at low risk for cybercrime, but cybercriminals often target them as they have fewer resources to protect themselves. In fact, 98% of cyber insurance claims come from small and medium businesses.
Cyber liability insurance can pay for business interruption caused by a software outage, legal defense costs, and costs associated with a data breach. For example, if a hacker brings down the software that a company relies on for customer transactions, the business can miss up to three business days of work while the software is unavailable.
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To mitigate the cost of cyber insurance, risk management and security measures are essential. Businesses demonstrating greater executive awareness of cyber risks and adherence to cybersecurity standards receive lower premiums due to reduced risks. Compliance with industry regulations and robust risk management policies, including detailed incident response plans, vendor risk management programs, and regular penetration testing, are favorably assessed by insurers, leading to potential premium discounts.
Here are some key features to look for in a cyber insurance policy:
- Market-leading incident response
- Broad business interruption cover
- Cover for cybercrime and data breaches
- Free access to our mobile app
By implementing security measures at your business, you can save money on your premium. For example, you might routinely change your business’s account passwords, invest in secure equipment and software, teach employees to recognize and avoid malware and phishing attempts, and implement multi-factor authentication for employees.
The cost of cyber insurance is affected by factors like the size and revenue of the company, industry risk levels, types of data stored, level of protection required, cybersecurity measures in place, and the business’s claims history. The median monthly premium for cyber insurance among small businesses is around $145, according to Insureon.
Businesses that handle sensitive information should strongly consider cyber liability insurance. It’s all about balancing the cost of insurance against the potential loss in the event of a cyber incident. Ultimately, given that the expense of a cyber incident can greatly surpass the cost of insurance, investing in cyber insurance proves to be beneficial.
The average cyber insurance costs for small businesses have increased from an annual average of $1,500 in 2019 to around $1,740 in 2024 for $1 million in coverage with a $10,000 deductible, reflecting the growing cyber threats and the importance of this insurance.
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Sources
- https://www.insureon.com/small-business-insurance/cyber-liability/cost
- https://www.howdengroup.com/uk-en/cover/cyber
- https://www.cfc.com/en-gb/products/class/cyber-insurance/
- https://www.marsh.com/en-gb/services/cyber-risk/insights/cyber-insurance-pricing-claims-trends-insights.html
- https://allchoiceinsurance.com/cyber-insurance-education/how-much-does-cyber-insurance-cost/
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