Mercator Risk Services | E-Professionals

Technology and Cyber Risks

e-Professionals

Many professional organizations have taken their businesses onto the Internet. These organizations, sometimes called "e-professionals", provide traditional professional services over the Internet. Examples of professional services provided over the Internet include healthcare advice, legal advice and personnel placement. These organizations have the same set of professional liability exposures as non-internet organizations plus some Internet related exposures, and these e-professionals should have a policy covering their professional services. Please see our products directory section for additional information on specific professional coverages.

However, some specialty professional liability policies will not provide coverage for professional services provided over the Internet. For example, a physician providing healthcare information for a web site separate from his regular practice may find he is not covered by his current medical malpractice policy. The solution is to get a medical malpractice policy that provides the coverage or to purchase a separate policy specifically for the Internet related services.

A professional liability policy designed for internet use may include broader coverage than a traditional professional liability policy. It may include coverage for some or all of the following liability exposures:

Unauthorized access
Introduction of a virus
Libel and defamation
Copyright infringement

Providing coverage for an e-professional can by tricky for a number of reasons:

The current professional liability policy may exclude coverage because the Internet related work may be beyond the scope of his current professional services
A miscellaneous professional liability policy may not provide broad enough coverage to encompass all the professional exposures found in the current professional liability policy
Neither of the two policies above will likely provide adequate Cyber Risk coverage
A specialty Cyber Risk policy may not adequately address the actual professional services provided

While the best alternative depends upon the type of organization and its coverage need, it is often to purchase a broad professional liability policy that covers both the professional services provided and the Cyber Risk exposures, if available. If not, the next best solution must be determined based on the insured's needs and desires. The e-professional should be the ultimate determiner of the adequacy of coverage, after review of the insurance policy, since the e-professional knows the services provided.

Mercator Risk Services provides coverage for a wide range of e-professionals. Please let us know your client's needs and we will provide you with information and assistance with your particular situation or account, and professional liability coverage. For assistance with a particular account or coverage situation please contact us at info@mercatorpro.com or see contact information on this website.

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