How to Get Ready for a Cyber Insurance Renewal (Before It’s Too Late)

Cyber insurance renewals aren’t what they used to be.

In the past, a quick application and a premium payment might have been enough. Today, insurers are scrutinizing your cybersecurity posture before they’ll underwrite—or renew—your policy.

And if you're not ready, the results can be painful:

• Higher premiums 💸

• Reduced coverage limits 📉

• New exclusions you didn’t expect 🚫

• Or worse… non-renewal 🔒

The good news? You can take control—but only if you prepare early.

Why Insurers Are Cracking Down

Ransomware losses, third-party breaches, and regulatory fines have hit insurers hard. In response, carriers are tightening requirements and applying more pressure on policyholders to prove they’re managing cyber risk.

Insurers now expect more than good intentions—they want:

• Documented security controls

• Mature incident response planning

• Vendor risk management

• Employee awareness training

• And defensible proof that your program works

5 Steps to Get Ahead of Your Next Renewal

1. Start Early (90–120 Days Out)

Most renewals fall apart because companies wait too long to gather documentation or remediate issues. Start your renewal prep at least 3–4 months before your current policy expires.

2. Review Last Year’s Application

Check what you said you had in place last year. If your security posture has changed—or if you weren’t completely accurate—you may need to update your practices or clarify your answers.

3. Map Your Controls to Insurer Expectations

Most carriers now ask about:

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

• Endpoint detection and response (EDR)

• Segregated backups

• Patch management

• Incident response playbooks

• Vendor due diligence

If you can’t demonstrate these, your renewal may be delayed—or rejected.

4. Prepare Your Documentation

Insurers increasingly require supporting evidence. That may include:

• Security policies and procedures

• Screenshots or audit logs of key controls

• Results from recent assessments or penetration tests

• Evidence of employee training completion

5. Conduct a Pre-Renewal Risk Assessment

At Bawn, we help clients perform a Cyber Liability Readiness Assessment before their renewal. This shows where your posture stands against current underwriting criteria—and how to close any gaps before they become exclusions.

What’s at Stake

Cyber insurance isn’t just a checkbox—it’s financial protection. But in today’s market, you have to earn it.

Fail to prepare, and you could face:

• Reduced coverage

• Higher deductibles

• Sub-limits that cap payouts

• Or no coverage at all when you need it most

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Don’t wait until your broker is chasing paperwork or your carrier is asking tough questions. By taking these steps now, you’ll not only improve your chances of renewal—you’ll also make your business more resilient and defensible.

👉 Schedule a Cyber Insurance Readiness Assessment with Baw