Insurance

Insurance
How Your VA Insurance Broker Can Help When Things Go Wrong Guest Blog by PolicyBee
- 1st November 2025
- 0 comments
- by Amanda Johnson
There’s no doubt a virtual assistant’s business insurance policy is a useful thing to have. It’s your safety net should things start to go south between you and a client.
Having spent good money on business insurance though, you expect it to do its job. If something goes wrong and you have to claim, your policy should kick in and pay up. No questions asked.
Except questions are always asked, and fairly awkward ones at that. So it’s a good thing you already have an insurance expert on your side who can help you: your broker.
Here’s how.
Reading the early signs
S ome barbed criticisms , a recurring complaint about your work, refusal to pay your invoice… enough to ruffle a few feathers, but maybe not enough to prompt you to pick up the phone to your insurance broker.
Except that’s exactly what you should do. Keeping your insurer in the loop from the moment there’s a problem between you and your client – no matter how trivial or small – means they have an early record of the dispute, which can only help your case.
A quick chat with your broker is usually enough for this to happen. It won’t affect the cost of your insurance and it’ll put you on the right footing with your insurer should things escalate between you and your client.
Choosing your words wisely
Say things do take a turn for the worse. Before you know it, you’re dealing with one (or more) allegations of wrongdoing which could, ultimately, lead to a claim. What then? How do you respond?
At this stage, what you don’t say to your client is just as important as what you do say. Your insurance broker can help you with this.
For example, they can advise on how to keep correspondence between you and your client neutral, so you don’t unintentionally aggravate the situation or admit liability. Even if you think your client is right to point the finger, admitting you’re to blame would prejudice your insurer’s position from the get-go, making it more difficult for them to fight your corner.
And don’t let on to your client that you have insurance, especially in the early stages. You might not know straight away that you’ll definitely be covered. So sit tight and let your broker do the talking. Besides, finding out you have the financial muscle of an insurer behind you might mean a couple more zeros get added to your alleged costs.
Time is of the essence
The moment a stiffly-worded letter from your client’s solicitor comes through your door is bound to be a scary one. Everyone reacts differently to bad news, and the last thing you want is to respond in the heat of the moment, only to regret it later.
Take matters into your own hands (by finding your own solicitor, for example) and you could end up invalidating your insurance. Bury your head in the sand, and you run the risk of your insurer turning down your claim on the grounds of late notification.
So, before you do anything else, call your broker as soon as possible so they can get the ball rolling on your claim. Being insurance experts, they know the process inside and out, and they know what to expect. They’ll decode any questions your insurer asks of you and make sure you give the right answers.
You’re not alone
Lastly, it’s worth remembering that while dealing with an insurance claim is never a picnic, you don’t have to suffer in silence.
Your broker is ready to fight your corner anytime you need them. They represent you, not the insurer, and it’s their job to make sure your interests are covered.
If things aren’t going well, they’ll make sure the right information is given at every stage and, if needs be, go head-to-head with your insurer to argue your claim. Although it helps when – like us – they only work with progressive insurers that generally see things their way.
In other words, a good broker is a business-saving tool worth having around. They have the expertise and the technical know-how to help you when things go wrong, and at no extra cost to you (beyond what you’ve already paid for your insurance). Who can argue with that?
Want to read more on the claims process? Head over to our blog about how business insurance claims work. Or you can take a look at our insurance for virtual assistants. Got questions? Call us for a chat on 0345 222 5370.
Insurance
Insurance tips for staying on top of changes to your VA business
- 19th August 2025
- 0 comments
- by Amanda Johnson
Change is generally a good thing but it can also bringabout new risks. Our partner, PolicyBee, looks at how changing the way you do business can affect your VA insurance in this guest blog.
Change can be good for business. But change doesn’t have to mean a new source or stream of income. It can mean buying new kit, travelling for work, or taking on more staff.
Whatever changes you make to your VA business, you should make sure your cover stays up-to-date. When you’re used to doing things a certain way, it’s easy to overlook new risks. And that’s when a claim can take you by surprise…
Business changes and your insurance
When you first buy VA insurance, you’ll have to make sure it fits your business’s risks. But companies change and evolve over time. Likewise, your insurance might need to change, too.
For example, you might meet up with clients or suppliers, or travel for conferences and events, where you didn’t before. Which is where talking to your insurer or broker about public liability (PL) might be a good idea.
PL covers you if a third party gets injured or if you accidentally damage their property and they blame you. For instance, if someone trips over a loose bit of carpet at your office. Or if, when meeting a supplier, you spill a drink all over their laptop and they demand you compensate them for it.
On the flip side, if you were previously out and about but no longer see other people in person, you might want to remove PL from your policy. Why pay for something you don’t use anymore?
Whatever the changes to your VA business, it’s worth checking your insurance documents to make sure you still have the right cover and the right amount of cover for your business’s needs.
If you take on more staff
Employers’ liability (EL) insurance is a legal requirement if you have staff – even staff who are temporary or part-time. In fact, EL is there to protect each and every member of your team.
If an employee injures themselves or gets sick while at work, they can claim against you. If that happens, EL steps in to cover your legal costs and compensation.
You should check the wording for any other policies you have, though. Your public liability and your professional indemnity covers your team while they’re working for you.But it might not include freelancers or contractors. You should always ask your insurer or broker if you’re unsure.
If you buy more equipment
Buying new gear can be expensive. Especially these days where the cost of consumer goods only ever goes up…
Yet if your insurer finds out you’re underinsured right after you’ve claimed, you might not be covered for the amount it takes to replace everything.
For example, you might have £10,000 worth of portable items in your business, but you only ever take £2,000-worth out with you. In that scenario, some people may be tempted only to insure their equipment for £2,000. Which would leave them underinsured by £8,000.
Any significant difference in value would mean you’re underinsured…which insurers often deal with by imposing an ‘average clause’. Meaning, they might reduce the amount they pay you by the same proportion you’re underinsured.
So, to make sure this doesn’t happen to you, keep an accurate, up-to-date inventory of all your kit. Write everything down – it’s surprising how much it can add up to. Don’t forget your portable bits too – phones, laptops, etc.
Most insurers don’t ask for evidence of every single item you’re covering when buying insurance. But having proof of ownership (like the purchase receipt with your company name on it) is needed if you ever have to claim on your policy.
Working from home
Working from home might mean you need a home office. Plenty of people either convert or build an outbuilding or shed for some extra space away from the house.
When it comes to insuring it, however, your insurer will want to know what type of outdoor building you have. There might be some exclusions in their policy wording for what they can cover. They’ll also want to know if you’re keeping equipment there overnight.
Home insurance might (or might not) cover all your business equipment, but policies vary, and you shouldn’t rely on itwithout checking out the details. You don’t want to end up paying twice for the same cover.
Do you need to increase your level of cover?
Everyone hopes they’ll land that big contract that dramatically increases their income. However, your limits of professional indemnity (PI) cover are affected by your turnover. Which could mean your existing cover won’t be enough if your client claims.
Some client contracts specify a minimum amount of insurance cover – for example, £1 million professional indemnity. In which case, you can change your level of cover mid-way through by contacting your insurer or broker.
Equally, you might change what services you offer. You should be extra careful if you branch out into new areas or do something that requires a certain level of expertise… it mightmean having to update your cover.
A good rule to follow is that you can never have too much cover. Think about your day-to-day responsibilities. How much would it cost you – and more specifically, your insurer – if you made a mistake and your client sued for compensation? It won’t give you an exact figure but it should give you an idea of the levels of cover you’d need to keep your VA business well protected.
For 10% off your VA insurance, visit policybee.co.uk/vact. Or for help and advice on the best ways to protect your business,call the team on 0345 222 5370.

PolicyBee

PolicyBee is a specialist, independent insurance broker focused on making business and charity insurance simple and jargon-free. They help small businesses, freelancers, and charities find the right protection, online or over the phone.

PolicyBee is a trading name of PolicyBee Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm Reference Number 463064. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting the FCA’s website.
Insurance
Why reading your VA insurance policy wording is so important
- 18th May 2025
- 0 comments
- by Amanda Johnson
You might not think business insurance is the most riveting topic…but as a virtual assistant, reading your policy wording is essential. This is a guest blog post written and provided by PolicyBee.
For the record, everyone should read their policy wording. You wouldn’t buy a house without seeing it or book a holiday without looking at the photos. Neither should you buy insurance without knowing exactly what business activities you are or aren’t covered for.

But for VAs, it’s doubly important. Because one virtual assistant is very rarely the same as another…
Whether you specialise in social media management, bookkeeping, event planning, or something else entirely, your policy needs to reflect the unique risks and responsibilities of your business. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
It can seem pretty overwhelming looking at such a lengthy document. And the terminology insurers like to use in them doesn’t necessarily make things any clearer…
So, we’ve broken it all down for you – what bits you need to pay extra attention to and what some of that pesky jargon means.
How to make the process less overwhelming
Before you delve into your insurance policy documents, take a deep breath, put on a brew, and think about how you can make the process easier.
If the idea of poring over a long policy document makes you want to run a mile, don’t worry. Here are some tips to make it more manageable:
Break it down. Don’t try to read the whole thing in one sitting. Focus on one section at a time, starting with the summary of cover and definitions (we’ll talk more about those later).
Highlight key points. Use a highlighter for the most important details. This’ll help you digest it more easily. And if you need to go back and look at it at a later date, the hard work’s already been done.
Ask questions. If there’s anything you don’t understand, make notes. Don’t hesitate to ask your broker or insurer to demystify it for you. That’s what they’re there for!
Where to start
So one of the most important types of business insurance for a virtual assistant is professional indemnity insurance. This is the one that’ll protect you if you make a mistake in your work or you’re accused of not doing something properly.
And it’s this policy that’ll need to cover all your different activities.
There are other types of insurance you might have, of course. And it’s important for you to read those policies too.
Here’s a simple overview of what you’ll find in your insurance documents, and what they mean.
Your summary of cover doc is a good place to start. It’s like a sweeping overview that outlines the most important things about your policy. Like the type of insurance you’re taking out, its key features and benefits, the levels of cover, and anything that might not be covered (exclusions).
Then there’s your statement of fact. This relays all the information you’ve given to your insurer, such as your name, address, activities, etc. It’s important that all of this is accurate, because this is the information they use to calculate how much your insurance costs. So, if you want to double-check you’ve got all the right details on your policy, this where you should head for.
But don’t just stop there. Next, do a deep dive into your policy wording for the nitty gritty…
Untangling the jargon
There are a whole lot of confusing insurance terms that can wind up in your policy wording. Here’s a few of the big ones we think you really need to understand, in more simple terms:
Definitions – Check this section out first. It outlines what some of the terms used in your policy mean, so it’s helpful to keep going back to this if you get lost.
Obligations – Sometimes called warranties, these are promises you make to your insurer. For example, your wording might say you’re obliged to tell the insurer about any potential claims in writing as soon as possible. If you don’t, there’s a chance any claims you make could get rejected. That’s a pretty expensive “oops”.
Conditions – The rules of the game for both you and the insurer. Things like paying for your insurance on time or reporting incidents within a certain timeframe. If you miss a step, the insurer might just step out of paying your claim.
Endorsements – Tweaks that expand or restrict your policy. For example, they might add an endorsement that covers you for social media management, because it’s not in the standard VA policy wording. Review your endorsements carefully to see what extra protection (or limitations) they bring.
Exclusions – You know that moment you realise something isn’t part of the deal? Well, that’s an exclusion. If your policy excludes certain activities or types of damage, you’ll be on the hook for those expenses. So, make sure you know what’s out of bounds.
What happens if you don’t read your policy?
Hopefully, by this point, you’re feeling a bit more clued up on why you should read your policy. And how to understand it. But just to really bring it home…
If you skip reading your policy wording, you’re essentially flying blind. Here are a few potential pitfalls:
Expect the unexpected: Imagine discovering too late that your policy excludes the exact type of work you’ve been doing for a client. You’ll have a battle on your hands and your insurer won’t back you.
Rejected claims: If you’ve missed something in your policy, be it an activity you’re not covered for, or a rule you were supposed to follow, your insurer might refuse to help with your claim.
Financial loss: Without understanding your policy, you might assume you’re covered when you’re not, leaving you to foot the bill if something goes wrong. Even a small mistake, like a wrong number on a spreadsheet that sends everything out of whack and costs your client money, can end up wreaking havoc.
Reading your policy might not be fun, but it’s a crucial step in protecting your business and ensuring you’re not caught off guard when you need your insurance the most.
Why a good broker is your best friend
Let’s be honest – insurance jargon can be confusing. That’s where a broker comes in. A good broker will act as your guide, explaining complex terms and helping you find the right cover for your needs.
They’ll also be your advocate if you ever need to make a claim and make the ride as smooth as possible. Think of them as your insurance ally – someone who’s there to make sure you’re protected and supported.
Working closely with a broker is also the best way to ensure you get a policy that’s tailored to your business. This might mean adding endorsements for specific activities, increasing your limits, or including additional types of cover.
Peace of mind for you and your clients
Having a comprehensive insurance policy isn’t just about protecting yourself. It’s also about protecting your clients, as well as increasing their confidence and trust in you.
When they know you’re properly insured, they’ll feel more secure entrusting their business to you.
Include details of your insurance in your client onboarding process or even on your website. It’s a great way to showcase your professionalism and commitment to running a reliable, trustworthy business.
Wrapping it all up
Reading your VA insurance policy might not be the most exciting task on your to-do list, but it’s one of the most important. Actually understanding what you’ve signed up for will give you the confidence to focus on what you do best: supporting your clients.
We know it can be hard going. But don’t be put off. As well as this one, we have lots of other helpful blogs to bust that jargon wide open and a full glossary to aid your reading.
And if you’re still feeling lost, you can always count on us to explain things.
For up to 10% off your VA insurance visit our website. You can also call our team on 0345 222 5370 if you need any advice or have any questions.

You might also be interested in the following blog: 5 things you should ask when getting insurance.
About PolicyBee

PolicyBee is a specialist, independent insurance broker focused on making business and charity insurance simple and jargon-free. They help small businesses, freelancers, and charities find the right protection, online or over the phone.

PolicyBee is a trading name of PolicyBee Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm Reference Number 463064. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting the FCA’s website.
Insurance
A tale of two VAs – insurance claims examples
- 15th March 2025
- 0 comments
- by Amanda Johnson
A question that often pops up in the VA Help Desk Facebook Group from new VAs is “do I really need insurance as a Virtual Assistant?”
The short answer is yes. In this guest blog PolicyBee gives examples of why business insurance is vital for your VA business.

Today, we’d like to debunk a rumour you might’ve heard whispered in the deepest, darkest corners of online VA forums:
“Virtual assistants don’t need business insurance. Claims are rare and chances are you won’t ever need to use it.”
That’s not our experience, though. We get phone calls from virtual assistants every day hit a roadblock with their client and need help from their insurer.
So, we thought it might be useful to share some of our own real-life claims with you, sparing none of the gory details. The allegations, the costs, and what it took to rectify them.
Hopefully, it’ll also show you just how important having business insurance is as a VA.
Enjoy.

The VA and the typo
A VA who specialises in transcription found out how the tiniest typo can result in allegations that are hard to stomach.
Her client, a university academic, wanted some of his lectures typed up into a pamphlet on the health benefits of probiotic foods. He was scheduled to speak at string of conferences that summer and wanted them for the events.
The VA’s brief was simple: two weeks to transcribe the lectures, proofread them, copy and paste them into a template, and send to the printer.
The VA made the deadline and invoiced her client for the work, including a 20% cut for her proofreading associate.
Several weeks later, the client called up annoyed. He’d spotted a typo: the VA had inserted ‘macrobiology’ instead of ‘microbiology’ throughout the text. Considering the academic’s specialism was in gut health, that single misplaced ‘a’ was a bit of a disaster.
By then, 1,200 pamphlets had already rolled off the press. The university wanted the VA to reimburse them for all of them. They also refused to pay her invoice, as her work hadn’t met the brief.
This caused the VA a heap of problems. Not only would she have to fork out £1,824 for printing costs, she’d have to pay her associate out of her own pocket (£200) and lose two weeks’ income (£1,300). Making her £3,324 worse off that month.
Wisely, she picked up the phone to her broker (that’s us, by the way). After a quick run-through of the dos and don’ts of making a claim, we talked it over with her insurer who concluded that the missed typo was at least partly her fault.
Her proofreading associate couldn’t be blamed either; the university’s contract was with the VA and she’d signed off on the associate’s work.
The good news was that the VA’s policy would cover the costs of a reprint, which would be much cheaper and easier than fighting a negligence claim in court.
The VA’s professional indemnity insurance didn’t cover the outstanding invoice, though. However, once the university were satisfied they’d get their reprint covered, they recognised the VA’s efforts and paid her anyway, which meant her associate got paid too. Everyone walked away happy.
The VA and the leaked sales report
A VA was working with an up-and-coming fashion retailer. The retailer was in the process of getting lots of new ad space in magazines and public spaces. This led to a huge influx of sales, but meant they needed a hand from the VA with some of the sales and marketing admin.
The VA’s job was to compile and send weekly sales and marketing reports.
Unfortunately, a busy morning fielding phone calls led to a mix-up. In his haste to get everything sent over, he accidentally sent the report to a different client. Who also happened to be a fashion retailer.
Lots of confidential sales data was seen by lots of the wrong people. Before the VA knew it, he’d been subjected to a harsh rebuke from the company’s head of sales.
Later that evening, still feeling shaky, the VA got in touch with us. After reassuring him and getting all the pertinent details, we liaised with his insurer. They helped draft an email to his client and asked him to keep them updated on any further correspondence with the retailer.
Sure enough, the VA received a stiffly-worded letter several months later from the retailer’s solicitor, threatening to sue for breach of confidentiality. Obviously, the retailer hadn’t wanted a competitor to have access to their data. Nor did they want their planned marketing activity in front of prying eyes.
While it was a genuine mistake, the VA did have a legal case to answer. Essentially, he’d breached his duty of care and was liable.
Luckily, his insurance stepped in to make the experience as smooth as possible. They appointed one of their own solicitors to represent him in court. And they covered both the VA’s court costs and the compensation payout, to the tune of £10,300.
All’s well that ends well
Hopefully, you won’t suffer the same fate as either of our unfortunate VAs. If you do though, it’s reassuring to know your broker is there to help out.
Knowing how business insurance claims work can give you another leg up too. So make sure to read up on what you should and shouldn’t do if you need to make a claim.
For advice on anything insurance-related, call us on 0345 222 5370, or visit policybee.co.uk/vact.

ABOUT POLICYBEE

PolicyBee is a specialist, independent insurance broker focused on making business and charity insurance simple and jargon-free. They help small businesses, freelancers, and charities find the right protection, online or over the phone.

PolicyBee is a trading name of PolicyBee Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm Reference Number 463064. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting the FCA’s website.
Insurance
5 things you should ask when getting VA business insurance
- 16th January 2025
- 0 comments
- by Amanda Johnson
So, you’ve decided to protect your VA business with some professional insurance. Good decision. This is a guest blog post written and provided by PolicyBee.
Now it’s just a matter of deciding what you need and what you don’t. That might be easier said than done because FCA rules say direct insurers can’t give you advice – even about their own insurance. Or at least, not without seeking extensive training first. And their permission.
Most independent brokers have more leeway, however, so you might be better off going to one of those and asking lots of questions. At least then you’ll know you’ll have a) got the right insurance and b) probably saved money.
Here are five questions to get you started:

Q1. What insurance do I need?
First, a quick explainer.
Insurance is all about something called ‘risk transfer’. In exchange for a ‘premium’ (the money you pay), your insurer takes the financial hit of something going wrong with your business. And you don’t. You just have to make sure your insurer’s covering the right things and you keep paying the insurance cost.
Now, any decent broker should help identify what those right things are by asking what you do, where you do it, who you do it with and what you use to do it. This creates your ‘risk profile’ and helps the broker work out what insurance you need – whether you buy it or not is up to you.
To give you an idea, here’s a guide to some of the types of insurance VAs might need.
Q2. How much cover do I need?
The single biggest question any business has when buying their insurance, and one of the hardest to answer. Every business is different and no insurer or broker can give you an exact figure.
Our usual advice is to buy as much as you can reasonably afford. Yes, it’s a balancing act and every business needs to keep an eye on the outgoings. But scrimping on your cover can be a classic false economy, and it’s better to err on the side of caution than risk being underinsured.
For example, with professional indemnity (PI) insurance, think of your worst-case scenario and how much it’d cost to fix (how much you could be sued for, basically). Don’t forget to consider the legal costs of defending a claim against you – these can run into £tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Here’s a bit more help with working out your PI level of cover.
Q3. Does VA insurance cover my past work?
Most types of insurance can’t cover incidents that happen before the policy’s start date. Professional indemnity insurance, however, can.
This matters because PI claims can take months, even years, to rear their heads. If you’ve been trading for a few years but you’ve only just got around to buying your PI, you could still be open to claims from work you’ve already done.
So, ask your insurer or broker if your PI insurance includes something called retroactive cover. Effectively, this backdates your policy to cover work you did before your policy started. You choose which date – the month and year you started your business is usually safest.
Surprisingly, adding this extra cover might not cost anything but it’s best to ask.
If you’re still not sure whether you need it, you can read up a bit more on what retroactive cover is.
Q4. Am I covered abroad?
If you’re planning to travel for your work, or if you have clients abroad, you’ll need to make sure you’re covered. This applies both to the work you do and the equipment you use to do it.
Check the ‘geographical limits’ (where in the world you can work) and the ‘jurisdictional limits’ (what country’s laws apply if you’re sued) mentioned in your policy documents’ schedule. Usually, this will state either ‘UK’, ‘EU’ or ‘worldwide’.
Be aware that one set of limits might not apply to all the cover you’re getting. For example, your PI insurance might have ‘EU’ limits but your portable equipment insurance (laptops, phones etc) might only be ‘UK’. For example, go to see a client in Spain and your work’s covered but your laptop isn’t.
Q5. Does VA insurance cover other people?
To avoid being liable for others, you need to know exactly who is and isn’t covered by your insurance. The difference between employees, freelancers, and the general public means you could need three different types of insurance.
Employees – any UK business with employees legally has to have employers’ liability insurance or face a £2,500 daily fine. An ‘employee’ can be full-time or part-time, temporary or permanent, paid or unpaid – almost anyone, in fact. If you’re not sure you need it, see the HSE’s guide for employers.
If you do have employees, one policy in the business’s name covers everyone – you don’t need to name individuals.
Freelancers and subcontractors – if you need an extra pair of hands and engage a freelancer to help, their work is covered by your PI insurance. If you need someone to do something because it’s outside your area of expertise (for example, getting a chartered accountant to prepare a client’s books), they’re a subcontractor and not covered by your PI insurance. They’re a professional in their own right and should have their own insurance.
If you’re using a subcontractor, make sure they have PI so it’s their insurer paying for their mistakes. Or at least make sure there’s a written agreement between you that states they’ll cover any financial losses you have to pay because they’ve mucked up.
The general public – if you have visitors to your office, or you go out and about, injuries and/or property damage accidently caused by you are covered by public liability insurance.
Still have questions?
As a general rule, don’t be shy when sorting out your insurance – ask as many questions as you need to. It’s your business you’re protecting, after all.
And if you have any insurance-related questions, we’d love to answer them. Have a look at policybee.co.uk/vact or call a friendly expert on 0345 222 5370

ABOUT POLICYBEE

PolicyBee is a specialist, independent insurance broker focused on making business and charity insurance simple and jargon-free. They help small businesses, freelancers, and charities find the right protection, online or over the phone.

PolicyBee is a trading name of PolicyBee Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm Reference Number 463064. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting the FCA’s website.
Insurance
Do virtual assistants need cyber insurance? Guest Blog – PolicyBee
- 6th December 2024
- 0 comments
- by Amanda Johnson
Over half of small businesses and sole traders are targeted by cybercriminals each year. Our partner, PolicyBee, have written a guest blog that takes a look at how cyber insurance can help protect your VA business.
Thousands of businesses around the UK rely on virtual assistants. And the rise of remote working is convincing even more to bring one on board.
Being a virtual assistant comes with a few challenges, though. If you’re a sole trader, the buck starts and stops with you. If something goes wrong, it’s up to you to sort it out.
If you wake up on a Monday morning to a PC or laptop infected with malware or ransomware, meaning you can’t do what you need to for your clients, what do you do? And how can you protect yourself in the future?

A growing threat

It’s easy to think that cybercrime won’t affect you. You’re a smaller target after all. Unfortunately, this makes you an easy victim.

Cybercriminals mostly want one thing: data. They search for businesses where they can find the most data for the least amount of effort.

A lot of the time, that’s a small business or sole trader. Like a virtual assistant.

The frightening reality is that over half (58%) of UK small businesses experienced some form of cybersecurity breach or attack in the last year. Micro-businesses aren’t far behind, either, at 47%.

If you’re hacked, it’ll cost you £thousands to recover. Plus, you may lose your clients’ confidence in the process, which is never good for business.

An unfortunate aspect of life as a virtual assistant is that you can be targeted because of the valuable data you use and store. You’re often involved in some of the most sensitive areas of a company. For a cybercriminal, your data could be worth tens of thousands of pounds.

Don’t worry. There are a few ways you can protect yourself.

If you’re hacked, cyber insurance covers you – we’ll talk about how in the next section – but you also need to try and stop attacks before they affect you.

The good news is that there are loads of helpful tools out there. The National Cyber Security Centre has put together a guide for small businesses. It has lots of tips and advice that help to make your business safer online.

The downside is that cybercrime is on the rise. Breaches happen every day to small businesses. If you’re a victim of one, you might struggle to work. Or you could be looking at a long and expensive legal process.

Cyber insurance is there to protect you if this happens.

Protect yourself

Cyber insurance protects your business if you become a victim of cybercrime. When malware, ransomware, or a phishing attack strikes, it jumps into action in several helpful ways.

First, it covers your direct costs. For instance, you might not be able to work for a couple of weeks so cyber insurance sorts out any loss of income. It also pays for any ransoms and legal fees that might spring up.

And it provides experts to help you recover after you’re hit by an attack.

The first priority is to stop the attack and get everything under control. A team of cybersecurity experts handles this. They’ll work with you to get your systems back on track so you can start working again.

After they’ve got you back up and running, the legal experts are sent in. They notify the right organisations for you – like the Information Commissioner’s Office – and help you sort out any other complicated legal things, like compensation and fines if you’re sued for losing sensitive data.

A PR team will also get involved. Their job is to help you speak to your customers and tell them that the breach has happened. And to let them know what you’re doing about it.

Cyber insurance covers all these costs so you can get back on your feet.

If you use suppliers, you’re also covered if they cause a breach. It won’t help you with the awkward conversation afterwards, though!

It’s important to note that different cyber insurance policies cover different things. Some won’t cover certain kinds of attacks, like social engineering.

Social engineering is a type of attack that manipulates someone into accidentally giving away information or doing something for a cybercriminal. This could be leaking data, sending money, or revealing login info.

So if you get an email from a dodgy sender or a text from a client when you know they’re not working, be careful.

98% of cyber-attacks use some kind of social engineering. If you’re shopping around, make sure to read the policy wording carefully before signing on the dotted line.

What’s the difference between cyber insurance and professional indemnity insurance?

Do you have professional indemnity insurance? It covers you if a client accuses you of negligence, poor service, acting in bad faith, and other similar claims that result in a financial loss.

We get asked a lot by virtual assistants: doesn’t professional indemnity cover me for cyber-attacks and data breaches?

Unfortunately, the answer is probably not. Most policies don’t allow claims for cybersecurity and data protection.

If you’re not sure whether your current policy covers you, check your policy wording. You don’t want to get caught by surprise when cybercrime catches up with you.

Get up to speed

When it comes to cybercrime, the more you know the better.

Some cyber insurance policies include training to get you up to speed.

The training will teach you about cybercrime and how to avoid the pitfalls of social engineering attacks, like phishing.

It helps you spot dodgy emails, texts, and phone calls that could lead to a breach. And gives you a rundown on cybersecurity so you can improve how you use data and the internet.

Phishing attacks are by far the most common type of cybercrime seen by UK businesses.

Being clued up can mean that you never click on a bad link or send money to a faraway prince. Trust us, it’s not a safe investment.

But what happens if you do click on a bad link or accidentally send money to a cybercriminal? It can happen to anyone.

Most cyber insurers can be contacted 24/7. So even if you realise you’ve made a mistake at 1am, they can get to work right away. This gives you a way higher chance of recovering quickly.

Some policies will even support you after the breach is fixed.

Their experts will help you put in a bunch of systems that can help protect you in the future.

Build a defence against cybercrime

Cyber-attacks happen every day. They could be your fault. Or you could just be an unlucky target.

The outcomes of an attack are really difficult to deal with. Especially as a virtual assistant where time is money.

For up to 10% off your VA insurance, and to find out more about cyber insurance, visit our website. You can also call our team on 0345 222 5370 if you need any advice or have any questions.

Please take a moment to read our blog post about What Insurance do Virtual Assistants need?

ABOUT POLICYBEE

PolicyBee is a specialist, independent insurance broker focused on making business and charity insurance simple and jargon-free. They help small businesses, freelancers, and charities find the right protection, online or over the phone.

PolicyBee is a trading name of PolicyBee Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm Reference Number 463064. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting the FCA’s website.
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What insurance do virtual assistants need?
- 29th August 2024
- 0 comments
- by Amanda Johnson
What insurance do Virtual Assistants need is a guest blog from PolicyBee.
As a business insurance broker, we often get VAs asking us what insurance they need. Truth is, there’s no easy answer. One VA’s workload differs from the next and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
That said, VA work can be risky. Whether balancing the books, assisting with marketing strategies, or going out to meet clients, there’s potential for something to go wrong.

Insurance is a must. But different types of insurance do different things, which can be confusing. So let’s take a closer look at them:
Professional indemnity (PI): for slip-ups, mishaps, and mistakes
Being your own boss is great – but it comes at a cost. If you make a mistake and your client loses out, they can sue you. If that happens, the person who’s footing the bill could be you.
PI insurance is your safety net. It rights the wrongs resulting from your mistakes and pays for any court costs, legal fees or compensation you owe. Cover usually includes things like defamation, document loss, intellectual property infringement, and confidentiality breach. Either way, it helps to check the policy wording. That way you know what you’re protected for.
Claims example: A mix-up between two (very similar) email addresses means you send your client’s sales report to their competitor by mistake. Lots of confidential sales data gets seen by the wrong people and the client sues you for breach of confidentiality.
Public liability: for slips, trips, and spills
Public liability insurance covers you for claims of physical damage and injuries caused by you or your business. It’s useful if you go out to run errands and meet clients, or if people come to see you.
It really doesn’t take much to be held liable for a claim: a client tripping over an ill-placed briefcase; a coffee-soaked laptop; or someone slipping on a loose bit of carpet. For many VAs, public liability is a ‘peace of mind’ insurance which means they sleep better at night.
Claims example: You’re visiting a client’s home and accidentally brush up against an expensive piece of artwork. It falls to the floor and breaks. Your client promptly asks you to replace it.
Office and business insurance: for your office and portable equipment
Arguably as important as what you do is what you do it with. Tot up the cost of all the equipment in your office, from PC to printer, pencils to potted plants. At a guess, we’d say it’s a lot.
Office insurance covers property owned by your business for loss, damage, or theft. Portable insurance is for your mobile phone, laptop, and any other equipment you take out and about with you.
Claims example: You’re taking the train back from a meeting and your laptop gets stolen. You’re faced with the prospect of having to pay out of your own pocket so you can get back to work on an important project.
Cyber insurance: for hacks, breaches, and data loss
The internet is great for connecting you to your clients but it’s also a double-edged sword. Juggling lots of tasks for lots of different people can mean your cybersecurity falls by the wayside. Unfortunately, cybercriminalsare great at exploiting weaknesses, leaving you as vulnerable to cyber-attacks as any other business.
As always, it pays to be protected. Cyber insurance covers the cost of repairing, replacing and restoring your systems, data and websites following a hack or a breach. If your business is disrupted, it pays for temporary equipment to get back you back on track. And if you’re sued, it covers any compensation you’re liable for.
You can even add on the option for cyber insurance to cover your lost income, which is a huge bonus when you might be unable to work for a few days.
Claims example: Cybercriminals infect your PC with ransomware, leaving you unable to access your client’s files and data. What’s worse, they demand payment for its release. You let your client know of the situation and they threaten to sue you for unauthorised data collection.
Legal expenses insurance: everything from contract to employment disputes
This insurance covers your legal expenses if you’re involved in a commercial dispute that’s not your fault. Often, these are to do with employment issues and tax investigations. It also covers property-related civil disputes and lost earnings due to jury service.
It can make getting access to expensive legal support a lot easier and save you a lot of money in a time of crisis. Which could be vital as a sole trader.
Legal expenses insurance is usually sold alongside another type of cover, like virtual assistants’ professional indemnity insurance.
Claims example: Your assistant is called up for jury service. During this time, you decide to continue paying them so they don’t fall behind on their bills. You then claim this money back from your legal expenses insurance.
Real protection in the virtual world
When it comes to being a VA, you never know what’s around the corner. You’re asked to wear so many hats for your clients that a mistake can come from anywhere, at any time.
Having the right insurance in place can make a huge difference. Whether it’s a claim that your work wasn’t up to scratch, or a client has a fall at your offices, it’ll protect your bank balance and reputation.
Have some questions about what VA insurance you need? Call the friendly experts on 0345 222 5370 or visit the PolicyBee website to get started.

ABOUT POLICYBEE

PolicyBee is a specialist, independent insurance broker focused on making business and charity insurance simple and jargon-free. They help small businesses, freelancers, and charities find the right protection, online or over the phone.

PolicyBee is a trading name of PolicyBee Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm Reference Number 463064. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting the FCA’s website.

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A growing threat

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What’s the difference between cyber insurance and professional indemnity insurance?

Get up to speed

Build a defence against cybercrime

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Professional indemnity (PI): for slip-ups, mishaps, and mistakes

Public liability: for slips, trips, and spills

Office and business insurance: for your office and portable equipment

Cyber insurance: for hacks, breaches, and data loss

Legal expenses insurance: everything from contract to employment disputes

Real protection in the virtual world

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