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New Lloyd’s study highlights wide ranging implications of cyber attacks

Wed 08 Jul 2015

Lloyd’s and the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Risk Studies are today launching a new report, Business Blackout. This joint report is the first to examine the insurance implications of a major cyber attack, using the US power grid as an example.

The report depicts a scenario where hackers shut down parts of the US power grid, plunging 15 US states and Washington DC into darkness and leaves 93 million people without power. Experts predict it would result in a rise in mortality rates as health and safety systems fail; a decline in trade as ports shut down; disruption to water supplies as electric pumps fail and chaos to transport networks as infrastructure collapses.

The total impact to the US economy is estimated at $243 billion, rising to more than $1 trillion in the most extreme version of the scenario. The cyber attack scenario shows the broad range of claims that could be triggered by disruption to the US power grid, with total amount of claims paid by the insurance industry estimated at $21.4 billion, rising to $71.1 billion in the most extreme version of the scenario.



This scenario shows the huge impact and havoc that could result from a major cyber attack on the US. The reality is that the modern, digital, and interconnected world creates the conditions for significant damage, and we know there are hostile actors with the skills and desire to cause harm.

As insurers, we need to think about these sorts of complex and interconnected risks and ensure that we provide innovative and comprehensive cyber insurance to protect businesses and governments. This type of insurance has the potential to be a valuable tool for enhancing the management of, and resilience to, cyber risk.

Governments also have a role to play. We need them to help share data, so we are able to accurately assess risk and protect businesses.
Tom Bolt, director of performance management at Lloyd’s

Contacts

For Europe enquiries

Patricia Gondim
Head of Global Communications

+44 (0)20 7327 5023
For North America enquiries

Lizzie Lowe
Regional Head of Communications, North America

+1 212 382 4060
For China enquiries

Grace Gu
Regional Head of Marketing & Communications, Greater China

+86 (0)21 6162 8273

  • The full report can be downloaded at www.lloyds.com/news-and-insights/risk-reports/business-blackout
  • Lloyd’s has been working with the UK Government and other insurers to develop London as a global centre for cyber risk management. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-cyber-security-the-role-of-insurance
  • Lloyd’s produced this report to help underwriters operating in the Lloyd’s market identify these previously unconsidered cyber attack impacts on insurance and risk. The scenario described in this report is relevant to stress and scenario testing required under the Solvency II framework: although unlikely, it represents a class of events with a probability thought to be well within the benchmark return period of 1:200 years against which insurers must be resilient.
  • Scenarios are not predictions; they explore what might happen based on past events and scientific, social and economic theory. In a world of emerging risk, it is not possible to achieve certainty regarding the nature and scale of threats faced by insurers – as such the insurance industry must be resilient to uncertainty.
  • Lloyd’s developed the scenario and its likely impacts with researchers from Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies at University of Cambridge Judge Business School.
  • President Obama raised the prospect of cyber attacks on the US power grid in his State of the Union address on 12th February 2013. He said:
  • “America must also face the rapidly growing threat from cyber-attacks. We know hackers steal people’s identities and infiltrate private e-mail. We know foreign countries and companies swipe our corporate secrets. Now our enemies are also seeking the ability to sabotage our power grid, our financial institutions, and our air traffic control systems. We cannot look back years from now and wonder why we did nothing in the face of real threats to our security and our economy.”


https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/remarks-president-state-union-address

About Lloyd’s

Lloyd's is the world's only specialist insurance and reinsurance market that offers a unique concentration of expertise and talent, backed by strong financial ratings and international licences. It is often the first to insure new, unusual or complex risks, providing innovative insurance solutions for local, cross border and global risks. Its strength lies in the diversity and expertise of the brokers and managing agents working at Lloyd’s, supported by capital from across the world. In 2015, more than 90 syndicates are underwriting insurance and reinsurance at Lloyd's, covering all lines of business from more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Lloyd's is regulated by the Prudential Regulatory Authority and Financial Conduct Authority. 

For further information, please contact:

Alex Dziedzan, Senior Manager, Media Relations

Tel: +44 (0)20 7327 6125

Email: alex.dziedzan@lloyds.com