Small businesses across the UK that are truly putting the effort in to boost their cyber security resilience are set to receive a welcome reward.
Insurance MGA Pen Underwriting has teamed with the Police Digital Security Centre (PDSC) on a national certification scheme for firms that are “Digitally Aware.” The scheme involves a simple online assessment tool that helps businesses test and improve their resilience to common forms of cybercrime.
According to the MGA, it will also offer a premium discount to those SMEs that achieve the certification and then purchase its cyber insurance.
“This is a very timely and valuable police scheme that we’re proud to support,” said Adrian Scott, head of international and financial lines at Pen Underwriting. “It’s in all our interests to help small businesses recognise their vulnerability to the fast-evolving risks of cybercrime and take steps to improve their resilience to what is now an omnipresent threat.
“Just as the insurance industry acknowledges actions policyholders take to alleviate the risk of flooding to their homes, or drivers who can demonstrate they are a better risk on the roads, so too should we look to encourage firms to reduce their risk of falling victim to costly cybercrime or attacks that can effectively stop their business from trading.”
Meanwhile, Simon Newman, head of cyber and business services at the PDSC, noted that take-up of the scheme would ultimately make businesses safer.
“We’ve developed this simple online assessment tool and certification scheme because it’s important small businesses regularly review their vulnerability to common types of cybercrime, understand their exposure to risk and put in place simple control measures to improve their own resilience,” he said. “And having that enhanced resilience recognised when it comes to buying insurance will be welcomed by UK small businesses, who are already facing a very challenging time.”
