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A few years ago, cyber insurance applications were mostly checkboxes.
Today, underwriters increasingly want evidence. Organizations are being asked to prove they have controls like MFA, EDR, tested backups, and incident response plans in place before coverage is approved or renewed. Many carriers are moving from self-attestation to validation through documentation and technical review.
The 7 Controls
1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Still the first thing underwriters ask about.
Not just for email anymore:
- Microsoft 365
- VPNs
- Administrative accounts
- Remote access
Many carriers now prefer phishing-resistant MFA methods for privileged users.
2. Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)
Traditional antivirus isn't enough.
Underwriters increasingly expect:
- EDR deployment
- Monitoring
- Threat detection capabilities
- Coverage across servers and workstations
3. Immutable Backups
Can you recover from ransomware?
Insurers want:
- Offline or immutable backups
- Tested restores
- Documented recovery procedures
4. Patch Management
How quickly are critical vulnerabilities addressed?
Organizations that can't demonstrate a formal patching process may face increased scrutiny.
5. Security Awareness Training
Most attacks still start with people.
Underwriters increasingly ask about:
- Training frequency
- Phishing simulations
- Employee participation
6. Incident Response Planning
If an attack happens tomorrow, what happens next?
A documented IR plan—and evidence it's been tested—has become a common underwriting expectation.
7. Privileged Access Management
Who has admin rights?
Excessive privileges continue to be a major risk factor and are increasingly evaluated during underwriting reviews.
The Twist
The best part of this article is the conclusion:
The organizations that qualify for better cyber insurance terms are often the same organizations that are less likely to experience a major cyber incident in the first place.
Cyber insurance requirements have effectively become a practical cybersecurity roadmap. The controls insurers are asking for—MFA, EDR, backups, patching, incident response, and access management—are the same controls security professionals recommend regardless of insurance requirements.
