As cybercrime continues to rise, cyber insurance is becoming a key part of how organizations manage cybersecurity. It’s no longer treated as a separate layer of protection. Instead, it’s increasingly integrated into how teams think about risk, resilience, and long-term strategy.
To gain deeper insights into these trends, we leveraged AI-driven audience profiling to synthesize insights to a high statistical confidence level. Based on this data, we analyzed the opinions of 114,038 senior technology leaders across the United States over 12 months, ending April 14, 2025. Their experiences highlight how cyber insurance is being understood, implemented, and prioritized, and where attention is turning as organizations look to strengthen their approach.
How Often Do You Assess Your Organization’s Exposure To Cyber Threats?
24% of senior technology leaders in the US assess cyber threat exposure monthly
Cyber threats can happen at any time, but not every organization checks in with the same urgency:
The FBI has warned that the increasing threat of AI gives cybercriminals faster, smarter, and more automated ways to exploit existing threats. Given that, routine exposure assessments are no longer a “nice to have”; they’re a frontline defense.
Our audience of senior technology leaders is heeding this warning to varying degrees. 24% review exposure monthly or more, likely staying ahead of AI-driven attack patterns. Another 24% assess quarterly, which offers structure but may leave blind spots as threats evolve faster.
A further 24% check annually, a timeline that risks being outpaced by today’s threat landscape. 20% assess exposure without a set schedule, suggesting a more reactive or inconsistent approach. Worryingly, 7% only evaluate risk after an incident. That’s a risky delay in a world where cyberattacks move at machine speed.
How Confident Are You In Your Organization’s Current Level Of Cyber Risk Coverage?
72% senior technology leaders are somewhat confident in their current cyber risk coverage
Confidence levels differ when it comes to how well cyber risks are covered:
While 28% of senior technology leaders feel confident in their current level of cyber risk coverage, a striking 72% say they are only somewhat confident. That suggests lingering doubt, whether about coverage limits, clarity, or evolving risks. If confidence is shaky, it may reflect uncertainty about what’s actually covered, and what’s not.
Which Team Primarily Manages Your Organization’s Cyber Insurance?
IT or security manage 78% of organization’s cyber insurance
Different teams take the lead on cyber insurance, depending on how roles are structured internally:
78% of senior technology leaders say their IT or Security team leads cyber insurance management. That’s a strong majority, and it reflects how cyber risk is increasingly treated as a technical threat that’s managed close to the action. For 18%, it falls under Risk or Compliance, pointing to a more policy-driven approach. Lower down, 3% leave oversight up to Legal or Regulatory teams, likely where contracts and liability are in focus. Just 2% say it’s handled by Executive Management.
Yet, experts say that cyber risk is best handled as an enterprise-wide concern, with collaboration across business, security, operational, and risk teams. As threats evolve, more organizations may need to follow that lead.
What Role Do You Play In Evaluating Or Selecting Cyber Insurance Providers?
52% of senior technology leaders lead the cyber insurance selection process
Technology leaders drive the evaluation and selection process at varying degrees:
Of our audience of 114,038 senior technology leaders, just over half (52%) are leading the selection process. This shows that many organizations place cyber insurance decisions directly in the hands of those closest to the technical risks. 48% are contributing insights, pointing to a more collaborative, company-wide process where input is shared across departments, even if final decisions rest elsewhere.
This balance reflects the growing need for cyber coverage to align with technical realities and broader business priorities. As Cybersecurity Dive notes, security leaders like the CISO should be central to these decisions, but collaboration across IT, legal, and finance is essential to evaluating risk from all angles.
How Do You Evaluate The Value Of Your Insurance Investment?
82% rate financial protection as the benchmark for finding value in cyber risk insurance
The value of insurance can be measured in different ways, depending on what matters most to the organization:
Financial protection is the main way to assess the value of cyber insurance for 82% of senior technology leaders. That isn’t surprising, since many still see it as a way to absorb the financial hit of a breach or ransomware attack.
In contrast, just 9% highlight compliance benefits, likely in sectors where regulations make coverage a must. 5% focus on peace of mind, showing that reassurance still counts, even if it’s harder to measure. Strangely, just 4% prioritize operational recovery, despite its clear role in helping teams bounce back after a major incident.
How Familiar Are You With Third Party Liability Coverage?
There’s largely a 20% split in how familiar senior technology leaders are with liability coverage
Awareness of third-party liability coverage tends to differ significantly:
Given that 35.5% of cyber breaches in 2024 were linked to third-party access, it’s striking how few senior technology leaders are fully confident in this area. Just 17% say they are very familiar with third-party liability coverage, suggesting that deep knowledge of what’s covered and what’s not is still limited.
20% say they are familiar, and another 20% report being somewhat familiar, which may reflect surface-level awareness. 20% say the coverage applies to their organization, possibly without fully understanding the scope. Another 20% are aware but not detailed, while 3% say they are not very familiar. This even spread points to a fragmented understanding of one of the most high-risk coverage areas.
How Clear Are The Terms Of Your Current Policy?
Only 25% of technology leaders say their current policy terms are very clear
Understanding policy terms can vary, even among those closely involved in cyber risk planning:
Most senior technology leaders fall somewhere short of full clarity. 31% say their policy terms are somewhat clear, 23% say clear, and 21% say mostly clear. That spread suggests broad familiarity but limited precision—enough to navigate the basics, but not necessarily the fine print. Only 25% say their terms are very clear. This underscores a critical point often made by cybersecurity experts. Micah Howser, VP of eRiskHub at NetDiligence stresses, “A strong cyber insurance strategy starts with clarity—knowing exactly what’s covered, what’s excluded, and how to bridge the gaps operationally before an incident strikes.”
When policies are triggered during high-stress situations, that lack of certainty can slow response times, complicate claims, or expose gaps that were never spotted in advance.
How Important Is It That Your Policy Includes Disaster Recovery Support?
For 39%, disaster recovery support is important
Priorities vary when it comes to post-incident recovery support:
39% of senior technology leaders say it is important, and 19% say it is extremely important, making recovery support a priority for over half of all leaders in our data. This emphasis on recovery mirrors a broader shift in strategic thinking across the industry. As Rob Peterson, CEO of Infrascale, notes, “At Infrascale, we believe cyber resilience isn’t just about preventing incidents—it’s about preparing for what comes next, so organizations can recover stronger and smarter.” 20% consider it moderately important, and another 20% view it as slightly important, suggesting some uncertainty about how critical it might be until an incident occurs. Just 2% say it is not important, with 1% saying it is not moderately important and another 1% saying it is not extremely important.
QBE’s 2024 Cyber Insurance Report found that 73% of policyholders value incident response planning and support, ranking it just behind breach response services. This reflects growing recognition that the ability to recover quickly is just as important as the ability to absorb the loss.
How Likely Are You To Revise Your Policy After Experiencing A Cyber Incident?
100% of senior technology leaders would revise policies in the wake of a cyber incident
Experiencing a breach leaves no question about the need to revisit policy terms:
At 100%, every senior technology leader in our audience says they would revisit their policy following a breach. That level of certainty reflects how much real-world experience can expose overlooked gaps, unclear terms, or missing support. For many, it takes an incident to understand what truly matters in a policy and what needs to change.
How Much Influence Does Your Cyber Insurance Policy Have On Your Cybersecurity Planning?
24% of senior technology leaders say their cyber insurance policy has no influence on their cybersecurity planning
Opinions vary widely regarding the role insurance plays in shaping cybersecurity strategy:
24% of senior technology leaders say their policy has no influence, and another 24% feel it has not limited influence, suggesting that, for many, coverage and security planning still operate in separate silos. This disconnect highlights a common blind spot. As Mark Greisiger, President and CEO of NetDiligence® cautions, “One often overlooked exposure in cybersecurity isn’t just technological—it’s the false sense of security that insurance alone can fix everything. There will always be some residual risk that requires continuous mitigation and diligence.” 22% describe the policy’s influence as strong, while 21% say it has a moderate role. That balance points to a growing, but not universal, connection between insurance terms and security strategy.
Rounding out the list, 3% say the policy has limited influence or not moderate influence, while another 3% say it has not strong influence. Just 1% say it has not no influence, hinting at some uncertainty in how these terms are interpreted. The wide spread suggests that alignment between policy and planning remains inconsistent.
How Well Do Your Disaster Recovery Plans Align With Your Insurance Policy Requirements?
For 29% of technology leaders, disaster recovery plans are only slightly aligned with policy requirements
Alignment between recovery planning and insurance terms shows a wide range of approaches across organizations:
Cyber insurers increasingly require a cyber recovery plan to assess risk, verify preparedness, and encourage best practices. That expectation raises the bar for alignment between internal recovery efforts and insurance terms.
Yet 29% of senior technology leaders say their plans are only slightly aligned, and another 29% say they are aligned, indicating basic coverage without deep integration. 15% report being partially aligned, and another 15% say they are mostly aligned, showing room for improvement across the board. Just 14% say their plans are fully aligned, leaving most organizations with potential gaps between what they’ve prepared for and what their policies demand.
This suggests that most organizations fall short of fully aligning their cyber recovery plans with insurance requirements, revealing widespread gaps that could hinder both preparedness and policy compliance.
How Prepared Is Your Organization For A Cybersecurity Audit By Your Insurer?
19% feel their organization is only minimally prepared for a cybersecurity audit
Audit readiness looks different across organizations, and confidence isn’t always high:
19% of our audience feel they are minimally prepared, while another 19% say they are simply prepared, and a further 19% consider themselves somewhat prepared. That even split suggests many organizations are caught between intention and execution when it comes to audit readiness.
An additional 19% say they are not fully prepared, and 18% describe their organization as mostly prepared, reflecting varying levels of progress toward full compliance. Only 4% say they are fully prepared, while 2% say they are not mostly prepared. With audits becoming a more common condition for coverage and renewal, these numbers point to a gap between what insurers expect and what many organizations are equipped to deliver.
What Concerns You Most About Filing A Cyber Insurance Claim?
General concerns are the top issue when filing a claim for 52% of senior technology leaders
Filing a cyber insurance claim raises a range of concerns, with some clear and others more vague:
52% of senior technology leaders say they have general concerns, pointing to a broad unease that may stem from limited experience, unclear expectations, or prior complications. 18% are most concerned about difficulty contacting the insurer, suggesting breakdowns in communication channels when it matters most.
12% worry about delays or complications, while 10% highlight a lack of internal processes for managing the claim itself. Just 5% say their biggest concern is uncertainty about coverage, which may reflect improved clarity on policy terms, or a lack of awareness about what’s actually covered until a claim is underway.
How Satisfied Are You With Your Insurer’s Communication And Support?
19% are very satisfied with their insurer’s communication and support
Satisfaction levels show a wide range of sentiment regarding insurer interaction:
There’s a very similar spread in opinions when it comes to the satisfaction levels of senior technology leaders in the communication and support they receive from their insurers. 19% say they are very satisfied, and another 19% are simply satisfied, which reflects a solid share of leaders who feel supported. Interestingly, 19% also report being not dissatisfied, and another 19% say not very dissatisfied, suggesting neutral or mildly positive experiences.
However, the other end of the scale reveals more concern. 7% say they are not satisfied, and 7% are not very satisfied. 6% describe themselves as dissatisfied, while another 6% are very dissatisfied. The spread highlights a mix of positive and passive views, with a noticeable portion still left wanting more.
Where Is Your Organization Primarily Located?
The Southern US is home to 72% of senior technology leaders
Organizational location patterns reveal regional concentrations:
72% of technology leaders say their organization is primarily located in the Southern United States, while 28% are based in the Midwest. This aligns with the latest trends in tech workforce distribution. Cities like Austin and Dallas have seen some of the fastest growth in tech headcount since 2019, with companies like Meta, Google, Oracle, and Apple expanding or relocating there.
Driven by lower costs, flexible work environments, and local incentives, the South has become a magnet for Big Tech and startups. As a result, it’s no surprise that so many technology leaders continue to call the region home.
Cyber Insurance as a Strategic Priority
The data from senior technology leaders paints a clear picture: cyber insurance is shaping how organizations think about risk, readiness, and response. It’s now part of the planning process, and no longer a box to tick after the fact.
As expectations grow and threats continue to evolve, the challenge now is turning awareness into action. Infrascale’s CEO Rob Peterson reinforces this idea, emphasizing that “Cyber insurance must evolve alongside threats—it’s not a static product; it’s a dynamic part of a broader, living cybersecurity strategy.” For many, that starts with asking harder questions about what their policy covers, how their teams are prepared, and where the gaps still lie.
Methodology
This data was sourced from an independent sample of 114,038 senior technology leaders in the USA discussing cyber insurance across platforms such as X, Quora, Reddit, TikTok, and Threads. Responses are collected within a 65% confidence interval and a 7% margin of error. Engagement reflects how many individuals in a given region are actively participating in cyber insurance-related discussions. Demographics are determined using multiple features, including name, location, and self-disclosed professional information. Privacy is preserved using k-anonymity and differential privacy. Results are based on what people describe online — questions were not posed to the people in the sample.
About the representative sample:
- 59% of senior technology leaders in the USA identify as female and 41% as male.
- 74% are over the age of 45.
- The highest number of technology leaders (36%) is in the Pacific, and the lowest (2%) is in the East South Central.
- 36% earn between $500,000 and $1 million annually.
