Insurance Business UK has revealed its 2026 5-Star Cyber insurers, spotlighting the carriers that brokers believe are delivering the strongest value in an increasingly complex and fast-evolving risk landscape.
This year’s winners include Brit Insurance and Travelers, alongside several other top firms. The recognition is based on feedback from brokers and industry participants across the UK, who were asked to assess insurers on the features that matter most in today’s cyber market, including product quality, claims handling, underwriting expertise and broker relationships.
The results point to a clear shift in what defines a top-performing cyber insurer. According to the report, brokers are moving decisively away from price-driven decision-making and placing greater emphasis on clarity of cover, education and claims performance. “Educating the broker about the policy” recorded the largest increase in importance among respondents, alongside stronger weighting for first-party coverage clarity and breach response.
This evolving hierarchy reflects growing pressure on brokers to better explain cyber policies to SME and mid-market clients, many of whom lack technical expertise but face increasing exposure to cyber threats.
Among the standout performers, Brit Insurance was recognised for aligning closely with these priorities. Brokers highlighted its clear and comprehensive coverage, strong service levels and structured product suite tailored to different client segments, from SMEs to multinational organisations. Its ecosystem of support services, including risk management tools, training and 24/7 incident response, was also seen as a key differentiator.
Travelers was similarly acknowledged for its enhanced cyber proposition, combining broadened coverage with proactive risk management and post-incident support. Its offering includes expanded protection for cybercrime, reputational harm and even physical impacts arising from cyber events, alongside services such as threat monitoring, incident response planning and wellbeing support for affected clients.
The report underscores that leading cyber insurers are no longer defined solely by their ability to transfer risk. Instead, they are increasingly expected to act as partners in cyber resilience - helping organisations understand, prevent and recover from incidents through a combination of technology, expertise and coordinated support.
This shift comes against a backdrop of rising cyber risk and a persistent protection gap. While 45% of UK businesses have some form of insurance, only 7% hold standalone cyber cover, according to government data cited in the report. SMEs remain particularly underinsured, despite a sharp increase in nationally significant cyber incidents.
Experts contributing to the report emphasise that clarity and completeness are now fundamental to effective cyber insurance. Policies must clearly define what is and is not covered, while also being tailored to the specific risk profile of each organisation rather than relying on generic structures.
Ultimately, the 2026 5-Star Cyber winners are those insurers that best reflect this new reality - combining accessible, comprehensive cover with strong claims handling and meaningful support before, during and after a cyber event.
