Cyber insurance can help businesses cover forensic investigation fees, data loss prevention expenses, and income replacement services. It can also pay for regulatory fines, business interruption, and legal costs.
While cyber insurance can mitigate risks, companies must still proactively fight hackers on an unbalanced playing field by installing robust technology systems and practicing good cybersecurity hygiene. This includes implementing regular backups, limiting access, and educating employees.
Recovering from a Ransomware Attack
When a cyberattack hits, it can bring operations to a halt. Getting back up and running quickly is expensive, and revenue loss from the interruption can be devastating. As a result, organizations are increasingly prioritizing the protection of their data and the ability to recover rapidly from ransomware attacks.
To prepare for a ransomware attack, developing an incident response plan that includes identifying infected machines and the types of malware involved, isolation of the affected systems, and rapid restoration of the most critical services and functions is essential. It’s also necessary to use multiple backup solutions and implement incremental backups with storage that can’t be written over, to reduce the risk of loss during recovery.
Adding cyber insurance to this mix helps offset the attack’s costs. While nobody wants to support cyber criminals, most organizations are forced to weigh the option of paying a ransom demand against the risk of operational disruptions that could last weeks or months and cost far more.
A cyber insurance policy will usually cover the costs associated with an attack, such as data recovery, system forensics, and legal fees. It will also reimburse for lost revenue due to an attack. However, the policy won’t cover damages to a company’s reputation or losses from publishing data or contacting customers.
Defending Against a Ransomware Attack
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent ransomware attacks and minimize their impact. Cybersecurity companies like Fortinet understand ransomware settlements aren’t a good strategy and can help companies prevent ransomware attacks. First, having a robust cybersecurity strategy and running cyber risk assessments regularly is essential. You should also regularly back up data and ensure those backups can be restored.
Keeping your business updated with the latest security patches and tools is another way to protect against ransomware. Another critical step is to train employees on the importance of following basic cybersecurity practices. This includes avoiding clicking on suspicious emails or attachments, not plugging in unrecognized media devices, and regularly running anti-virus checks.
Finally, reporting any suspected ransomware attack to authorities is essential. This can help law enforcement agencies locate the attacker and catch them. It can also help the organization identify the cause of the attack, which can be valuable information for improving security practices and training.
Many cyber insurance policies include coverage for the cost of lost revenue due to a ransomware attack or other types of data breaches. They can also cover the costs of notifying customers, providing them with credit monitoring services, and legal fees associated with responding to a data breach claim. However, there are some exclusions that you should consider.
Negotiating a Ransomware Settlement
A ransomware attacker’s first demand is rarely their final price, so be prepared to play a bit of a tennis match with them. They want the money as much as you do, but if they see that you’re willing to negotiate on the price and not simply ignore their request, they’ll likely settle for less.
With cyber insurance policies now covering most ransomware demands, hackers have become more reluctant to take a firm stand on the amount they ask for. As a result, many victims find it easier to pay a small fee and then recover their data from backups than to fight it out with cybercriminals.
As a result, more ransomware attacks are being settled with the threat actors rather than being reported to law enforcement agencies and prosecuted. This has prompted some cyber insurers to stop offering coverage for ransom payments in the belief that it encourages crime.
Despite this controversy, cyber insurance is becoming increasingly popular with small- and mid-sized businesses that lack the resources to self-insure against such an incident. It’s important to remember, however, that while it will cover the cost of a ransomware settlement, it doesn’t cover operating losses or costs stemming from the loss of proprietary or competitive information. It also doesn’t reimburse the value of stolen customer personal identifying information or help companies to recover from a diminished reputation.
The Importance of Cyber Insurance
Businesses purchase cyber insurance to offset the costs of a data breach or other cyber attack. They pay a recurring fee to get the coverage, which includes protection from liability lawsuits and the loss of revenue that comes with prolonged business interruptions. The policies typically cover first- and third-party losses, although it’s important to note that a cyber insurance policy doesn’t protect against physical injury or property damage.
The cyber insurance industry has received a fair share of criticism from those who say that the policies incentivize cyber criminals to carry out ransomware attacks. However, the reality is that most organizations can’t avoid ransomware demand, and they have to weigh the option of paying a few thousand dollars against operational disruptions that could last weeks or months and cost many times more.
In addition to protecting against the financial impact of a ransomware attack, a cyber insurance policy can provide peace of mind for the company and its employees. It is a valuable component of an overall risk management strategy. It also includes education and training to teach employees to recognize threats, patch regularly, limit user privileges, and follow basic cybersecurity hygiene. Companies are fighting hackers on an unbalanced playing field. While cyber insurance can help them mitigate some of the risks, they still have to invest in technology and training to prevent breaches from occurring in the first place.