According to S&P Global Ratings, cyber-risk analytics firms have reported heightened activity by threat actors and affiliated hacktivist groups since the outbreak of the Middle East war, including distributed denial-of-service attacks, phishing campaigns and attempts to compromise corporate networks and critical infrastructure.
With this in mind, the rating agency said there is a heightened risk of severe cyberattacks during or following the military action, as has been observed in previous geopolitical conflicts.
“To date, there have been no public reports of large insured cyber-related losses directly attributable to the Middle East war. Most incidents appear to have disrupted services or systems without generating significant insured losses,” S&P explained.
However, the rating agency noted that while the war’s impact on insurers’ cyber portfolios currently appears limited, the situation remains fluid and could escalate further, particularly once the physical conflict subsides.
S&P continued, “An escalation of malicious cyberactivity into larger, coordinated, state-linked attacks could severely test underwriting models, raise accumulation risk, and spark legal disputes over coverage.
“That said, insurers have been refining their cyber policy wording over the past few years, particularly around war-related exclusions and state-sponsored cyber activity, in order to clarify the coverage boundaries.
“At the same time, underwriting frameworks increasingly incorporate cyber-risk analytics, threat intelligence, and geopolitical risk assessments to better understand systemic exposure.”
The rating agency also highlighted the significant cyber insurance protection gap, noting that many companies remain uninsured or underinsured against cyber risks despite increasing digital dependence.
“Rising geopolitical tensions and growing awareness of cyberattacks could further increase the demand for cyber insurance. Alongside traditional insurance solutions, alternative risk-transfer mechanisms and public-private partnerships may play an important role in gradually narrowing the protection gap,” S&P added.
S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Manuel Adam continued, “Our focus remains on insurers’ risk management practices, portfolio diversification, and operational resilience.
“Overall, the Middle East war highlights the growing interconnection between cyber risk, geopolitics, and insurance, reinforcing the importance of clear policy language, prudent underwriting, and robust operational safeguards to maintain portfolio resilience.”
