Netherlands-based cooperative insurer and ICMIF member Univé won an International Best in Business Award during The Globee Awards 2021 last month. During the annual presentation, the jury declared Univé the winner in the Cybersecurity category for its launch of Univé Cyberhulp (Cyber Help), which has been included as standard for all insurance policies issued by the cooperative insurer since February 2021.
Almost unheard of in the insurance world
The Globee Awards are a series of eleven award programmes created in 2003 to recognise achievements and contributions from companies, business leaders and other professionals worldwide. Univé was nominated for the International Best in Business Award for the “bold, unusual action” it has taken to improve cyber protection for its members. “The universal, immediate adoption of new coverage and services is virtually unheard of in the insurance world, where coverage is typically granted as soon as a policy is renewed,” the jury said. “In doing so, it has provided a direct response to the online risks that its members are increasingly faced with.”
Prevent and limit online risks
Johan Van den Neste, Director of Univé Schade, is proud that Univé has been awarded the international prize. “We have been able to broaden and enrich the coverage of all our insurance policies with standard, unrestricted access to a cyber help desk. When our members are confronted with cybercrime, suspect a cyber incident or want advice on how to proactively protect themselves against cybercriminals, they can count on 24/7 assistance in preventing and limiting their online risks. It is fantastic that within a year this can already count on an international appreciation like this and strengthens our confidence in the solution that we offer with Univé Cyberhulp.’
Recognition of usefulness and necessity
Although the range of cybercrime insurance is growing, according to Van den Neste, there is no other insurer worldwide that offers a comparable service to its customers on such a large scale. “That makes Univé Cyberhulp unique,” says the Director. However, Van den Neste believes that the award mainly underlines the usefulness and necessity of helping consumers and entrepreneurs to protect themselves against online fraud saying: “With about two million Dutch people involved every year, cybercrime is the only crime in our country that grows significantly every year, it is not bound by time or place and takes on increasingly complex forms. Not everyone is aware of this and is therefore not armed against it. With Univé Cyberhulp we want to change that permanently.”
ICMIF Supporting Member Sontiq’s Cyberscout® partnered with Univé to provide the necessary comprehensive and differential support to the insurer to enable it to offer Cyberhulp. The two organisations partnered to provide 1.1 million Univé members with access to cyber insurance and cybercrime services through Sontiq’s Cyberscout product. Designed to help its members protect against, limit, and recover from the damage caused by cybercrime, the partnership provides both insurance protection against a multitude of cyber incidents and 24/7 live helpdesk assistance as standard in all non-life insurance policies.
