A decade ago, getting cyber insurance meant answering a one-page questionnaire. Today, carriers scrutinize your security controls before they’ll quote you at all — and a single “no” on the application can mean a declined policy, a steep premium, or a denied claim after an incident. Here’s what insurers writing policies for Massachusetts businesses expect to see in 2026.
The Controls That Are Now Table Stakes
- Multi-factor authentication everywhere. Not just email — remote access, admin accounts, and cloud applications. MFA gaps are the most common reason applications get declined.
- Endpoint detection and response (EDR/MDR). Traditional antivirus no longer qualifies. Carriers want managed detection with someone responding to alerts.
- Tested, isolated backups. Offline or immutable copies that ransomware can’t encrypt, with documented restore tests — not just “we have backups.”
- Patching discipline. A documented process for applying critical security updates promptly.
- Security awareness training. Regular phishing simulation and user training, with completion records.
- Email security controls. Advanced filtering, SPF/DKIM/DMARC, and protections against business email compromise.
- An incident response plan. Written, assigned, and ideally rehearsed.
Why Claims Get Denied
The fine print matters: if your application said MFA was deployed everywhere and a breach traces back to an account without it, the carrier can rescind coverage. Misrepresentation — even unintentional — is the leading cause of denied cyber claims. The controls you attest to must actually be in place, on every system, all the time.
What This Means at Renewal
Premiums and requirements tighten every cycle. Businesses that show up to renewal with documented controls, 24/7 monitoring, and clean security assessments consistently see better terms than those scrambling to check boxes the week the application is due.
How an MSP Closes the Gap
A security-focused IT partner implements the required controls as part of everyday management, keeps the evidence — training logs, patch reports, backup test results — and sits with you to complete the application accurately. That last part matters: the person filling out the questionnaire should be the person who actually runs your security.
Get Application-Ready
Boston Networks helps Massachusetts businesses put insurer-grade controls in place and document them properly. If your renewal is coming up — or your last application had more “no” boxes than you’d like — request a consultation and we’ll review your posture against current carrier expectations.