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Cyber insurance

Security stops the attack. Insurance pays for the mess.

Cover for the cost of recovering from a targeted cyber attack or a data breach.

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Provided byMarkel

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Online quote and buy, provided by Markel. No obligation.

What you get

  • A few questionsWhat your business does, your turnover, the limit you need
  • Your price on screenIncluding Insurance Premium Tax at 12%
  • Documents by emailDocuments and access to the cyber response helpline
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IGotCover introduces you to Markel. Markel runs the quote, sells the policy and underwrites it.

Fast, easy online quote in 90 seconds

It covers restoring data, telling the people affected, ransom demands and the profit you lose while you are down. A response helpline staffed by security specialists comes with it.

Subject to the policy terms, exclusions, your excess and the insurer's underwriting.

  1. You hold data or rely on systemsClient records, payment details, a website, email, anything digital
  2. You are attackedRansomware, a phishing compromise, malware, a targeted outage
  3. The costs landRestoring data, notifying clients, lost trading, legal costs
  4. The policy respondsThose costs, up to your limit, plus the response helpline
A business owner looking at a laptop screen

Who is it for?

Typically suitable for businesses that send, store or rely on data, which covers most sectors. It has nothing to do with whether you think of yourself as a tech business.

Usually a fit

  • Anyone holding client names, addresses, phone numbers or payment details
  • Businesses that run a website, take bookings or invoice online
  • Consultants and contractors working on client systems or data
  • Charities and community groups holding donor or volunteer records
  • Any business that would stop trading if its systems went down

What it doesn't do

  • Damage to your own premises or equipment. That's office and contents cover
  • Claims from your own staff. That's employers' liability
  • A mistake in your work that cost a client money. That's professional indemnity

Cover, limits and exclusions are set by the policy wording. Read the documents before you buy.

Why businesses buy it

  • Security reduces the odds, it doesn't pay the bill

    Antivirus and good practice make an attack less likely. Neither puts money back into the business once one lands.

  • The recovery costs are the real cost

    Restoring systems, notifying everyone affected and trading at half speed for a fortnight usually costs more than the attack itself.

  • Someone answers the phone at 2am

    The policy includes a response helpline staffed by information security specialists. In the first day of an incident that is often worth more than the cover.

What to be aware of

  • Fraud or dishonesty by your own directors, staff or anyone acting for you is excluded.
  • Anything you were already aware of and did not declare before inception is excluded.
  • Fines and penalties are never covered by any policy.
  • Damage to your own property sits under office and contents cover, not this.
  • Cover levels and exclusions vary by policy. Read the policy documents before you buy.

Pick your limit

The limit is the most the policy pays. Markel offer a range, and their own indicative quotes are built on £50,000, £100,000 and £250,000. Some clients and industry bodies set a minimum, so check before you choose. We don't recommend a number, and you can change it at renewal.

£250k £100k £50k

Small and low-data

Markel's entry limit, and the basis for their £5 a month starting price. Suits a sole trader holding modest client records.

COMMONLY ASKED FOR BY
  • Sole traders
  • Low turnover businesses

Not sure? Think about what two weeks of downtime and a full data restore would actually cost you.

What it costs

Starting price

from£5a month

Available only for certain trades and business profiles. Individual premiums may be higher.

£50,000 of cyber cover

Markel's indicative quotes, cover bundled
  • Ecological consultant, £45k turnover: £49.47 a month
  • Zoology consultant, £40k turnover: £23.24 a month

Markel's published price. The monthly figure is an average equivalent monthly of the annual premium. A higher first payment applies and individual premiums vary. Source: Markel Direct, September 2026. Markel's basis for the £5 figure is a turnover under £25,000 a year at a £50,000 level of cover. Only available for certain trades and risk profiles.

Every price in the quote includes Insurance Premium Tax at 12%.

An analyst holding a phone and a laptop

How it works in practice

An illustrative example, not a real claim. Names and figures are invented to show the mechanics.

Marcus, 45Runs a six-person recruitment firm. Holds candidate CVs, ID documents and bank details.
The situation

A finance assistant opens an invoice attachment that turns out to be ransomware. The candidate database is encrypted overnight and a ransom demand arrives by email.

What it meant

Assuming the claim falls within the scope of cover, the insurer may fund the forensic work, the data restore and the notifications to everyone on the database, and may cover the profit lost over the eight days the firm could not place candidates.

  • Limit£100k
  • Claim typeRansomware

Whether and how much a policy pays depends on the policy terms, the excess and the circumstances of the claim.

Who you're dealing with

Two parties, and it's worth knowing which is which.

  • Introduces you to MarkelIGotCover

    A trading name of Caspian Assured Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA. We explain the cover and point you to Markel's quote.

  • MarkelSells and underwrites the policyMarkel Direct

    The quote journey you're taken to, the policy you buy and the insurer named on your certificate. Markel Direct is a trading name of Markel International Insurance Company Limited. Claims are handled by Markel.

Protecting the people the business relies on

Cyber covers your systems and data. Business protection covers what happens if you or a key person can't work.

  • Directors

    Relevant life insurance

    Life cover for a director, paid for by the business.

    Explore
  • Key people

    Key person insurance

    A lump sum to the business if someone it depends on dies or is seriously ill.

    Explore
  • Ownership

    Shareholder protection

    Funds for the other owners to buy a shareholder's stake.

    Explore
  • Staff

    Employee benefits

    Cover arranged across your staff rather than one at a time.

    Explore

These are separate products, not part of the quote above. Advice is provided by IGotCover advisers. Cover is subject to eligibility, underwriting and the policy terms.

Common questions

Something not covered here? Email us at [email protected].

I already have antivirus and backups. Why insure?

Security controls make an attack less likely. They do not pay for the forensic work, the data restore, the notifications or the trading you lose while you are down. The two do different jobs.

What sort of claims does it cover?

Typical examples are a client database stolen in a targeted attack, a ransom demand against an encrypted drive, and an outage that takes your site down and loses you data and income. In each case the policy can fund the recovery, the notifications and the lost net profit.

Does it cover fines from the ICO?

No. Fines and penalties are not insurable under any policy. The cover is for your own recovery costs and any damages you are legally liable to pay other parties.

Do the prices include tax?

Yes. Every price you see includes Insurance Premium Tax at 12%. The price you pay depends on your turnover, your sector, the data you hold, the limit you choose and the insurer's underwriting.

Get your cyber cover sorted today.

A few questions, your price, then documents by email. No obligation to buy.

Questions for us? Email [email protected]. Help with the quote itself is Markel's team on 0800 640 6600.

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Quote journey provided by Markel.

This page is information only and not personal advice. IGotCover is a trading name of Caspian Assured Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA reference [FRN]). Registered in England and Wales, company number 07011592. Registered office: Tower 12, Level 2, Bridge Street, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3BZ. IGotCover introduces customers to Markel for this product. It does not provide advice or a personal recommendation, and does not recommend a level of cover. You choose the cover and limits that suit your business.

The online quote-and-buy journey is provided by Markel. Markel Direct is a trading name of Markel International Insurance Company Limited, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Policies are underwritten by Markel International Insurance Company Limited. Prices include Insurance Premium Tax at 12%. Cover levels, limits and exclusions vary by policy and are subject to eligibility and underwriting. Read the policy documents before you buy. Last reviewed 14 September 2026.

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