Which Types of Businesses Need Data Breach Insurance?

A data breach insurance policy may not seem like something small businesses need. It may seem like data breaches only affect large companies that have lots of clients or sensitive information. 

However, there is a growing need for small businesses to obtain business insurance. The right business policy protects against the risks of data breaches. 

Data breaches can happen to any company. And, if it does, it is likely to lead to costly problems and a damaged reputation.

What Is Data Breach Business Insurance?

Most cyber liability insurance plans have a component of protection for data breaches. If not, it is important to upgrade your policy to obtain this type of protection. 

Cyber policies generally provide monetary help to businesses when a third party gains access to company or customer data. This includes coverage for:

• Notification of the data breach occurring to those affected
• Investigations into the data breach
• Remediation that fits the situation
• Management of the breach
• Support for ongoing needs to monitor personal data or information
• Regulatory fines and legal costs related to the data breach
• Legal cost coverage for court appearances and litigation

Why is your small business at risk? 

There are many situations where data breaches can be very risky. For example, a data breach can occur as a result of someone gaining access to your customer’s records. This type of breach means your customer is now at risk of identity theft. 

It might be that a thief only gets information like the client’s mailing address. But, cyber thieves often take more sensitive information. These can be things such as social security numbers or driver’s license numbers. 

A victim may have to take steps to monitor and secure their information after data theft. That may mean they sue you. The victim may charge that the allowed such a breach to occur. The victim might seek compensation for losses related to that breach.

When data theft expands across thousands of customers, it gets very expensive. It can be very hard for a small business to pay for these costs out of pocket. 

With the right type of business insurance, the risks of financial loss are much less. Ultimately, business insurance for data protection can help cover costs related to the incident. This could mean thousands – if not millions – of dollars in savings.