Cyber Insurance Trends for IT Security Leaders in 2026

The message from insurers is clear: the maturity of your identity security controls now directly influences your coverage limits and premiums.

As cyber insurance premiums continue to rise, underwriters are tightening control requirements just to maintain eligibility. For security teams managing organizational risk, this shift underscores the critical importance of robust identity security measures.

To dive deeper into this evolving landscape, Delinea partnered with Censuswide to survey more than 750 security leaders about their recent experiences with cyber insurance. The resulting report—“Identity Security Controls Become Non-Negotiable for Coverage: 2025 Cyber Insurance Research Report”—reveals how insurers are redefining risk assessment and placing identity security at the core of insurability.

5 trends in cyber insurance to look out for in 2026

1. Control maturity determines your insurability

Cyber insurance coverage requires increasingly sophisticated security measures. Almost all organizations—99.5%—reported that insurers required specific security controls, activities, or processes to secure coverage.

More than half of respondents indicated their policies mandated threat detection capabilities, incident response plans, and authorization/access controls. Insurers are particularly focused on identity and access management controls as key indicators of organizational security maturity.

Organizations must now prove that their security investments translate into measurable risk reduction. And IT security leaders must demonstrate control maturity to secure affordable coverage, not just to pass an audit.

2. Cyber insurance costs and scrutiny are on the rise

As more organizations purchase policies and cyber incidents multiply, claims have surged industry-wide, driving up insurance costs. In fact, 70% of respondents reported cost increases when applying for or renewing their cyber insurance policies—a sharp jump from just 50% the previous year.

But price hikes represent just one way insurers manage their exposure. They've also become more sophisticated in evaluating controls and determining coverage eligibility.

Security teams now face deeper scrutiny during the underwriting processes. Insurers examine whether controls exist and how effectively organizations implement and maintain them. This granular assessment affects both initial coverage decisions and renewal terms.

3. Coverage gaps create hidden risks

Having a cyber insurance policy doesn't guarantee protection in the event of an incident. Organizations must actively identify and manage coverage gaps that could leave them exposed during critical incidents.

Lack of security controls ranks as the number one reason insurance adjusters void policies. And insurers continuously refine policy language to limit their exposure. Common exclusions include acts of cyberwarfare, but the list extends far beyond obvious scenarios.

Organizations must understand these limitations and how control lapses could void coverage entirely.

4. Identity-first controls become non-negotiable

The path to affordable, reliable coverage runs through proven cyber risk management practices, with identity security playing a critical role.

Organizations demonstrating cyber risk management maturity typically secure better premiums, broader coverage, and smoother claims processes. Insurers increasingly use identity security capabilities, such as privileged access management (PAM), as primary indicators when assessing organizational maturity. A mature identity security program now carries real financial weight, directly shaping both the cost and scope of your cyber coverage.

5. AI transforms both risk and reward calculations

Organizations leveraging AI-powered defense tools report tangible insurance benefits. More than four in five respondents report that insurers offered premium reductions or credits for using AI in defense.

However, AI-related vulnerabilities create new exclusions and complications. AI weaknesses will likely become the next frontier in claims disputes, with insurers scrutinizing how organizations implement and secure AI systems. Security leaders should prepare for increased insurer focus on AI governance, including questions about AI system security, data protection measures, and liability management.

Organizations rushing to adopt AI without proper controls may face coverage exclusions or claim denials.

How to prepare your organization for 2026 cyber insurance requirements

The report highlights several emerging focus areas shaping cyber insurance eligibility in 2026, including:

• How insurers are redefining identity maturity, and the specific controls they expect to see.
• Why privileged access management continues to separate low-risk from high-risk applicants.
• The growing role of documentation and proof during underwriting and claims.
• How AI governance is entering the conversation as a new dimension of insurability.
• What security leaders are doing now to close policy gaps before renewal season.

These findings only scratch the surface. As underwriting criteria evolve, identity security controls have become a defining benchmark for insurability. Discover what cyber insurers will prioritize in 2026 and how to position your organization for stronger coverage in Delinea’s latest report.