Cyber Insurance Readiness Checklist for Manufacturers
Cyber insurance applications have become detailed security questionnaires, and manufacturers with weak controls face higher premiums, exclusions or declined cover. This checklist helps you see what is likely to be asked and close gaps before you apply or renew.
0 of 32 items complete
10 critical items still open - these are the highest-risk gaps.
Identity and access
Backup and recovery
Endpoint, patching and network
Policies, people and response
Third parties, data and evidence
Critical items are the ones underwriters most often treat as conditions of cover or major pricing factors. Treat any unchecked critical item as something to fix before submitting the application. Requirements vary by insurer, so use your broker's actual form as the final authority.
Optional evidence pack help
Ask how private AI over your own policies and records can speed up insurance questionnaires without sending data outside.
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How to use the checklist
Go through each group with your IT lead and finance. Tick what is true and provable today, and mark everything else as an action. Collect evidence while you go, because brokers and underwriters ask for screenshots, policy documents and test records. Start about 90 days before renewal so that you have time to deploy controls such as MFA or EDR rather than only promising them. Export the checklist to share the open items with your broker.
- Start 60 to 90 days before renewal
- Collect evidence as you tick items
- Have finance confirm revenue and downtime figures
Why these controls are asked about
Insurers study claims. The same patterns recur: stolen credentials without MFA on email or remote access, backups that were reachable and destroyed, unpatched internet-facing systems and no monitoring that spots an intruder in time. Manufacturers add specific exposure from production stoppage and flat networks. Controls that reduce those patterns carry the most weight in underwriting, so the critical items cluster there.
Common mistakes
The biggest mistake is answering yes to an application question that is only partly true. A misstatement can put a claim at risk, so answer accurately and describe partial controls as partial. Another is assuming the policy covers the plant floor, ransom payments or business interruption without reading the wording and sub-limits. Ask your broker about waiting periods, sub-limits, war and infrastructure exclusions and required panel vendors.
- Do not overstate controls on the application
- Read sub-limits and waiting periods
- Know your insurer's required incident notice steps
- Check coverage of OT and contingent business interruption
Frequently Asked Questions
Which controls matter most to cyber insurers?
MFA on email, remote and privileged access, tested offline or immutable backups, endpoint detection with monitoring, timely patching of exposed systems and a written, exercised incident response plan. Exact thresholds differ by insurer and size.
Does cyber insurance cover plant floor downtime?
It may, but wording varies. Check business interruption triggers, waiting periods, sub-limits and whether OT or non-malicious system failure is covered. Ask your broker to confirm in writing for your specific situation.
Can I get cover without MFA?
It is increasingly difficult. Many insurers treat MFA on email, remote access and admin accounts as a requirement. Without it you may see exclusions, higher retention or a decline. Deploying it before applying is usually cheaper.
How far ahead should we prepare?
Allow 60 to 90 days before renewal. Time is needed to deploy controls, run a restore test, hold a tabletop and gather evidence, all of which underwriters like to see dated and documented.
If you want help turning your gaps into a plan, or generating the evidence pack from your own documents without leaving your network, Netray can discuss it. The checklist is free and requires no contact.
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