DUAL Cyber Defense
DUAL Cyber Defense is a cyber insurance product underwritten by DUAL Austria GmbH (Howden (UK)), available in Austria. It is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, mid-market companies, large enterprises and multinational groups. Coverage limits reach up to Up to USD/EUR 25M any one risk (primary or excess).. The policy extends beyond standard cyber liability with Cyber crime / FTF and Primary & excess. Policyholders get 7 bundled proactive services — Vulnerability scanning, Threat intelligence, MDR / EDR and Email security, among others — designed to reduce breach risk before a claim ever happens. The carrier holds an AM Best rating of A (Excellent) – AM Best (panel of A-rated carriers via Howden / Lloyd's capacity).. The product signals support for NIS2/DORA regulatory requirements. It is distributed through insurance brokers.
Product Details§ 01
Advantages & Limitations§ 02
Advantages
- DUAL: one of the world's largest international MGAs; part of Howden Group; 21 countries; 70+ product lines; 11,000+ broker and agent partners worldwide. Founded Madrid 1998. MGA of the Year — Insurance Insider Honours 2025.
- DUAL Cyber Defense: comprehensive first- and third-party cyber insurance covering the full spectrum of cyber risks; available to SMEs and large enterprises (revenue up to USD/EUR 10 billion).
- Coverage: data breach / privacy liability, network security liability, regulatory investigations and fines, business interruption (first-party and dependent), data recovery and system restoration, cyber extortion and ransomware, cyber crime / funds transfer fraud / social engineering, media liability, PCI DSS fines and assessments.
- DUAL Cyber Active Protect (Europe, launched Feb 2025): combined insurance + active prevention solution. Partners: Silverfort (Identity Threat Detection and Response; Identity Security Posture Management; non-human identity security) and Cynet (All-in-One Cybersecurity Platform; endpoint protection; network analytics; email security; SaaS/cloud monitoring; MDR 24/7; automated IR). Eliminates traditional cyber risk questionnaires for standard SME business.
- Capacity: up to USD/EUR 25M any one risk; Howden-backed reinsurance capacity; AM Best "A"-rated carriers.
- Broad appetite: SME to USD/EUR 10B revenue enterprise; all industries including technology, finance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing.
- Primary and excess placements available; bespoke underwriting for complex risks.
- Broker-only distribution; local DUAL underwriting teams in each market.
Limitations
- Broker-only distribution.
- No cyber risk questionnaire for standard SME business (DUAL Cyber Active Protect tier); full underwriting for complex accounts.
- Coverage and capacity may vary by market/entity — confirm local terms with DUAL underwriter.
Contact & Response§ 03
Frequently asked questions§ 04
+Who is DUAL Cyber Defense designed for?
DUAL Cyber Defense by DUAL Austria GmbH targets small and medium-sized businesses, mid-market companies, large enterprises and multinational groups in Austria. Geographic scope: EU / EEA..
+What proactive security services are included with DUAL Cyber Defense?
The policy bundles 7 proactive services: Vulnerability scanning, Threat intelligence, MDR / EDR, Email security, Incident response, Pre-breach advisory and Crisis management. These preventive services are typically included in the premium.
+Does DUAL Cyber Defense help with NIS2 or DORA compliance?
DUAL Austria GmbH indicates the following NIS2/DORA support for this product: NIS2 and DORA compliance advisory included..
+How can I buy DUAL Cyber Defense in Austria?
DUAL Cyber Defense is sold through insurance brokers — broker contact: https://www.dualinsurance.com/europe/products. Compare it with alternatives in Austria on Ryskly before approaching a broker.