Three Cyber Claims Trends to Watch in 2025

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Cybersecurity claims have surged in recent years due to increased cyber threats and growing insurance coverage adoption. As the landscape grows in complexity, it's crucial to stay on top of emerging trends that could significantly impact your business. To help navigate this complex environment, we've compiled three key cyber claims trends to watch for in 2025.

1. Intensified Regulatory Scrutiny
Regulatory agencies are intensifying their scrutiny of cybersecurity practices, expanding their oversight beyond traditional technology-focused sectors. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), for example, is actively pursuing businesses for unfair trade practices, including inadequate cybersecurity measures that may confer an unfair competitive advantage. Other regulatory bodies, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), state attorneys general and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), are also asserting their enforcement authority in the cybersecurity domain.

To mitigate the risks associated with this heightened regulatory scrutiny, organizations should prioritize robust cybersecurity practices and ensure compliance with evolving regulations. This includes:

• Conducting regular risk assessments
  
  
• Implementing strong security controls
  
  
• Establishing effective incident response plans

Additionally, organizations should stay informed about emerging regulatory developments and consult with legal and cybersecurity experts to navigate the complex regulatory landscape.

2. The Rise of Dependent Business Interruption Claims
Dependent business interruption claims have emerged as a critical concern in recent years. These claims arise when a service provider's outage disrupts the operations of their clients. While challenging to underwrite due to the complex interplay of third-party vendors and intricate supply chains, such incidents can have severe financial repercussions for businesses.

To mitigate these risks, organizations should take the following actions:

• Rigorously evaluate their vendor relationships
  
  
• Establish robust contingency plans
  
  
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of their risk management practices

By proactively addressing these factors, businesses can enhance their resilience and minimize potential financial losses.

3. Scrutinizing Insurance Applications
As cyber claims increase, insurers are conducting more rigorous reviews of insurance applications. This includes scrutinizing the accuracy and completeness of information provided by policyholders regarding their cybersecurity practices. Any discrepancies between the information provided on the application and the actual state of affairs can lead to coverage disputes or even policy rescission.

To avoid potential coverage issues, it's essential for businesses to be transparent and accurate when completing insurance applications. Maintaining detailed records of cybersecurity measures, incident response plans and vendor relationships can help mitigate risks and strengthen the insurer-insured relationship.

By staying informed about these trends and taking proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity measures, businesses can better protect themselves from cyber threats and minimize the potential impact of cyber incidents. To stay informed on cyber trends, emerging threats and market updates, subscribe to the quarterly Cyber Intelligence Newsletter.