Delta unveils zero-deductible cyber cover in Singapore

Delta Underwriting has launched a cyber insurance product in Singapore that removes deductibles and replaces the traditional proposal form with a short digital assessment.

The product, called Active Cyber Insurance, uses five data points to generate a quotation: company name, address, business activity, revenue, and website domain. Delta positions the approach as an alternative to application processes that can take weeks.

Active Cyber Insurance is being offered across Asia, where businesses face a growing volume of cyber threats. In Singapore, the launch comes as companies report higher levels of phishing and other attacks, with smaller firms often citing limited resources for prevention and response.

Sebastian Phua, Delta Underwriting's head of business strategy, said the product aligns with public initiatives to strengthen cyber resilience.

"We're proud to launch Active Cyber Insurance to fill critical gaps in the market. This aligns with broader government efforts to enhance the cyber resilience of SMEs in Singapore and across the region, especially in our rapidly evolving digital world. Business owners shouldn't be burdened with the lengthy underwriting process of getting a quotation or, when a cyberattack hits, having to worry about their insurance policy deductible. Delta Active Cyber Insurance approach solves both of these pain points."

"We have completely redesigned the underwriting process, using business intelligence and proprietary systems to generate quotations quickly and reduce prejudice to customers from erroneous proposal form declarations. Furthermore, our zero-deductible policy removes the financial barriers to activating cyber insurance, minimising cash flow and liquidity issues that might delay a company's recovery, especially during times of economic uncertainty," Phua said.

Five-point assessment

Active Cyber Insurance uses a digital assessment rather than a proposal form and can provide cyber protection regardless of an organisation's IT infrastructure. The underwriting process relies on business intelligence and internal tools to assess risk using the five data points.

Cyber insurance applications typically require detailed questionnaires on security controls, incident history, supplier exposure, and governance, often supported by evidence. Delta removes that step at the quotation stage and instead relies on the streamlined data set.

Service model

Delta describes Active Cyber Insurance as an end-to-end service model with three components: Active Assessment, Active Defence, and Active Response.

Active Assessment covers quotation and risk assessment for companies with under S$1 billion in annual revenue, a threshold Delta says covers up to 95% of the Singapore market.

Active Defence is a risk management platform provided at no additional cost. It includes tools for drafting PDPA-compliant policies, running employee phishing simulations and training, and monitoring IP addresses for vulnerabilities.

Active Response is a 24/7 crisis management service. Delta says its incident team includes forensic investigators who manage a breach.

Zero deductible

Active Cyber Insurance includes a zero-deductible structure for SMEs with revenues up to S$250 million. In many cyber policies, insured firms must pay a portion of costs before cover reimburses expenses. Delta removes that out-of-pocket payment at the time of a claim.

The change is framed as a response to cash-flow pressures during incidents, when firms may face operational disruption, forensic and legal costs, and urgent remediation. Delta says the aim is to reduce financial friction that has left some SMEs underinsured or without cover.

The launch comes amid rising reported cyber activity. Delta cited a 17% surge in cyberattacks in Singapore over the past year. Separately, the Singapore Cyber Landscape report said local organisations in 2024 faced a 49% increase in reported phishing attempts to about 6,100 cases.

Policy alignment

Singapore's Cyber Security Agency runs the SG Cyber Safe Programme, which focuses on assessment, capability building, and recognition for organisations. Delta says it is recognised by the agency as a cyber insurance provider.

Businesses that achieve the CSA Cyber Essentials or Cyber Trust marks are offered preferential premium rates and enhanced policy terms. Delta says Active Cyber Insurance aligns with the SG Cyber Safe Programme, including its approach to SME risk assessment and underwriting.

Established in 2017, Delta Underwriting operates as a specialist underwriting agency. It says it was the first Lloyd's coverholder in Singapore and provides insurance in more than ten countries across the Asia Pacific region.