Marsh has warned clients that cyber insurers have become more circumspect over the cover they are prepared to provide as risks increase due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Business systems are potentially more exposed as employees work from home in less secure arrangements, while COVID-19 related scams have increased as cyber criminals take advantage of the opportunities.

Cyber Practice Leader Pacific Kelly Butler told a webcast on Friday that insurers are asking more questions of insureds as they look at renewing policies and consider their own exposure.

“You can expect insurers will be looking at your overall business resilience in much more detail than they have in the past,” she said.

Unlike in other product lines, virus exclusions haven’t been introduced, and Ms Butler says there has not been discussions with insurers around that, with the focus instead on the coverage they are prepared to put on a particular risk.

Marsh Head of Strategic Risk (NSW/Queensland) Ben Crowther says remote working arrangements, and their success, has generated discussion over whether organisations will completely revert to previous ways of operating as the pandemic subsides.

“I think the new normal is likely to involve a lot more of what we are doing right now,” Mr Crowther said. “Some of those risks associated from working from home are still going to be as valid.”