Authors: Ruth Benfield, Senior Associate, Real Estate and Alice Dockar, Partner, Real Estate, London
Cyber security affects all businesses and industries and is a Board level agenda item. As cyber-attacks are becoming more common (and hitting large institutions, such as Uber and the NHS) we are advising our clients to check the adequacy of their buildings and contents insurance policies and the building management, security and IT systems in their properties.
Buildings are particularly vulnerable to outside threats due to their reliance on technology for building management and security systems (for example fire alarms, sprinkler systems, automated air-conditioning, lifts, escalators, to name a few) which are often fundamental to the running of a commercial building. Such systems could be an easy target to hackers and the potential physical damage, destruction and disruption which could be caused makes the threat a real one. The risk for developers and landlords is therefore significant.
A cyber-attack which results in the destruction (or temporary failure) of such systems is likely to mean that tenants or their customers and employees are unable able to use or occupy the premises until new systems are installed, which could be a time consuming and expensive process. Imagine if a cyber-attack results in the activation of a building’s sprinkler system, causing severe water damage. Not only would a tenant be unable to use its premises until the water damage is repaired (resulting in loss of business) but also the cost of repairing the damage might not be covered by any existing insurance policy. This type of threat could affect a range of commercial properties, whether retail shopping centres, industrial units, offices or hotels.
