How independent agencies can capitalize on softening prices while meeting tougher security requirements
The quick take
Cyber premiums are trending down globally in 2025, creating room for clients to improve limits and reduce retentions. But carriers are doubling-down on baseline controls—especially MFA, backups, and endpoint protection. Agents who pair pricing relief with a clear controls roadmap will win new accounts and protect renewals. (Marsh)
The market right now
- Pricing: Global cyber rates fell ~6% in Q3 2025, with decreases across all regions—part of a broader softening in commercial insurance.
- Claims & threat profile: Ransomware remains the most disruptive loss driver even as overall ransomware claim frequency stabilized in 2024, per Coalition’s 2025 Cyber Claims Report.
- Buyer leverage: Marsh notes continued pricing stability into 2025 as insureds invest in security controls—creating opportunities to increase limits and optimize retentions at renewal
What underwriters now expect (baseline)
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) everywhere that matters: Email, remote access, privileged accounts. Many markets treat MFA as effectively mandatory for bind/renew.
- Offline/immutable backups tested via recovery drills.
- Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) on workstations/servers.
- Email security & user training to curb BEC/FTF losses (still frequent and costly).
Talk tracks your producers can use
- “Let’s trade savings for resilience.” Use the softening to fund control upgrades (MFA extensions, EDR rollout, backup hardening) while still improving the program.
- “Coverage modernization beats ‘cheapest quote.’” Push for higher sublimits on ransomware/BEC, eCrime, and system failure—where losses continue to bite.
- “Claims-driven control map.” Align controls to recent claims data (BEC/FTF, ransomware) so clients see the why, not just a checklist.
Compliance angle to watch
Expect continued attention to responsible AI and data governance from regulators. The NAIC’s AI Model Bulletin sets expectations around governance, transparency, and accountability—topics that will surface in underwriting questionnaires and vendor due-diligence. (NAIC)
Bottom line for independent agents
Use today’s pricing tailwinds to help clients upgrade controls and reshape coverage—then memorialize improvements in a tidy submission packet. That combination is how you defend renewals and win competitive BORs in 2025–2026.
