Lessons From The Insurance Industry

Lessons From The Insurance Industry
Updated: 8/11/25
Cybersecurity Tips, Career Guidance, Education

Operational Resilience in the Face of Cyber Attacks: Lessons from the Insurance Industry 

Cyberattacks are no longer just IT issues, they’re full-blown business crises. Recent events in the insurance sector, highlighted by Datos Insights, show just how long-lasting and disruptive a cyber incident can be. Even after systems are technically restored and back online, the operational impact can persist for weeks or even months, affecting everything from claims processing to regulatory reporting and customer service. 

One example shows how deeply this disruption runs: insurance company Hiscox experienced a drop in new customer acquisition rates from 80% to 53% after a major attack. At the same time, customer churn more than doubled, showing how quickly trust can erode in the aftermath of a breach. While the IT team may celebrate the restoration of core systems, business functions across the organisation are left to manage the long tail of operational fallout. 

This scenario reinforces an urgent message: restoring IT systems is only the beginning of recovery. True operational resilience demands more than backups and firewalls. It requires planning, preparation, and cyber awareness embedded across every function of an organisation, not just the tech teams. 

At CyberSkills, we believe that building enterprise-wide resilience starts with education. Cybersecurity is not just for specialists, it’s essential for operations managers, legal teams, HR professionals, finance departments, and customer-facing roles. Everyone has a role to play in mitigating cyber risk and responding effectively when incidents occur. 

Our micro-credentials and industry-aligned learning pathways are designed to equip professionals at all levels with the knowledge and confidence to contribute to cyber resilience. Whether you're working in finance, insurance, healthcare, education, or public services, the ability to understand and navigate cyber threats is a vital skill in today’s digital economy. 

The message is clear: organisations must go beyond technical fixes. They must develop cross-functional response strategies, run realistic tabletop exercises, and ensure that cyber skills are embedded across the workforce. The cost of inaction isn’t just downtime, its reputational damage, regulatory risk, and lost customer trust. 

Now is the time to invest in your organisation's resilience.  

Explore how CyberSkills can support your journey toward a safer, more prepared digital future. 

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