Acrisure UK & ESET launch cyber insurance partnership

Acrisure UK has formed a cyber partnership with ESET, bringing together cyber insurance and security services for UK businesses.

The arrangement combines Acrisure UK's specialist cyber insurance offering with ESET's threat prevention, detection and response services. Customers will be able to access both at discounted rates as insurers and security providers move closer together in cyber risk management.

The tie-up reflects a broader shift in how businesses approach cyber risk. Rather than treating attacks purely as a technology problem, companies are increasingly considering financial exposure, incident response and insurance cover alongside technical defences.

Acrisure UK's cyber insurance specialists work with organisations across multiple sectors on cover designed to address the financial and operational effects of cyber incidents. Its insurer relationships and sector knowledge help clients secure protection in a market that has become more complex as attacks increase in frequency and scope.

ESET, which says it protects more than 500,000 businesses worldwide, will provide services through its ESET PROTECT platform. The vendor also offers a managed detection and response service that runs around the clock and is aimed at organisations without in-house security teams.

Market shift

The partnership highlights closer alignment between the insurance and cybersecurity markets. In recent years, insurers have paid increasing attention to basic security controls, while businesses have faced stricter underwriting questions on issues such as endpoint protection, incident response planning and resilience measures.

That has created an opening for brokers and security vendors to package cover and protection more closely together. Stronger controls may reduce the likelihood or severity of a cyber incident, while insurance can help organisations manage financial losses and recovery costs when attacks do happen.

Tim Wiltshire outlined Acrisure UK's view of that convergence.

"Good cybersecurity and effective cyber insurance should work hand in hand. Organisations are increasingly looking at cyber risk as a business issue rather than simply an IT issue, and that requires a combination of prevention, resilience and specialist insurance support.

We are proud to work with ESET, a highly respected name in cybersecurity that shares Acrisure's commitment to helping organisations better understand and manage cyber risk. By working together, we can offer clients peace of mind while strengthening resilience against the growing threat of cyberattacks," said Tim Wiltshire, Director, Acrisure UK.

Acrisure UK is the UK retail broking platform of Acrisure and has expanded in the market since its arrival in 2022. The business employs more than 800 staff across the country and includes a mix of broking operations, an appointed representative network and managing general agents.

Its parent group has grown rapidly over the past decade, with reported revenue rising from USD $38 million in 2013 to about USD $5 billion. Acrisure now employs about 20,000 people across 19 countries and operates across insurance, reinsurance, payroll, benefits, cybersecurity and property-related services.

Security focus

For ESET, the agreement offers a route to customers seeking a broader risk management approach rather than a standalone software purchase. Many organisations now accept that technology alone is not enough to address the commercial consequences of a cyberattack.

The cybersecurity provider says it has more than 35 years of experience in the sector and operates 11 research and development centres globally. It also says its researchers contribute to the MITRE ATT&CK knowledge base and have been involved in tracking sophisticated threat actors and campaigns.

Steven Connolly said the pace of change in the threat landscape is pushing businesses towards broader planning.

"Cyber threats continue to evolve at a pace that many organisations struggle to keep up with. While technology remains a critical part of the solution, businesses increasingly recognise that effective cybersecurity requires a broader risk management strategy. Partnering with Acrisure allows us to introduce customers to specialist cyber insurance expertise from a trusted adviser that understands the challenges businesses face today. Together, we can help organisations bolster both their technical defences and their overall resilience," said Steven Connolly.

The combined offer is likely to appeal most to small and medium-sized businesses that need outside support on both insurance and security operations. Many firms in that segment face pressure to improve controls but lack the staff or budgets to build dedicated cyber teams in-house.

Across the market, insurers have become more selective about cyber cover as ransomware, data breaches and business interruption claims have risen. That has encouraged companies to demonstrate better cyber hygiene when applying for cover, giving security vendors and brokers an incentive to work together more closely.

ESET said its managed detection and response service combines artificial intelligence with human analysts to monitor threats and investigate suspicious activity without requiring customers to employ their own round-the-clock security specialists.