October 12, 2023

How to Mitigate Cyber Risks and Control Cyber Insurance Premiums

Cyber-attacks have become an increasingly pervasive threat. As the sophistication and frequency of these attacks increase, businesses are grappling with rising insurance premiums. Per the Wall Street Journal, cyber insurance prices rose 11% year over year on average in Q1 2023. The good news? Organizations can reduce their vulnerability and limit insurance costs by understanding the risks and implementing effective mitigation strategies. We can help! Reach out to our team for a personalized cyber risk assessment or take our cybersecurity quiz today.

Understanding the Cyber Risk Landscape

The first step in effective cyber risk management is understanding the threat landscape. Cyber risks can stem from the following:

1. External Threats: Including hackers, nation-states, and organized cybercriminal groups attempting to gain unauthorized systems access.
2. Internal Threats: Disgruntled employees or careless actions can lead to data breaches or system compromise.
3. Supply Chain Threats: Your vendors or third-party service providers might be compromised, posing indirect threats to your organization.

Assessing Your Risk Profile

Before you can implement mitigation strategies, you need to identify where your organization is most vulnerable: 

1. Inventory of Digital Assets: Understand what you have – from sensitive customer data to proprietary software.
2. Threat and Vulnerability Assessment: Employ cybersecurity experts to test your defenses and identify weak points.
3. Impact Analysis: Determine the potential financial and reputational impact of different types of breaches.

Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Risks

Once you clearly understand your risk profile, strengthen your defenses. Here are some key strategies:

1. Employee Training: Many breaches occur due to human error. Regularly training employees on safe online practices and how to recognize threats (like phishing emails) can significantly reduce risks.
2. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA for all critical systems. Adding an additional layer of security makes it harder for unauthorized users to gain access.
3. Regular Patching and Updates: Ensure that all software, including operating systems and third-party applications, are regularly updated to patch known vulnerabilities.
4. Incident Response Plan: Have a well-documented, rehearsed, and tested plan to respond to breaches. Your plan will minimize damage and demonstrate to insurers that you are prepared. Download our Incident Response Plan template
5. Backup and Encryption: Regularly back up critical data and ensure it’s encrypted. In case of ransomware attacks, having an accessible backup can prevent the need to pay ransoms. Test your backups frequently to ensure they are working and that you can recover copies of your data.
6. Vendor Risk Management: Regularly assess the cybersecurity measures of your vendors. Make sure they adhere to your security standards and consider periodic audits.
7. Limiting Access: Only give employees access to necessary systems and information. This principle of least privilege can minimize the damage during internal breaches.

The Insurance Perspective

Insurance companies base premiums on their assessment of risk. By demonstrating that your organization is proactive in managing cyber threats, you position yourself for more favorable premium rates. Here’s how:

1. Regularly Review Coverage: Ensure your coverage aligns with your risk profile. Over-insuring can lead to unnecessary costs, while under-insuring leaves you exposed.
2. Collaborate with Insurers: Some insurers offer risk assessment tools or collaborate with cybersecurity firms. Leveraging these resources can help control your risk and, subsequently, your premiums.
3. Claim History: Like with any insurance, fewer claims typically result in lower premiums. By effectively mitigating risks, you reduce the likelihood of breaches and claims.

The Value of Cyber Risk Management

Beyond controlling insurance premiums, an effective cyber risk management strategy offers several benefits:

1. Reputation Management: Customers and partners trust businesses committed to cybersecurity.
2. Operational Continuity: A major breach can disrupt operations. Proactive measures ensure that your business continues to run smoothly.
3. Legal & Regulatory Compliance: Companies are under increased scrutiny with regulations like HIPAA for health care and CMMC for DoD contractors. Proper risk management can help avoid hefty fines and legal complications.

Fortify Your Posture

When it comes to cybersecurity, a little effort now can save a lot of time, money, and stress later. By reducing risk and strengthening your security posture, you’ll not only make your data more secure, but you will also make your organization more insurable. Starting with a security assessment is a great way to baseline your current situation. Reach out to our team today and start your security journey. 

Dewpoint, an award-winning, Michigan-based technology firm, has been helping businesses prepare for, stay ahead of, and respond to IT challenges for over 26 years. From IT security to infrastructure management to automation, cloud migration, and beyond, Dewpoint has long been a trusted technology resource for businesses.