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Perceptions of Corporate Cyber Risks and Insurance Decision-Making

Author

Listed:
  • Guido Smidt

    (Aon Risk Solutions)

  • Wouter Botzen

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
    Utrecht University
    The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania)

Abstract

This study provides an analysis of individual perceptions of cyber risks amongst professional decision makers. Data are collected using a survey of corporate professionals who are engaged in risk and insurance decision-making in various functional roles mainly in large companies. The study focuses on the perceived probability as well as the anticipated financial impact of cyber risks. Behavioural factors—the availability heuristic, threshold level of concern, degree of worry and trust in one’s own organisation’s capabilities—are found to have significant influences on the perceived probability and impact of cyberattacks. The probability of a successful cyberattack is overestimated, and the financial impact is underestimated. Given the high perceived expected value of cyberattack losses relative to the costs of cyber risk insurance, it appears that professional decision makers deviate from the expected value-based decision-making by being reluctant to insure for cyber risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Guido Smidt & Wouter Botzen, 2018. "Perceptions of Corporate Cyber Risks and Insurance Decision-Making," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 43(2), pages 239-274, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:gpprii:v:43:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1057_s41288-018-0082-7
    DOI: 10.1057/s41288-018-0082-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael McShane & Trung Nguyen, 2020. "Time-varying effects of cyberattacks on firm value," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 45(4), pages 580-615, October.
    2. Daniel Zängerle & Dirk Schiereck, 2023. "Modelling and predicting enterprise-level cyber risks in the context of sparse data availability," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 48(2), pages 434-462, April.
    3. Davide Settembre-Blundo & Rocío González-Sánchez & Sonia Medina-Salgado & Fernando E. García-Muiña, 2021. "Flexibility and Resilience in Corporate Decision Making: A New Sustainability-Based Risk Management System in Uncertain Times," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(2), pages 107-132, December.
    4. Michael McShane & Trung Nguyen, 0. "Time-varying effects of cyberattacks on firm value," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 0, pages 1-36.
    5. Kjartan Palsson & Steinn Gudmundsson & Sachin Shetty, 0. "Analysis of the impact of cyber events for cyber insurance," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 0, pages 1-16.
    6. Dirk Wrede & Tino Stegen & Johann-Matthias Schulenburg, 2020. "Affirmative and silent cyber coverage in traditional insurance policies: Qualitative content analysis of selected insurance products from the German insurance market," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 45(4), pages 657-689, October.
    7. Kjartan Palsson & Steinn Gudmundsson & Sachin Shetty, 2020. "Analysis of the impact of cyber events for cyber insurance," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 45(4), pages 564-579, October.

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