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CYBER INSURANCE BUILT FOR PCB OPERATIONS
Why PCB Manufacturers Are High-Impact Cyber Targets
PCB manufacturers sit at a critical point in supply chains. You handle sensitive design data (Gerbers, stack-ups, netlists, BOMs), you rely on a mix of office IT and production systems, and customers often demand rapid turnaround. That combination makes ransomware and data compromise particularly disruptive — attackers know that downtime can quickly translate into missed deliveries and contract pressure.
Cyber risk is no longer just “lost laptops.” For manufacturing businesses, the biggest losses can come from operational technology (OT) and production disruption: scheduling systems, CAM/CAD workflows, file servers, ERP/MRP, plating/imaging controls, test data systems, label printing, and shipping. Even if machines still run, you may be unable to release work or prove traceability.
Cyber & IP/Data Liability insurance is designed to fund expert response, protect cashflow during interruption, and defend liability claims relating to data, privacy, network security and (where arranged) certain IP/media allegations.
What Does Cyber & IP/Data Liability Insurance Cover?
Cyber policies vary, but most provide a combination of first-party incident response and third-party liability protection. For PCB manufacturers, the practical value is often in rapid access to specialist teams: breach coaches, forensic IT, ransomware negotiators (where applicable), legal support, PR, and notification services.
Below is a practical breakdown of the cover sections that commonly matter for PCB manufacturing businesses.
First-Party Covers (Your Costs)
- Incident response & forensics – investigation, containment, system restoration support
- Ransomware / cyber extortion – response costs and extortion-related expenses (subject to policy terms)
- Data restoration – recovery of corrupted or encrypted data
- Business interruption (cyber BI) – loss of gross profit during network/OT outage (subject to trigger)
- Increased cost of working – expedited outsourcing, temporary systems, overtime, emergency logistics
- Notification & credit monitoring – where personal data breach requires notification/support
- PR / crisis communications – reputation management following an incident
Third-Party Covers (Claims Against You)
- Network security liability – claims alleging you failed to prevent unauthorised access or malware spread
- Privacy / data liability – claims relating to personal data breaches (where applicable)
- Regulatory defence – legal costs responding to regulators (subject to policy terms)
- Contractual exposures – some policies can respond to certain contractual liabilities (wording dependent)
- Media / IP liability (where included) – allegations like defamation, infringement in marketing/content (scope varies)
If you also provide design services, professional indemnity may still be required — cyber insurance is not a replacement for PI.
Operational Technology (OT) & Production Disruption: The PCB Manufacturing Cyber Risk
Many manufacturers assume “we don’t store much personal data, so cyber risk is low.” For PCB manufacturing, the bigger issue is operational disruption: loss of access to job files, CAM data, production schedules, test results, label systems, and traceability records. Even a short outage can trigger missed deliveries and expensive mitigation.
A good cyber programme considers how your business would keep trading if core systems were unavailable. Cyber insurance can fund recovery and help protect cashflow — but only if cover limits and triggers match your exposure.
Where Outages Commonly Hit
- File servers holding customer designs, CAM outputs and job packs
- ERP/MRP and production scheduling systems
- Email compromise affecting supplier and customer communications
- Label printing, despatch systems and traceability records
- Remote access tools used by engineers and vendors
- Backups that are not isolated (making recovery slower)
Typical Consequences
- Downtime and lost gross profit (especially for fast-turn work)
- Emergency outsourcing and expedited freight to protect customer delivery
- Rebuilding traceability and quality evidence for customers
- Increased scrap/rework from loss of controlled job documentation
- Contract disputes and customer confidence issues
- Potential data/IP leakage affecting customer relationships
IP, Confidential Design Data & Contractual Liability
PCB manufacturers often handle sensitive customer information: prototypes, stack-ups, impedance requirements, RF layouts, defence/industrial designs, or proprietary assemblies. While not all of this is “personal data”, it is commercially sensitive and can create significant liability if compromised.
Cyber policies can help with incident response and certain liability, but coverage for IP disputes varies widely. Some customers also include strong confidentiality and security obligations in contracts. We help you understand what your policy does, what it does not, and where professional indemnity or contractual risk management is needed.
Common Data / IP Risk Scenarios
- Email compromise leading to unauthorised sharing of customer CAD/CAM files
- Ransomware encrypts job files and exposes customer data via leak threats
- Vendor remote access exploited, impacting production systems
- Mis-sent files or incorrect job packs released to the wrong customer
- Supply-chain attack via a software update or managed IT provider
How to Improve Insurability
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for email, remote access and admin accounts
- Segregated/immutable backups with regular restore testing
- Patch management and endpoint protection across servers and user devices
- Access controls for customer data and secure file transfer methods
- Incident response plan and tested business continuity procedures
Many insurers expect these controls as a baseline. Good controls can also reduce exclusions and improve premium.
Common Cyber Policy Exclusions & Gaps to Watch
Cyber insurance is powerful, but it must be arranged correctly. Policies vary significantly in triggers, sub-limits and exclusions. The most common issues arise when businesses assume “cyber BI” will respond like property BI — it won’t unless triggers match.
Common Gaps
- Waiting periods – BI may only start after a defined outage period
- Sub-limits – reduced limits for ransomware, social engineering or system restoration
- Bricking / physical damage – not all policies address physical damage to hardware caused by cyber
- Acts of war / state-backed exclusions – wording can be complex and varies by insurer
- Failure to maintain controls – claims can be impacted if key controls are not in place
- Supply-chain dependence – cover for supplier outages varies widely
How We Help Reduce These Issues
- Clarify your OT/production dependency and choose realistic BI limits
- Match policy triggers to your likely outage scenarios
- Review sub-limits and ensure they reflect your worst-case costs
- Help document controls (MFA, backups, patching) to improve terms
- Align cover with customer security expectations and contracts
We had a ransomware incident that locked us out of job files and scheduling. Insure24 helped us put the right cyber cover in place, including BI and incident response, and made sure the policy matched how our production actually runs.
Managing Director, UK PCB ManufacturerFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Do PCB manufacturers need cyber insurance if we don’t hold much personal data?
Often yes. For manufacturers the biggest loss driver is disruption — ransomware, email compromise or system outages can stop production,
delay deliveries and trigger expensive mitigation. Cyber insurance can fund incident response and business interruption, subject to policy terms.
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Will cyber insurance cover business interruption if our systems go down?
Many policies include cyber business interruption, but triggers, waiting periods and sub-limits vary. It’s important to select cover that matches
your likely outage scenarios and the time it would take to recover job files, scheduling and traceability systems.
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Does cyber insurance cover loss of customer CAD/CAM files or IP?
Cyber insurance commonly covers incident response, forensic investigation and certain liabilities arising from data compromise.
Cover for IP disputes varies widely and depends on policy wording. If you have strong confidentiality obligations, we can help you select appropriate cover and limits.
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What cyber controls do insurers typically expect?
Common expectations include MFA for email and remote access, segregated backups with restore testing, patch management,
endpoint protection, and controlled access to sensitive customer files. Strong controls can improve terms and reduce exclusions.
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Is cyber insurance the same as professional indemnity?
No. Cyber insurance focuses on security incidents, data liability and incident response. Professional indemnity relates to professional negligence
and financial loss claims arising from advice, design or services. Some businesses need both depending on what they do.
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How quickly can Insure24 arrange cyber cover for a PCB business?
Many risks can be quoted quickly once the insurer has basic information on turnover, data exposure and security controls.
More complex risks or higher limits may take longer. As a guide, allow 1–2 business days once core information is provided.
UNIQUE INSURANCE
TAILORED FOR YOU
PCB manufacturers depend on data, scheduling and controlled processes. Cyber incidents can halt production and damage customer trust. Speak to Insure24 to build cyber and data liability cover that matches your operational reality — including incident response and business interruption.
PROTECT YOURSELF
- Incident response and forensic support after a cyber event
- Cyber business interruption and increased cost of working
- Data and network security liability protection
- Optional cover for IP/media risks (wording dependent)
- Support aligning cover with customer expectations and contracts