Structured Data Markup (JSON-LD) Cyber Insurance for Freight Forwarders | Insure24

Cyber Insurance for Freight Forwarders

CALL FOR EXPERT ADVICE
GET A QUOTE NOW

Protect shipment data, customs documentation, and logistics systems from cyber threats

CALL FOR EXPERT ADVICE
GET A QUOTE NOW

We compare quotes from leading insurers

  • Allianz
  • Aviva
  • QBE
  • RSA
  • Zurich
  • NIG

CYBER INSURANCE TAILORED FOR LOGISTICS

Why Cyber Insurance Matters for Freight Forwarders

Freight forwarding operations depend on secure digital systems for tracking shipments, managing customs documentation, and coordinating international logistics. A cyber attack targeting your TMS, email systems, or customer data can disrupt operations, delay shipments, and damage client relationships. Insure24's cyber insurance provides comprehensive protection tailored to logistics-specific risks.

Freight Forwarding Cyber Risks

Logistics companies face unique cyber threats targeting shipment data, customs systems, and operational infrastructure.


  • TMS (Transportation Management System) ransomware attacks
  • Shipment tracking data breaches
  • Customs documentation compromise
  • Email interception and invoice fraud
  • Third-party logistics provider breaches
  • International compliance violations

Cyber Insurance Coverage for Freight Forwarders

Comprehensive protection addressing logistics-specific cyber threats and operational risks.

Shipment Data Protection


  • Tracking information security
  • Customer shipment data breach response
  • Notification and remediation costs
  • Forensic investigation services
  • Third-party liability protection

TMS & Systems Protection


  • Ransomware recovery for TMS systems
  • System restoration and downtime coverage
  • Business interruption compensation
  • Network security liability
  • Email compromise and fraud protection

Customs & Compliance


  • Customs documentation security
  • GDPR and international data protection
  • Regulatory investigation support
  • Compliance fines and penalties coverage
  • Legal defence costs

Operational Continuity


  • Dependent business interruption
  • Supplier/partner breach protection
  • Shipment delay compensation
  • Crisis management support
  • 24/7 incident response team

Why Choose Insure24 for Freight Forwarding Cyber Insurance


  • Logistics Industry Expertise - We understand TMS systems, customs compliance, and international shipping risks
  • Fast Claims Response - Rapid incident response minimizes shipment delays and operational disruption
  • Competitive Pricing - Tailored premiums reflecting your specific logistics operations
  • 24/7 Support - Round-the-clock assistance for cyber incidents affecting shipments

Common Cyber Threats to Freight Forwarders

Understanding logistics-specific cyber risks is essential for comprehensive protection.

TMS Ransomware Attacks


Ransomware targeting your Transportation Management System can halt shipment tracking, prevent order processing, and disrupt international logistics operations. Recovery costs can exceed £200,000 for logistics companies.

  • System encryption and shutdown
  • Shipment tracking disruption
  • Operational downtime
  • Ransom demands and negotiation

Customs Data Breaches


Breaches exposing customs documentation, import/export records, or customer shipment details trigger regulatory investigations and compliance penalties. GDPR violations can result in fines up to 4% of revenue.

  • Customs documentation theft
  • Import/export data compromise
  • Regulatory investigation costs
  • GDPR and international compliance fines

Email Compromise & Invoice Fraud


Business email compromise targeting freight forwarders results in fraudulent invoice payments, misdirected shipments, and customer trust damage. These attacks cost logistics companies thousands in direct losses.

  • Invoice fraud and payment diversion
  • Shipment misdirection
  • Customer credential theft
  • Reputational damage

Third-Party Logistics Breaches


Cyber incidents affecting your shipping partners, customs brokers, or warehouse operators can disrupt your operations and expose your customer data. Dependent business interruption coverage protects against these cascading risks.

  • Partner system failures
  • Shared data compromise
  • Shipment delays
  • Supply chain disruption

The Real Cost of Cyber Incidents for Logistics

A single cyber attack can devastate freight forwarding operations and finances.

Direct Financial Losses


  • TMS system restoration: £50,000 - £150,000
  • Forensic investigation: £10,000 - £40,000
  • Data recovery services: £20,000 - £100,000
  • Customs documentation recovery: £15,000 - £50,000
  • Regulatory defence and fines: £20,000 - £200,000
  • Customer notification: £5,000 - £30,000

Operational & Hidden Costs


  • Shipment delays: £5,000 - £50,000+ per day
  • Lost customer contracts and revenue
  • Regulatory penalties and compliance costs
  • Staff time and productivity loss
  • Reputational damage and client churn
  • Increased insurance premiums

Cyber Security Best Practices for Freight Forwarders

Combine cyber insurance with strong security practices to protect your logistics operations.

Technical Controls


  • Secure TMS system architecture and updates
  • Multi-factor authentication for all staff
  • Encryption for shipment and customs data
  • Regular automated backups of critical systems
  • Firewalls and intrusion detection
  • Endpoint protection and antivirus

Organizational Practices


  • Employee security awareness training
  • Incident response planning for logistics
  • Access control and data classification
  • Vendor security assessments
  • Regular security audits and penetration testing
  • Documented security policies

Cyber Insurance Coverage Levels

Flexible coverage options tailored to your freight forwarding business size and operations.

Starter Coverage


Ideal for: Small freight forwarders with basic operations

  • Data breach response (up to £100,000)
  • Cyber liability (up to £250,000)
  • Business interruption (up to £50,000)
  • Ransomware coverage (up to £100,000)
  • 24/7 incident support

Standard Coverage


Ideal for: Growing freight forwarders with multi-location operations

  • Data breach response (up to £250,000)
  • Cyber liability (up to £1,000,000)
  • Business interruption (up to £250,000)
  • Ransomware coverage (up to £500,000)
  • Dependent business interruption
  • Risk management services

Premium Coverage


Ideal for: Established freight forwarders with complex international operations

  • Data breach response (up to £1,000,000)
  • Cyber liability (up to £5,000,000)
  • Business interruption (up to £1,000,000)
  • Ransomware coverage (up to £2,000,000)
  • Dependent business interruption
  • Dedicated incident response team

Enterprise Coverage


Ideal for: Large international freight forwarding operations

  • Fully customizable coverage limits
  • Dedicated cyber risk consultant
  • Continuous threat monitoring
  • Crisis management and PR support
  • Legal defence for regulatory investigations
  • International compliance support
Quote icon

When our TMS was compromised, Insure24's cyber insurance covered recovery costs and provided expert guidance. Their rapid response minimized shipment delays and protected our client relationships.

James P., Freight Forwarding Director

Compliance & International Regulations

Our cyber insurance helps freight forwarders meet critical international compliance requirements.


  • GDPR data protection obligations
  • Customs and Border Protection (CBP) compliance
  • International shipping documentation standards
  • ISO 27001 information security standards
  • Industry-specific compliance frameworks
  • AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) requirements

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

+-

What cyber risks do freight forwarders face?

Freight forwarders face unique cyber threats including TMS ransomware attacks, customs documentation breaches, email compromise targeting invoice payments, and third-party logistics provider breaches. These attacks can disrupt shipment tracking, delay deliveries, and expose customer data.

+-

How does cyber insurance protect TMS systems?

Cyber insurance covers TMS ransomware recovery, system restoration costs, forensic investigation, and business interruption losses while your systems are offline. This ensures rapid recovery and minimizes shipment delays.

+-

Does cyber insurance cover customs data breaches?

Yes, our policies cover customs documentation breaches, including forensic investigation, regulatory investigation support, GDPR fines, and legal defence costs. This protection extends to import/export records and international compliance requirements.

+-

What is dependent business interruption coverage?

This coverage protects your business when a cyber incident affecting a supplier, warehouse partner, or shipping provider disrupts your operations. It covers lost income and extra expenses during their recovery period.

+-

How much does cyber insurance cost for freight forwarders?

Premiums vary based on your business size, shipment volume, data sensitivity, existing security measures, and international operations. Contact us for a personalized quote tailored to your specific logistics operations.

+-

Does cyber insurance cover email compromise and invoice fraud?

Yes, our policies include social engineering coverage protecting against business email compromise, invoice fraud, and fraudulent fund transfers. This coverage is essential for freight forwarders handling international payments.

+-

What happens if my TMS is hit by ransomware?

Contact us immediately. We'll activate your incident response team, arrange forensic investigation, coordinate system restoration, cover ransom negotiation costs if needed, and compensate for business interruption losses during recovery.

+-

Does cyber insurance cover GDPR fines for freight forwarders?

Many policies include coverage for GDPR fines and regulatory penalties, particularly important for freight forwarders handling international shipment data. Coverage limits and conditions vary, so check your specific policy details.

+-

What security measures should freight forwarders have in place?

Essential measures include TMS system security, multi-factor authentication, encryption for shipment and customs data, regular backups, firewalls, employee security training, and documented incident response plans.

+-

How quickly can I get coverage?

We can provide an initial quote within minutes. For detailed coverage tailored to your freight forwarding operations, allow 1-2 business days as we assess your specific risk profile and logistics infrastructure.

+-

Does cyber insurance cover third-party logistics provider breaches?

Yes, dependent business interruption coverage protects your business when cyber incidents affecting your shipping partners, customs brokers, or warehouse operators disrupt your operations or expose shared customer data.

+-

What is covered under shipment data protection?

Coverage includes tracking information security, customer shipment data breach response, notification costs, forensic investigation, credit monitoring services, and third-party liability protection for affected customers.

+-

Can I get cyber insurance if I've had a previous breach?

Yes, previous breaches don't automatically disqualify you. We assess your current security measures and improvements made since the incident. Enhanced security practices may help reduce premiums.

+-

Does cyber insurance cover shipment delays caused by cyber attacks?

Business interruption coverage compensates for lost income and ongoing expenses when cyber attacks disrupt your operations and cause shipment delays. This helps maintain financial stability during recovery.

+-

What international compliance does cyber insurance support?

Our policies support GDPR compliance, Customs and Border Protection requirements, international shipping documentation standards, ISO 27001, and AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) requirements for freight forwarders.

+-

How does cyber insurance help with regulatory investigations?

Coverage includes legal representation, compliance support, and assistance responding to Information Commissioner's Office inquiries and international regulatory investigations following customs or shipment data breaches.

+-

What is the average cost of a cyber attack for freight forwarders?

Costs can range from £50,000 to over £500,000 depending on the attack severity. This includes TMS restoration, forensic investigation, shipment delays, regulatory fines, and customer notification expenses.

+-

Does cyber insurance cover cloud-based TMS systems?

Yes, our policies cover losses resulting from cloud-based TMS provider failures, outages, or breaches. Coverage depends on your specific policy terms and the nature of the incident.

+-

Can I adjust my coverage as my freight business grows?

Yes, you can review and adjust your coverage during renewal or contact us to discuss mid-term changes as your shipment volumes, international operations, or technology infrastructure expand.

+-

What is network security liability for freight forwarders?

This coverage protects against claims from customers or partners who suffer losses due to your network security failures, such as shipment data breaches, malware transmission, or unauthorized access to shared systems.

+-

Does cyber insurance cover employee mistakes in freight operations?

Yes, coverage typically includes losses from unintentional employee errors such as clicking phishing links, misconfiguring TMS systems, or accidentally sending shipment data to wrong recipients.

+-

How does cyber insurance work with cargo insurance?

Cyber insurance complements cargo insurance by covering digital risks that traditional policies exclude. Cargo insurance covers physical loss or damage, while cyber insurance protects data, systems, and digital operations.

+-

What information do I need to get a freight forwarding cyber insurance quote?

You'll need details about your business size, annual shipment volume, types of data stored, TMS and IT systems, existing security measures, international operations, and any previous cyber incidents.

+-

Does cyber insurance provide 24/7 support for freight emergencies?

Yes, most policies offer 24/7 incident response hotlines and access to cyber security experts who can begin containment and recovery efforts immediately, minimizing shipment disruptions.

+-

Can cyber insurance help prevent attacks on freight systems?

Many policies include risk management services such as TMS security assessments, employee training, vulnerability scanning, and best practice guidance to help prevent attacks before they occur.

+-

What is crisis management coverage for freight forwarders?

Crisis management coverage includes public relations support, customer communication assistance, and reputation protection services following a cyber incident affecting your freight operations.

+-

Does cyber insurance cover phishing attacks targeting freight staff?

Yes, coverage includes losses from phishing attacks, including fraudulent invoice payments, data breaches from compromised credentials, and costs to investigate and remediate the incident.

+-

How often should freight forwarders review their cyber insurance?

Review your policy annually at renewal, or whenever your business undergoes significant changes such as new TMS adoption, increased shipment volumes, international expansion, or new logistics partnerships.

+-

What is the waiting period for cyber insurance coverage?

Most policies have no waiting period and provide immediate coverage once active. However, pre-existing incidents or known vulnerabilities are typically excluded from coverage.

+-

Does cyber insurance cover reputation damage for freight companies?

Many policies include public relations and crisis management coverage to help protect and restore your business reputation following a cyber incident, including media management and customer communication.

+-

What makes freight forwarding cyber insurance different from general cyber insurance?

Freight forwarding policies are tailored to logistics-specific risks including TMS systems, customs documentation, international compliance, shipment tracking data, and dependent business interruption from logistics partners.

Related Blogs

Cyber Security Risk Assessment for Insurance Purposes

In today's digital landscape, cyber threats pose an unprecedented risk to businesses of all sizes. From data breaches to ransomware attacks, the financial and reputational damage can be catastrophic.…

Best Cyber Insurance Providers in the UK 2025

By Insure 24

Best Cyber Insurance Providers in the UK 2025

Cyber threats are evolving faster than ever, and UK businesses face increasingly sophisticated attacks that can result in devastating financial and reputational damage. Whether you're a small startup, a grow…

How Much Does Cyber Insurance Cost for UK SMEs?

Cyber attacks are no longer a distant threat—they're a daily reality for UK businesses. In 2024, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) faced an unprecedented surge in cyber incidents, fro…

What Does Cyber Insurance Cover? A Complete UK Guide

Cyber attacks are no longer a question of if, but when. In today's digital landscape, businesses of all sizes face unprecedented threats from hackers, ransomware, data breaches, and malicious so…