In the world of cyber risk, if you’re not moving forward with new cyber security technologies and ways of thinking then you’re getting left behind. For Jason Hart, Head of Proactive Insurance , CFC, it’s something he lives and breathes every day. A world leader in cyber security, technology visionary, keynote speaker and established author, Jason arrives with a wealth of experience—and new perspective—on how proactive cyber attack prevention helps to protect our policyholders from cyber threats.
We sat down with Jason to get his thoughts on his new role at CFC.
Tell us a little about your background
I’ve worked in cyber security for over twenty years, and have been a member of the Forbes Technology Council for the last five. My passion is developing security solutions for businesses, while always striving for new, better ways of doing things.
Whether it’s founding one of the UK’s first ethical hacking companies, the world’s first cloud-based authentication SaaS platform, or more recently acting as Chief Technology Officer for EMEA at Nasdaq-listed cybersecurity platform Rapid7, I’ve witnessed cyber security’s evolution—and areas where it can be improved.
What motivated you to move from cyber security to cyber insurance?
There’s a perception that cyber insurance lacks the innovation and excitement of cyber security. But there’s no doubt these two worlds are converging. I moved to cyber insurance as I discovered how proactive capabilities are designed to help prevent cyber attacks against insureds from the moment their policy binds. This proactive nature is where the future of comprehensive cyber security lies, and that’s something I had to be a part of.
In cyber security there’s a trend of moving beyond the basics and instructing businesses on more complex security protocols—when in fact these basics still aren’t widely embraced. From the outside I saw how cyber insurance was simplifying cyber security for policyholders, breaking things down to actionable steps that provide businesses with greater value and comprehensive protection. At CFC I’m able to amplify this positive impact, developing proactive capabilities to give businesses access to advanced cyber security in a frictionless way—and at a fraction of the cost of developing a team and services in-house.
I discovered how proactive capabilities are designed to help prevent cyber attacks against insureds from the moment their policy binds.
As head of proactive insurance, how will you help to protect policyholders?
CFC already partners with threat intelligence organizations across the globe, conducts advanced threat hunting and vulnerability scans, and uses claims data to identify potential threats before they impact the business and result in a claim. I’m helping policyholders by building on these capabilities with new methods of thinking, enabling them to benefit from our suite of cyber security services and notifications irrespective of their knowledge level or industry. With cyber insurance, businesses don’t need to be cyber experts. They have frictionless access to technical cyber security services that can stave off threats and preserve business as usual.
Of course, the challenge is that cyber threats never stop changing. I’m working with our cyber security team and Innovation Hub on staying ahead. By continually looking at risks and threats, analyzing real-time threat intelligence data, and utilizing our advanced cyber security services, we can spot trends and even identify the probability of an incident happening. That’s proactive cyber insurance at its very best, empowering businesses with not only the protection but the confidence they need to thrive.
How can SMEs better understand the threats they face?
The world of cyber is changing faster than ever, and the challenge for today’s businesses is simply keeping pace. Cyber security is increasingly complex, and it takes a team of experienced professionals for businesses to capitalize on new security technologies—something smaller businesses often lack the resources for.
The best way for SMEs to understand and keep up with today’s threat landscape is through a cyber insurance policy that comes with advanced proactive cyber security services. Proactive cyber works as a translation layer. We remove complexity and only inform policyholders of where the problems actually are—giving them time to focus on business, while cutting operational costs. In this sense cyber insurance is making cyber security accessible to all, while helping businesses save time and money by taking away the need for internal cyber expertise and complicated services that aren’t providing full value.
What cyber security advice would you share with today’s businesses?
Not all cyber risks and vulnerabilities result in a breach. They may not even end in an attack. It’s vital to know which are most dangerous, and to prioritize those with the potential to disrupt. Of course it can be tough for businesses alone to figure this out. That’s why cyber insurance is so vital.
I’ve been blown away by the expertise of our in-house team, the largest in market. Our experts conduct a full assessment of every risk and vulnerability, to ensure they only flag those that are relevant. Through our mobile app, Response, we then reach out to policyholders proactively with simple steps they can take to mitigate the vulnerability and prevent a potential attack. This way, we don’t spread unnecessary fear and confusion, and instead empower businesses to take control of their cyber security. If the worst does happen and they do sustain an attack, we’ll then help to minimize impact and guide them through the steps to get them back up and running, fast.
So my advice would be to make sure you have excellent cyber insurance in place, and benefit from the proactive services provided by the policy. We not only help maintain good cyber hygiene, but also help to minimize the risk of an attack.
Learn more about proactive cyber insurance in this webinar. Read the full press release for more on Jason Hart’s appointment.
