By Bemi Brooks 
Ever submitted a cyber insurance application, only to get hit with a long list of required security improvements—especially around multi-factor authentication (MFA)? You’re not alone. Underwriters have gotten strict, and a gap in your MFA coverage can mean a rejected application, sky-high premiums, or disastrous exclusions.
But what if you could proactively close those exact gaps, satisfy the underwriters, and even negotiate from a position of strength? That’s where the powerful connection between cyber insurance coverage Silverfort provides the key comes into play.
This guide will break down exactly how Silverfort isn’t just another security tool, but a practical, defensible measure that directly strengthens your insurance application and protects your business.
Think of cyber insurance like car insurance. If you have a sports car with a terrible safety record and no anti-theft devices, your premium will be astronomical. In the digital world, your “safety record” is your security posture, and MFA is the modern equivalent of a car alarm and airbags combined.
Underwriters aren’t just asking if you have MFA anymore. They’re asking where you have it. They want to see it everywhere an attacker could possibly strike. The problem? Most organizations have massive, hidden gaps in their MFA coverage.
A common misconception is: “We have MFA on Microsoft 365 and our VPN, so we’re covered.” Unfortunately, that’s like locking your front door but leaving all your windows wide open.
Here’s where attackers are getting in without MFA:
- Legacy and On-Premises Systems: Old applications that don’t support modern MFA protocols.
- File Shares (Like NAS Devices): Critical repositories of sensitive data often protected only by a password.
- Service Accounts: Non-human accounts used by systems, which are high-value targets.
- IOT and OT Devices: Operational technology in manufacturing or utilities.
- Command-Line Tools: Like PSExec or WinRM, which are used by admins and attackers alike.
If an attacker finds any one of these unprotected paths, your entire “MFA everywhere” claim collapses in the eyes of an insurer.
So, how do you plug every single hole without replacing all your old systems and infrastructure? This is the challenge Silverfort was built to solve.
Imagine Silverfort as a universal security guard that you can post at the entrance to every digital door in your company, regardless of how old or unique that door is. It doesn’t matter if the system is new, old, in the cloud, or hidden away in a basement server room—this guard checks everyone’s ID.
Here’s how it works in simple terms:
- It Sees Everything: Silverfort uses lightweight agents and API integrations to get a complete view of all access attempts across your hybrid environment (cloud and on-premises). It sees authentication attempts for systems you didn’t even know were vulnerable.
- It Protects Everything: Without needing to change the applications themselves, Silverfort can enforce MFA, block risky logins, or step-up authentication for any resource. That legacy HR system from 2008? You can now protect it with MFA for the first time.
- It Creates a Unified Policy Layer: You can set one simple rule: “Any access to a sensitive file share requires MFA.” Silverfort enforces it, creating a consistent security blanket.
This ability to prove that MFA is enforced across your entire identity landscape is what makes Silverfort a game-changer for cyber insurance coverage.
Let’s get practical. How does this technical capability translate into tangible insurance benefits? When you can demonstrate a defensible security control like Silverfort, you move from being a “risk” to being a “managed risk” in the eyes of an underwriter.
The table below illustrates the stark difference in outcomes:
| Without Silverfort (MFA Gaps Exist) | With Silverfort (Uniform MFA Enforcement) |
|---|---|
| Application Outcome: May be rejected or require remediation before approval. | Application Outcome: Smoother, faster approval process. |
| Premium Costs: Likely higher to offset the perceived risk. | Premium Costs: Potential for lower premiums due to reduced risk profile. |
| Policy Terms: May contain exclusions for claims related to credential theft. | Policy Terms: Cleaner terms, with fewer or no critical exclusions. |
| Negotiating Power: Little to no leverage. You are asking them to take a risk. | Negotiating Power: Stronger position. You can demonstrate proactive risk reduction. |
In many real cases, organizations have used their Silverfort deployment as a central part of their insurance application, providing logs and policies as evidence. They didn’t just say they had MFA everywhere; they proved it. This evidence is what can help justify better terms or lower premiums.
Ready to turn your identity security into an insurance asset? Follow these steps.
- Conduct a Pre-Assessment Gap Analysis. Before you even look at an application, use a tool like Silverfort to discover all the systems and access paths in your environment that are currently without MFA. This is your “to-fix” list.
- Deploy and Enforce MFA Universally. Use Silverfort to roll out MFA protection to your highest-risk gaps first. Prioritize systems with access to sensitive data, financial information, or critical infrastructure.
- Document Everything for the Underwriter. Create a clear, one-page summary for your insurance broker. State: “We have implemented Silverfort to enforce MFA across our entire hybrid environment, including legacy, on-premises, and cloud systems that traditionally lack MFA support.”
- Prepare to Demonstrate Your Controls. Be ready to provide evidence. This could be screenshots of your security policies within the Silverfort platform or high-level reports showing the breadth of MFA coverage.
- Use This Stance During Renewal Negotiations. Don’t be passive. When your policy is up for renewal, proactively state, “Since our last application, we have implemented uniform MFA enforcement using Silverfort, significantly reducing our identity-based risk. We would like this reflected in our updated terms and premium.”
In today’s threat landscape, cyber insurance is non-negotiable. But simply purchasing a policy is not a strategy. The real strategy lies in building a defensible security posture that makes you a desirable client for insurers.
Silverfort provides the unique capability to turn your identity layer from a liability into a documented asset. It’s the practical control that answers the underwriter’s toughest questions before they’re even asked.
By taking proactive steps to unify and enforce your MFA coverage, you’re not just checking a box. You’re building a more resilient organization and securing its financial future.
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We already have an identity provider (like Okta or Azure AD). Why do we need Silverfort for insurance?
Great question! Tools like Okta and Azure AD are excellent, but they primarily protect applications that are integrated with them. Silverfort protects everything else—the legacy systems, file shares, and command-line tools that your main identity provider can’t see or protect. They work together to create a complete safety net.
Is Silverfort itself a direct requirement from cyber insurers?
Not usually by name—yet. Insurers care about outcomes, not brands. Their requirement is “MFA on all remote access and administrative access.” Silverfort is one of the most effective ways to achieve and prove that outcome, especially for the tricky parts of your network.
Can Silverfort really help lower our premium?
It can be a significant factor. While premiums are based on many variables (company size, industry, claim history), a demonstrably stronger security posture is a primary lever for reducing cost. By systematically eliminating a major cause of claims (credential theft), you give the insurer a clear reason to offer a better rate.
How long does it take to deploy and see a benefit for insurance purposes?
A proof-of-concept can be set up in a day. For a full production deployment to cover critical gaps, many organizations see meaningful results within a few weeks. This is fast enough to impact an upcoming insurance renewal if you act promptly.
What’s the one thing we should tell our broker?
Tell them this: “We have closed the MFA coverage gaps that are common in hybrid IT environments. We can now enforce and prove MFA is required for access to all our critical systems, including legacy and on-premises assets that are typically unprotected.”
Does this also protect us from actual attacks, or is it just for compliance?
It’s primarily for real-world protection. While it satisfies compliance requirements for insurers, its core function is to stop attackers from using stolen passwords. It’s a genuine security control first and a compliance tool second.
We’re a small business. Is this overkill for us?
Attackers don’t only target large enterprises. Small businesses are often seen as easy targets precisely because they have these security gaps. The financial impact of a breach can be devastating for a smaller company, making both cyber insurance and the security controls to get it more important than ever.