Silent cyber and the reinsurance market

"Silent" or non-affirmative cyber refers to cyber-related losses that might be paid under policies not written specifically for cyber, such as property, liability or marine covers, because the wording neither includes nor excludes them.

This creates uncertainty for insurers and reinsurers, since a major cyber event could trigger claims across many lines at once. Regulators have pushed the market to clarify wordings and quantify exposure.

The industry's response has been to either affirmatively cover cyber with explicit terms and pricing or to exclude it clearly. Greater clarity helps reinsurers understand their accumulations and gives buyers certainty about what is protected.