Earlier this week, numerous media outlets reported on the Russian crime ring which had managed to steal more pieces of Internet data than any other group of hackers in history – a whopping collection of at least 1.2 billion user name and password combinations and over 500 million email addresses. The magnitude of data that this group has managed to accumulate, coupled with several other recent high-profile hacking incidents, is a wake-up call for businesses that cybersecurity has become a major contemporary concern. Data breaches are increasing in frequency, severity, and cost, and the potential consequences for an affected company can be devastating.
This trend and its insurance implications are discussed in a client alert by Reed Smith partners Doug Cameron, David Weiss, Andy Moss, and Cristina Shea, who point out that companies must start being proactive with their cybersecurity efforts. Businesses should take the time to assess their current cybersecurity insurance coverage as well as their coverage needs. Cyber-related insurance is an evolving area, so extensive research and consulting with counsel may be necessary before a company can select an insurance policy that maximizes its coverage.
