Cyber Liability Add On
Cyber insurance for contractors – protecting against cyber risks
Available as an add-on with our Contractor Insurance, Cyber Liability Insurance is a simple, affordable way to get extra support if you’re hit by a cyber incident – and it’s underwritten by Aviva, giving you the reassurance of cover backed by one of the UK’s leading insurers.
What is Cyber Liability Insurance?
Also known as ‘cyber insurance’, ‘cyber risk insurance’ or ‘cyber liability protection’, Cyber Liability Insurance offers financial cover and access to expert guidance if you’re a victim of a cyber attack. It protects your business and important data from risks related to your technology and IT infrastructure, like loss of data, damage to IT equipment and ransomware costs.
How the right cyber insurance policy can help
You’re responsible for keeping your customers’ data secure. Following cyber security best practices is a good starting point, but even with the best defences a breach can still happen.
That’s why Cyber Insurance can be great way to further safeguard your livelihood from the numerous digital dangers you face. Whether you’re targeted by a malicious software, social engineering schemes, a privacy breach or you accidentally click a phishing email, it’s good to know you’re protected.
What does cyber insurance cover?
Cyber insurance covers the cost of responding to a cyber event such as a data breach, cyber attack, or ransomware incident. Depending on your policy, this may include:
- Data recovery and restoration of corrupted or deleted files
- Business interruption losses, including lost revenue if your systems go down for more than three days
- Incident response support with 24/7 access to IT, legal, and PR specialists
- Costs of notifying affected individuals after a security breach
- Legal defence and regulatory penalties, where insurable by law
- Reputational damage management, including access to PR consultants
- Extortion or ransomware payments (within policy limits)
- Liability for transmission of malware or unauthorised access to computer systems
This type of cover helps to protect businesses from the financial, operational, and reputational fallout of digital threats.
Cyber Insurance also includes access to a 24/7 cyber helpline for initial incident advice (before even making a claim!).
Our 24/7 cyber incident response service
One of the perks of choosing Kingsbridge, all Cyber Liability policy holders get access to a 24/7 cyber helpline, so you can get support, including:
- A dedicated incident manager who can understand the incident and bring in the right experts when needed
- Specialist IT consultants to help identify the type of attack and the extent of damage
- Reputational experts to advise on how to minimise negative impacts across suppliers, customers, press and social media
- Initial expert guidance and advice provided with no excess (calling the helpline won’t automatically result in a claim or excess being paid)
How much does cyber insurance cost?
Cyber Insurance costs will depend on your business size, industry, and the type of cover required. For most contractors and sole traders, it can be added to your Contractor Insurance policy for a fixed premium.
As of 2025, the standard Kingsbridge Cyber Liability add-on is available for £100 + IPT, with a £100 excess and up to £100,000 cover (including £20,000 for business interruption and £25,000 for extortion).
You may wish to consider how this compares with the potential cost of:
- Hiring IT consultants to investigate a breach
- Paying regulatory fines or legal fees
- Losing business income if your systems go down
In many cases, Cyber Insurance offers a cost-effective safety net.
Frequently asked questions
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Can I get cyber support before making a claim?
Yes. With the 24/7 incident support service provided by Aviva, Cyber Liability policy holders can get initial expert guidance and advice – calling the helpline won’t automatically result in a claim or an excess being paid. You can get help understanding if you’re a victim of an incident, the type of incident, and access to the right experts if needed.
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Do I need cyber security as well as Cyber Liability Insurance?
Yes. Cyber Insurance should be considered in addition to fundamental cyber security best practices. You may be obliged to protect customer data under data protection laws, and it’s common sense to do so. It’s also good practice to maintain your cyber security – for example, updating anti-virus software, maintaining network security, and tracking access to business data to avoid a data breach.
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What is not covered by Cyber Liability Insurance?
Cyber Liability Insurance doesn’t cover deliberate acts, fraudulent acts or claims where unauthorised access cannot be proven. The cover will also only repair, replace or restore assets to the level they were at prior to the claim. Always check your policy wording for more details on exclusions and condition – you can also check our full terms & conditions.
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Can I include Cyber Liability Insurance as part of my contractor insurance policy?
Yes, Cyber Insurance can be purchased as part of our Contractor Insurance package. Simply ask the Kingsbridge team today for more information.
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Is Cyber Insurance cover worth it?
This largely depends on how much cyber insurance is worth it for your business circumstances. Most cyber insurance policies offer benefits like covering financial losses and related costs. For example, business interruption costs as a result of a cyber attack, defence costs of a data breach (IT experts, legal costs, fraud monitoring), managing damage to reputation (PR consultants) and data recovery costs.
When these costs could easily reach thousands of pounds, for some businesses having that extra financial support (plus experts advice) can be a invaluable protection against cyber risks.
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Will my Cyber Insurance policy cover business interruption?
Our standard policy includes cover for business interruption. This refers to loss of revenue due to cyber attacks like a malicious attack, extortion or a data breach of your IT systems. To understand if your own policy covers specific circumstances, please check your policy wording or speak to one of our experts if you’re not sure.
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What can result in a cyber incident?
A cyber incident could result from:
- Social engineering (e.g. being tricked into transferring funds or credentials)
- Malicious software, such as ransomware or viruses
- Insider mistakes or human error, such as sending sensitive data to the wrong recipient
- Unsecured cloud platforms or outdated software
- Stolen passwords or inadequate security settings on electronic systems
Whether the threat is deliberate or accidental, the right cover could help you recover quickly and reduce long-term impact. Explore our tips for cyber security best practices to help you avoid a cyber event.
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How does cyber insurance work?
Cyber insurance works by offering financial support and expert guidance in the event of a cyber incident. If you experience a data breach, ransomware attack, or a system outage, you can contact your insurer’s incident response team. They’ll help you manage the situation, from containing the threat to communicating with affected parties. If the incident leads to financial loss, your insurer may cover eligible costs depending on your policy.
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Do I need cyber insurance if I already have antivirus?
Yes, antivirus software is essential — but not always enough. Even with good defences, cyber events can still occur. Cyber insurance offers an added layer of support, covering things like data recovery, legal expenses and more. Think of it as the financial backup to your technical protection.
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Does cyber insurance cover losses from human error?
In many cases, yes. If a staff member or contractor causes a data breach by mistake – like misconfiguring a server, clicking on a phishing link, or exposing data unintentionally – your claim may still be valid, as long as it wasn’t a deliberate act. This is particularly important, since human error is one of the leading causes of security breaches in the UK.
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What’s the difference between cyber crime and a cyber attack?
Cyber crime is a broad term that covers illegal activity using computers or networks, such as identity theft, fraud, or hacking. A cyber attack is typically the method used — for example, launching ransomware or gaining unauthorised access to digital assets. Cyber insurance is designed to help businesses deal with the consequences of both.
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Does cyber insurance cover cloud-based services?
Your Cyber Liability policy may extend to incidents affecting cloud-based services that your business relies on (like Amazon Web Services or Google Workspace). If an external provider suffers a data breach or downtime that impacts your ability to operate, you might be eligible for business interruption cover.
