If you’re buying technology insurance in the UK right now, you’re in a very different market than you were a couple of years ago.
After a prolonged period of rising premiums, tighter terms, and limited insurer appetite, especially around cyber insurance, the market is starting to soften. Rates are easing, capacity is returning, and insurers are becoming more competitive again.
On the surface, that sounds like good news, however it also creates a situation where many businesses may be leaving value on the table. Especially so if they’re sticking with the same broker without question.
What does a “softening” market actually mean?
In simple terms, a soft market means insurers are competing harder for business.
You’ll typically see:
- Lower premiums (or at least less aggressive increases)
- Broader coverage and fewer exclusions
- More insurers willing to quote
- Greater flexibility in underwriting
In the technology space, covering things like cyber insurance and technology Errors & Omissions, this shift is particularly noticeable. After years of caution around ransomware and systemic cyber risk, insurers are regaining confidence.
Why this changes the game for clients
When the market was hard, many clients had limited options. Brokers were focused on securing any viable terms, often navigating restrictions and last-minute changes.
Now, the dynamic has flipped.
With more insurers in the mix, there’s real opportunity to:
- Benchmark your current programme properly
- Negotiate better pricing
- Improve coverage terms
- Restructure policies to better reflect your actual risk
But not all brokers access the market in the same way.
The broker question clients don’t ask enough
In a soft market, the difference between brokers becomes much more visible.
Some brokers:
- Rely on a limited panel of insurers
- Default to incumbent markets year after year
- Focus on transactional renewals rather than strategic placement
Others:
- Actively test the market
- Have strong relationships across a wide range of insurers
- Understand how to position tech risks to get the best outcomes
If your broker isn’t proactively remarketing your programme or challenging insurers, you may not be getting the benefit of current conditions. This becomes especially prominent when your broker is not a Technology Specialist.
Why now is the time to engage alternative brokers
This doesn’t necessarily mean replacing your current broker, but it does mean sense-checking them.
Engaging another broker (or running a structured review) can:
- Provide a true market benchmark
- Highlight gaps or outdated coverage
- Introduce new insurers you may not have accessed before
- Create competitive tension that improves your renewal outcome
Importantly, in today’s market, insurers are more willing to differentiate. That only works in your favour if your risk is being properly presented and marketed.
Don’t confuse “easier” with “optimal”
One of the biggest risks in a soft market is complacency.
Just because renewals are smoother or cheaper doesn’t mean they’re optimal. In fact, this is often when inefficiencies creep in as the pressure to challenge the market disappears.
The businesses that benefit most from a soft market are the ones that actively engage with it.
Final thought
The UK technology insurance market is opening up again. That creates real opportunity but only if you take advantage of it.
Now is the time to ask:
- Are we testing the market properly?
- Are we getting the best terms available?
- Is our broker adding strategic value?
If the answer isn’t a confident yes, it may be worth speaking to someone else.
Because in a competitive market, your broker should be competing just as hard as your insurers.