The report, 'UK cyber security: the role of insurance in managing and mitigating the risk', has been produced in collaboration with the UK's insurance market and a number of top UK companies. It aims to make the UK a world centre for cyber security insurance. In particular, it highlights the exposure of firms to cyber attacks among their suppliers with a key agreement that participating insurers will include the government's Cyber Essentials certification as part of their risk assessment for small and medium businesses.

Read the report: UK cyber security: the role of insurance in managing and mitigating the risk.

Cyber threats are estimated to cost the UK economy billions of pounds each year with the cost of cyber attacks nearly doubling between 2013 and 2014. The report found that, while larger firms have taken some action to make themselves more cyber-secure, they face an escalating threat as they become more reliant on online distribution channels and as attackers grow more sophisticated. It issues a call to arms for insurers and insurance brokers to simplify and raise awareness of their cyber insurance offering and ensure that firms understand the extent of their coverage against cyber attack.

Companies are recommended to stop viewing cyber largely as an IT issue and focus on it as a key commercial risk affecting all parts of its operations. The product of collaboration between government and the sector following a summit held last November, the report recommends that firms examine the different forms of cyber attacks they face, to stress-test themselves against them and to put in place business-wide recovery plans.

The report also notes a significant gap in awareness around the use of insurance, with around half of firms interviewed being unaware that insurance was available for cyber risk. Other surveys suggest that despite the growing concern among UK companies about the threat of cyber attacks, less than 10% of UK companies have cyber insurance protection even though 52% of CEOs believe that their companies have some form of coverage in place.

On 23 March, Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office with responsibility for the UK Cyber Security Strategy, is hosting an event at the Cabinet Office for chairmen and senior executives of insurers and top UK companies on the role of insurance in managing growing cyber threats.

Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General said:

"It is part of this government's long-term economic plan to make the UK one of the safest places in the world to do business online. The UK's insurance market is world renowned and we want it to be the same in relation to cyber risks. The market has extensive knowledge and experience of more established risks to help businesses manage and mitigate relatively new cyber risks."

"Insurance is not a substitute for good cyber security but is an important addition to a company's overall risk management. Insurers can help guide and incentivise significant improvements in cyber security practice across industry by asking the right questions of their customers on how they handle cyber threats."