Cyber FAQs

What security controls do I need to qualify for cyber insurance in Georgia?

All FAQs

Quick answer: Cyber insurers use application questionnaires to assess your security posture before binding.

What security controls do cyber insurers in Georgia require?

To qualify for cyber insurance in Georgia today, insurers expect a baseline set of security controls in place before they will offer coverage or a competitive rate. Cyber underwriting has tightened significantly, and a short security questionnaire is now standard. Meeting these requirements is often the difference between getting quoted and getting declined (see our FAQ on whether your small business needs cyber insurance).

What specific controls do underwriters look for?

The controls insurers most commonly require include:

  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA): the single most important control underwriters check. MFA means a second step beyond a password, like a code on your phone. Insurers expect it on email, remote network access, and administrator accounts.
  • Endpoint detection and response (EDR): modern security software on every computer that detects and stops threats automatically.
  • Regular, tested backups: backups kept offline or separated from your main network so ransomware cannot encrypt them. Insurers want confirmation that restoration has actually been tested, not just scheduled.
  • Patch management: a routine for keeping software and systems updated so known vulnerabilities are closed.
  • Employee security training: regular training to help staff spot phishing emails, the most common entry point for attacks.
  • Email filtering and access controls: spam and malware filtering, plus limiting employee access to only what each role needs.

What happens if a business is missing a required control when it applies?

For example, a Georgia accounting firm applies for cyber coverage but has no MFA on its email. The insurer declines to quote until MFA is turned on. The firm enables it in a day, reapplies, and secures a policy with a $1 million limit at a reasonable premium. Without that one control, the firm would have stayed uninsured (cyber policies are typically claims-made; see our FAQ on claims-made vs. occurrence coverage).

Are these controls difficult or expensive to put in place?

Most of these controls are low cost or built into tools businesses may already own. MFA is included in Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace at no additional charge. EDR software is widely available at $5 to $10 per device per month. Tested backups can often be configured using existing cloud storage.

For example, a five-person law firm in Marietta already uses Microsoft 365. Enabling MFA on all accounts takes about 30 minutes in the admin portal and costs nothing extra. That single change removes the most common reason cyber insurers decline small-business applications, and often reduces the premium on an approved policy by 10 to 15 percent.

These controls also genuinely reduce the odds of a breach, so the investment serves both insurance qualification and actual security. Learn more about cyber liability insurance. To review your current controls and find a policy that fits, request a free coverage review (see what a coverage review involves).