Preparing for an ICO Audit: A Practical Guide

Cyber insurance underwriters and regulators alike now expect accountancy firms to demonstrate baseline security controls, and the bar has been rising steadily. Understanding what's actually expected — rather than assuming a policy or a licence covers everything — is worth doing before it's tested by an incident.

What underwriters are asking for

Cyber insurance applications increasingly ask detailed questions about multi-factor authentication, backup practices, and incident response plans, and certifications like Cyber Essentials Plus can materially affect premiums and even eligibility. Firms that can answer these questions confidently tend to get better terms.

Regulatory expectations

Beyond insurance, regulators including the FCA and ICO have been sharpening expectations around operational resilience and data protection for firms handling client money and sensitive data. Being able to demonstrate — not just describe — your security posture is increasingly part of what's expected.

We help accountancy firms understand what insurers and regulators actually expect, and close the gap where it exists.