Cyber Insurance
Excellent comp ceiling without a JD. Underwriters and brokers are quietly the best-paid non-engineers in cyber.
What the day actually looks like.
Underwriter: review applications, assess MFA/EDR/backups/patching, look at outside-in scan results from Coalition Control or BitSight, price the policy, write the quote letter. Broker: gather application data, shop the risk to multiple carriers, negotiate, explain coverage to non-technical clients. Claims analyst: triage breach calls, engage the breach coach and forensics firm, track invoices, decide what's covered.
Where the work lives.
What you actually need.
- Conversational cyber fluency (MFA, EDR, RDP, ransomware, BEC, segmentation, backups, SOC 2, ISO 27001)
- Risk-math intuition
- Outside-in scan tooling (Coalition Control, BitSight, SecurityScorecard)
- Absurd attention to detailtransferable
Continuity error in a contract is a six-figure mistake.
- Persuasive writingtransferable
- Calm client-facing communicationtransferable
- Multi-stakeholder coordinationtransferable
Producer's job again.
The shape of the journey.
- 1Junior Underwriter / Cyber Analyst0–2 yr
- 2Underwriter / Broker2–5 yr
- 3Senior Underwriter5–9 yr
- 4Lead Underwriter / Cyber Practice Lead8–14 yr
- 5Head of Cyber / Practice Director12–20 yr
Note. Times reflect typical paths for someone with strong communication and 10–15 hrs/week of focused study.
What it pays.
Ranges are directional. Currency: USD · annual. Lower remote ceiling than other cyber lanes due to jurisdictional licensing. Last updated: 2025.
The cert sequence that won't bankrupt you.
Cyber Insurance Academy CCIS
Cyber Insurance AcademyBest ROI for breaking in cold. $1.5–2k range.
CPCU
The InstitutesUS gold standard insurance designation. $1.2–2.5k total.
RPLU (Registered Professional Liability Underwriter)
PLUSSpecialty-line designation.
CII / ACII
Chartered Insurance InstituteUK / Lloyd's market standard.
IAPP CIPP/E or CIPP/US
IAPPPrivacy fluency is now table stakes.
Security+
CompTIAVocabulary signal for clients.
Working from Lagos, Abuja, or anywhere.
Insurance ★★★. Jurisdictional licensing is the binding constraint — Lloyd's market and US carriers prefer EU/UK/US-resident underwriters.
The good, the gritty, and who this suits.
- +Excellent comp ceiling without a JD.
- +Growing market — every business needs cyber cover now.
- +Durable career — recessions don't kill insurance demand.
- −Jurisdictional moats limit remote.
- −Slow legacy-carrier promotion ladders.
- −Specialised vocabulary (claims, attachment points, exclusions, retentions).
If you genuinely enjoy reading the small print and have opinions about exclusions, this is your seat.
Three to five hours that beat any cert.
Cyber Insurance Policy Underwriting Explained
Why watch. Clear underwriting walkthrough.
Cyber Insurance: Applications & Underwriting
Why watch. How carriers actually evaluate applicants.
Next-gen Cyber Insurance
Why watch. Coalition is the new-school cyber insurer to watch.
Do this by Friday.
This month: enrol in the Cyber Insurance Academy CCIS pre-course materials (free preview). Apply to Coalition, At-Bay, Cowbell — all hire remote underwriters in EMEA.