Board approves insurance renewal and directs staff to review cyber limits with IT and insurer

The Board of Supervisors approved the county’s 2025 insurance renewal with ICAP and discussed cyber-liability limits during a lengthy presentation by county risk and outside insurance partners.

Risk staff and Smith Davis Insurance presented an overview of property and payroll-driven premium changes, deductible caps on catastrophic wind/hail exposure and the county’s current cyber-liability limit of $250,000. Representatives said the insurer can offer higher cyber limits (options presented included $1 million, $2 million and $3 million) and that premium increases for higher limits were available as total premiums (examples given in the presentation: total premium amounts shown for $1M, $2M and $3M limits). The county’s IT safeguards and prior investments were discussed as mitigating factors, but presenters and board members noted notification and remediation costs after a breach can exceed the current $250,000 limit.

Supervisor discussion: board members asked for historical claim scenarios and comparative examples from other counties. The board instructed risk staff, county IT and Smith Davis/ICAP to meet and return with recommendations and scenario data before endorsing a larger cyber limit. The motion to approve the renewal package passed; endorsement of any increased cyber limit was deferred pending the requested analysis.

Context: staff said the county’s experienced-modifier for workers’ compensation improved slightly, property premiums were a modest increase relative to recent years, and a new cap on wind/hail deductibles will limit catastrophic deductible exposure where total insured values remain below specified thresholds.