Brit starts cyber insurance for attacks on critical infrastructure, machinery

Lloyd’s insurer Brit said it has developed a unique insurance service to protect companies operating critical infrastructure and industrial machinery from terrorist and other malicious attacks, such as sabotage, espionage and theft.

Critical infrastructure, operated through complex software known as industrial control systems, is increasingly vulnerable to malicious cyber breaches presenting the global economy with potential catastrophic risk. To date, the insurance market has offered inadequate security to protect against this type of cyber vulnerability.

Brit’s product gives companies insurance cover for first party property damage, business interruption, the cost of restoring digital assets and reimbursement for resultant business income losses. In addition, it provides comprehensive cyber security risk assessment, on-going loss mitigation and inspection services.

The product has been designed specifically to provide insurance protection for large industrial companies, encompassing all aspects of the oil and gas sector (including exploration and production, refining, transportation, storage and other associated downstream marketing activities), the utilities sectors and other heavy industries.

In creating this product Brit has partnered with Coalfire, North America’s largest independent cyber security and corporate governance auditor, to provide 3rd party cyber security risk assessment. Coalfire is highly experienced in working with industrial assureds to assess the adequacy and vulnerability of their control systems.

The partnership with Coalfire is an important part of the Brit product offer giving detailed and in-depth analysis not currently available to the insurance industry.

Brit is leading a number of Lloyd’s syndicates to offer first loss limits of up to $250m of first party cyber coverage. This innovative consortium draws on Brit’s experience of underwriting global first party property, energy and cyber classes, harnessing the capability of the Lloyd’s insurance market to develop innovative insurance solutions to emerging risks.

Brit is a respected lead syndicate in all lines of business that are relevant to its new cyber-attack product. An award-winning claims team in this complex emerging risk area, it is one of the most experienced teams in Lloyd’s. Russell Kennedy (Class Underwriter, War and Terrorism) and Mike Smith (Head of Wordings) are responsible for the new product.

Russell Kennedy said, “The threat from cyber attacks is a fast emerging and complex one which presents potential catastrophic risk and for which there is currently inadequate insurance coverage. Attacks can be committed by an array of perpetrators such as terrorists, state-sponsored agents or even disgruntled employees.

This product gives companies the vital protection and ongoing risk assessment support they need against attacks where the ramifications, financial and operationally, can be disastrous.”