Cyber insurance used to be based on sector, turnover, and a brief questionnaire. In 2025, that’s changed.
With the rise of platforms like Kynd, SecurityScorecard, Cyber Tzar, and others, underwriters now use risk ratings and external data to guide pricing, eligibility, and exclusions.
This shift is reshaping how businesses buy cover, how insurers price it, and how brokers defend claims. Here’s what every business needs to know about the new model — and how to stay insurable.
What’s Changed in Cyber Insurance Underwriting?
📊 Static surveys are out – Real-time data is now preferred
📡 External risk ratings now influence underwriting decisions
⚖️ Cover decisions are tiered by risk profile, not just turnover
📉 Higher-risk companies are being declined or heavily excluded
🧾 Brokers and MGAs are expected to validate risk more proactively
The insurer’s question today isn’t “What do you say you do?” — it’s “What does the data say you are exposed to?”
The Role of Risk Ratings
Cyber risk ratings typically assess:
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🔓 External vulnerabilities
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📬 Email security and domain hygiene
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🛡️ Historical breach signals
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🔗 Supply chain dependencies
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📈 Sector-relative benchmarking
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📑 Controls mapped to frameworks (Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, etc.)
Insurers then adjust pricing and coverage based on how you compare to peers in your size and sector.
What This Means for Buyers
✅ Your external posture now affects your premium
✅ Bad scores may lead to exclusions or higher deductibles
✅ Some policies now require active monitoring throughout the year
✅ Claims can be denied based on discrepancies between attested controls and external evidence
You can’t fix this with spin — only real improvements count.
How to Strengthen Your Insurance Position
🔍 Know your external risk rating
Don’t wait for an insurer to point out your weaknesses.
🛠️ Remediate proactively
Patch known issues, configure security headers, enforce MFA, and remove outdated services.
📊 Benchmark regularly
Understand where you sit in your sector and track improvements over time.
📁 Document everything
Maintain change logs, policies, scans, and evidence for underwriting and claims defence.
🤝 Partner with insurers who value transparency
Work with brokers and carriers who give feedback, not just verdicts.
How Cyber Tzar Supports Smarter Underwriting
Cyber Tzar helps businesses:
✅ Get a live cyber risk rating for underwriting and renewal
✅ Benchmark performance within your sector
✅ Share dynamic posture with brokers and insurers
✅ Track remediation efforts across internal teams and suppliers
✅ Reduce exclusions, justify coverage, and unlock better premiums
We help you move from being a policyholder to a partner in risk reduction.
📋 Want to improve your insurability in 2025?
Get your free cyber risk rating at cybertzar.com
