In Part One of our recap of the recent BT Partners + Arctic Wolf webinar, we focused on the rising threat landscape and the mounting complexity of cyber insurance coverage. Now, we’re shifting gears to talk about solutions: how to proactively prepare your organization, improve your odds of getting covered, and create a more resilient cyber posture from the ground up.
While ransomware and risk aren’t going anywhere, there’s plenty you can do starting now.
First Steps Against Ransomware
As long as organizations continue to pay ransoms (and 83% of victims do), threat actors will continue doubling down on their efforts. That makes it urgent for businesses to adopt not only a prevention strategy but a recovery one, too.
Before we dive into more security options and insurance, we should acknowledge that there are foundational elements insurers now expect as part of a mature security profile. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a recurring theme. So is the importance of deploying next-gen detection and response solutions, like Arctic Wolf’s own managed detection and response (MDR) offering, which provides 24/7 visibility and automated threat containment. While these used to be leading edge, they are now simply best practices and the starting requirements in your security.
It’s Not Just Tech – It’s People
One of the most compelling truths that often gets overlooked is that the human element is still the weakest link in cybersecurity. It’s not just about firewalls and software. It’s about culture. Employees who aren’t trained to recognize phishing attempts or social engineering tactics can inadvertently open the door to attackers.
So, what can you do about it? Create a security-aware workforce.
This solution is one of the most impactful ways to reduce both actual and perceived risk, and when your people are better trained, it’s not just your security that improves, your insurability does, too. Insurance providers increasingly look for evidence that your business is investing in security awareness training and building a culture of accountability.
Organizations that can demonstrate that their employees aren’t just flying blind, but are actively engaged in keeping data safe, are more likely to receive favorable policy terms and avoid restrictive “sublimits” (see Part 1) or exclusions.
Rethinking What Cyber Insurance Coverage Should Include
When looking at the makeup of a strong cyber insurance policy, we found that if your policy is only about financial reimbursement, you’re missing half the picture.
As mentioned previously (but it’s worth reiterating), the best insurance policies include access to a full ecosystem of recovery resources: public relations support for reputation management, legal counsel to help navigate regulatory requirements, forensic teams to understand how the breach occurred, and even hardware replacement services to get back up and running fast.
Except, this level of cyber insurance coverage doesn’t happen automatically. Businesses need to engage their insurance providers early and go over what’s included, what’s limited, and where the gaps are. This is where Arctic Wolf’s role becomes especially valuable.
Partnering for Better Premiums and Better Protection
Companies gain a major strategic advantage when they partner with MSP teams (like ours, for example) and providers like Arctic Wolf. Their services not only help organizations implement strong controls and continuous monitoring, but they also contribute directly to improving insurance outcomes.
When underwriters see that you’re working with a recognized security operations partner, especially one that focuses on prevention, detection, and response, they’re more likely to offer better terms and reduced premiums. In fact, the majority of IT Executives surveyed reported insurance premium decreases between 5% and 25% after implementing security solutions provided by Arctic Wolf.
More importantly, Arctic Wolf helps guide companies through the process of obtaining coverage. That includes identifying the right vendors, aligning internal controls with underwriting expectations, and even offering creative solutions when standard cyber insurance coverage options fall short. The message was clear: risk is inevitable, but being underprepared is optional.
A Strategic Framework for Cyber Resilience
Cybersecurity isn’t just a technology problem. It’s a strategic one. The Arctic Wolf team has outlined a simple yet powerful framework for managing cyber risk:
- Avoid risk where possible through sound policies and procedures.
- Mitigate risk by implementing strong technical controls.
- Transfer risk via comprehensive cyber insurance coverage.
- Recover from risk by building a response-ready organization.
Underpinning it all is a shift toward a zero-trust mindset. One where no user, device, or network connection is inherently trusted.
This mindset includes tightening identity controls, taking ownership of cloud environments, and making sure you have broad visibility into your entire attack surface. The more you understand your vulnerabilities, the better equipped you are to defend against them.
There’s No Silver Bullet When It Comes to Cybersecurity
Our MSP team helps businesses of all sizes and industries get on the right path forward. It starts with clarity, commitment, and the right partners by your side.
If you haven’t already, we recommend revisiting Part One for a look at how ransomware and insurance trends are changing the game. Or better yet, reach out to our team at BT Partners to explore how we can help you build your own secure, insurable, and resilient future.
