Why is Cyber Insurance a Necessity in Today's Web World?

Cyber Insurance – Rising Threat to Cyber Security

An awareness regarding cyber insurance should be brought about owing to the rising threat to cyber security. The increasing threat with attacks like WannaCry rising in numbers together with the higher dependency on the web has given rise to the need for another support in the insurance segment namely cyber insurance.

The purpose of obtaining your online business or data insured has been an unfamiliar concept to several people. With various insurance companies available offering package connected to cyber insurances the idea for the same has not yet started. We have overseas insurance companies who have been providing cyber insurance keeping their focus on advent of tech companies.

 However in India, the scenario tends to be different. The MD and CEO of Future Generali Insurance, KG Krishnamoorthy Rao has commented that `it is a comparatively new concept particularly in markets here. Abroad the same has been prevailing for three-four years. However as more and more transaction tends to occur online, especially financial, incidents of cyber fraud seem to be on the rise.

Cyber terrorism is also a new threat where people tend to extort others online with threats that their data will be destroyed if the ransom amount is not paid. He further added that even if an awareness of cyber insurance is not familiar, it needs to be known and then there will be a market for the same.

Transacting Online – Information not Misused/Leaked

Krisnamoorthy’s company is awaiting approval for the launch of their cyber insurance package for the people. The other markets too are in agreement that the awareness could be important to this problem. Shupoorna Chakarabarty from ACP-India First Life Insurance had informed that most companies had not taken up this policy so far and it is critical that when one is transacting online, their information is not misused or leaked.

 It is often the banking sector or payment wallets which tend to need cyber insurance urgently. Though the loss owing to a cyber-attack is unavoidable, it could certainly be reimbursed. The cyber insurance offers a number of safety nets on any online business. Rao informed about some of the damages which tend to be covered within cyber insurance.

He informed that economic loss suffered by a client due to cyber-attack could be eligible for insurance and the insurance company is accountable in making up for the loss incurred. Moreover the transmission of data due to an e-threat, where the data tends to get destroyed is also covered by the policy. Another significant aspect is when the data is lost, the expenses in restoring the data is covered by the insurance agent.

Expert Intervention Needed

Though there are not several challenges while handling cyber insurance, Rao has mentioned that expert intervention was needed in handling these cases. He further added that when a client tends to claim a loss or damage, a cyber-security expert is essential in verifying the same.

The damages may not be easy to determine and tends to take a longer time. The issue prevailing so far is that in India, several of the people are yet not aware that they can claim this. He says that in India, we have not yet evolved to a point that we can sue a company stating that my information has been leaked.