Cyber insurance for restaurants and other food businesses

Data breaches and cyberattacks can be devastating for restaurants and other food and beverage businesses, especially if your customers' payment information is compromised. State laws might require you to notify all affected customers, or provide them with credit monitoring services.

These costs add up quickly. You might also have to pay for a data breach investigation and data recovery. Or if you're the victim of a ransomware attack, you might be pressured into paying costly cyber extortion demands.

That's why businesses that store customer information, or depend on computers in any way to conduct business, need cyber insurance. This policy covers costs related to data breaches and cyberattacks, and provides essential support and resources.

This policy provides coverage related to:

• Data breaches
• Ransomware
• Phishing
• Malware
• Denial of service (DOS) attacks
• Other cyber incidents that disrupt business and expose personal information

Restaurants and other food and beverage businesses typically need first-party cyber liability coverage, which provides financial protection against cyber threats at your own business. For example, it would help your business recover after a hacker accessed your customers' credit card numbers.

This type of coverage is also called data breach insurance. Restaurants and other food service businesses can often add it to their general liability insurance or business owner's policy (BOP).

Cyber liability insurance can help pay for:

• The cost of notifying customers affected by a data breach
• Providing credit monitoring services to affected customers
• Public relations campaigns to aid your business's recovery
• Business interruption losses related to cyber crime
• Cyber extortion payments
• Data breach investigations and other recovery activities

Data breaches are expensive, and owning a small business doesn't mean you're safe from hackers. Small companies are often targeted by cybercriminals because they have fewer security measures in place. On top of that, simple accidents by employees – such as opening a phishing email – are a common cause of data breaches.

Cyber liability insurance provides crucial protection against cyber risks, but it won't cover the cost of a customer injury or accident. Owners of restaurants and other food and beverage businesses should also consider:

Business owner’s policy: A BOP defends against the most common risks in the food service industry. It bundles general liability coverage with commercial property insurance at a lower rate than purchasing both policies separately.

Workers’ compensation insurance: Workers' comp is required by most states for businesses with employees. It covers medical expenses and disability benefits if an employee is injured on the job.

General liability insurance: This policy protects against common risks, such as a customer injury or damage to customer property. It’s often a requirement for a commercial lease.

Commercial auto insurance: This policy may be required for food and beverage businesses that regularly transport food or equipment. It covers expenses from accidents involving a vehicle owned by your business.

Liquor liability insurance: This policy covers risks related to serving alcohol, such as an intoxicated customer damaging someone's property or harming someone.

Are you ready to safeguard your restaurant or other food business with cyber security insurance? Complete Insureon’s easy online application today. Once you find the right policy, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours.