Insurance companies (especially those offering cybersecurity policies) frequently examine a business’s website to assess security and safety measures, much like they do with email systems.
Why Insurance Companies Review Business Websites:
Here’s why and how they typically evaluate websites:
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Risk Assessment:
Insurance providers want to determine a website’s vulnerability to cyber threats, as unsecured sites pose greater risks for claims due to data breaches or cyber-attacks.
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Compliance:
Insurers often ensure businesses comply with baseline cybersecurity standards and regulations to mitigate risk and reduce the insurer’s own liability.
What They Usually Look For:
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HTTPS and SSL Certificates:
Secure, encrypted connections (indicated by HTTPS and valid SSL certificates).
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Website Hosting Security:
Reliable and secure hosting environments that have up-to-date security patches.
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Security Best Practices:
Proper security measures include malware protection, vulnerability scanning, and web application security.
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Privacy Policies and Compliance:
Clearly posted privacy policies and adherence to regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, etc.
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Software & Plugin Updates:
Regular updates to content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Joomla) and plugins to prevent known vulnerabilities.
How They Evaluate:
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Automated Security Scans:
Insurers commonly run automated scans using cybersecurity tools to identify known vulnerabilities or poor practices.
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Manual Audits (Less Common but Possible):
In some cases, an insurer might perform a more thorough manual audit, especially for larger or high-risk businesses.
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Questionnaires and Self-Assessments:
They may require a business to complete questionnaires verifying their cybersecurity practices and website security protocols.
Similarity with POP Email Assessments:
Insurance companies regularly examine email protocols (such as POP/IMAP) to ensure secure email communication and assess vulnerabilities related to phishing, credential leaks, or compromised email accounts. Similarly, website security is equally critical since unsecured sites present a significant surface for cyber threats.
What Should Businesses Do?
If you’re preparing for such evaluations, you should ensure:
- Your website runs securely via HTTPS (SSL encryption).
- You maintain updated hosting and security software.
- You document cybersecurity practices clearly.
- Have regular WordPress & plugin updates.
- CAPTCHA on your website forms for Two Factor Authentication.
- Malware remediation
Taking these precautions not only helps you pass insurers’ checks but can also lower your insurance premiums by reducing your perceived risk.
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Sources:
- Business.com – Cyber Insurance Risk Assessment: How it Works
https://www.business.com/insurance/cyber-insurance-risk-assessment/ - BitSight (via Wikipedia) – Overview of Security Ratings Used by Insurers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitSight - Kroll – Cyber Risk Assessments and Testing
https://www.kroll.com/en/services/cyber-risk/assessments-testing/cyber-risk-assessments - Center for Internet Security (CIS) (via Wikipedia) – Cybersecurity Best Practices and Framework
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Internet_Security
AON – Cybersecurity Assessments and Services for Businesses
https://www.aon.com/en/capabilities/cyber-resilience/cyber-security-assessments
