QBE North America said that it will include breach plan services as add-ons to all cyber policies.

The company is initially offering these services through Breach Plan Connect, which will be included in The Solution for Cyber Risk, and gives QBE's customers the ability to access the plan whenever and wherever needed in response to a cyber event.  

The Solution for Cyber Risk is a comprehensive product suite that addresses potentially devastating exposures, and protects businesses in the event that sensitive or protected data is compromised.

Policyholders now have access to the insurance coverage they need complemented by seamless access to their data breach response plan if a cyber event occurs. The company also offers access to its eRiskHub® portal, which offers cyber risk management guidance prior to an event.

QBE underwriting vice president Steven Anderson said: "Providing value-added services is in line with our strategy to help customers manage risk better from end-to-end. A single network attack or data breach can severely disrupt business and have significant financial consequences. Responding quickly and efficiently makes all the difference to a business' reputation and bottom line.

"Embedding this product in our cyber policies will ensure that our policyholders will have the tools they need when they are at their most vulnerable moments."

Breach Plan Connect simplifies the data breach planning process by offering a checklist that includes best practices to follow in the event of a data breach and specific breach-focused responses, as well as links to QBE's eRiskHub portal, also powered by NetDiligence.

Most importantly, risk managers can customize the response plan to suit the needs of their organizations and, since it is a cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS), the plan can be accessed anywhere, anytime, from any device.

The product also gives businesses the option to take a pre-breach cyber risk self-assessment to determine their current level of protection and what they need to do to strengthen it.

NetDiligence president Mark Greisiger said: "We are thrilled to partner with QBE and proud of our new Breach Plan Connect product, which truly simplifies the process of planning for and responding to a data breach.

"We make it easier for companies to manage their cyber risk during any situation."